Gn0101 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.  
Gn0102 The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.  
Gn0103 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.  
Gn0104 God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.  
Gn0105 And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.  
Gn0106 And God said, “Let there be an expanse [of the sky] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters [below the expanse] from the waters [above the expanse].”  
Gn0107 And God made the expanse [of sky] and separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so [just as He commanded].  
Gn0108 God called the expanse [of sky] heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.  
Gn0109 Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place [of standing, pooling together], and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.  
Gn0110 God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that this was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it.  
Gn0111 So God said, “Let the earth sprout [tender] vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind, whose seed is in them upon the earth”; and it was so.  
Gn0112 The earth sprouted and abundantly produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, according to their kind; and God saw that it was good and He affirmed and sustained it.  
Gn0113 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.  
Gn0114 Then God said, “Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God’s provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years;  
Gn0115 and let them be useful as lights in the expanse of the heavens to provide light on the earth”; and it was so, [just as He commanded].  
Gn0116 God made the two great lights—the greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night; He made the [galaxies of] stars also [that is, all the amazing wonders in the heavens].  
Gn0117 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to provide light upon the earth,  
Gn0118 to rule over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good and He affirmed and sustained it.  
Gn0119 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.  
Gn0120 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm and abundantly produce living creatures, and let birds soar above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”  
Gn0121 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good and He affirmed and sustained it.  
Gn0122 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”  
Gn0123 And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.  
Gn0124 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals of the earth according to their kinds”; and it was so [because He had spoken them into creation].  
Gn0125 So God made the wild animals of the earth according to their kind, and the cattle according to their kind, and everything that creeps and crawls on the earth according to its kind; and God saw that it was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it.  
Gn0126 Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”  
Gn0127 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.  
Gn0128 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  
Gn0129 So God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;  
Gn0130 and to all the animals on the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that moves on the ground—to everything in which there is the breath of life—I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so [because He commanded it].  
Gn0131 God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.  
Gn0201 So the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts (inhabitants).  
Gn0202 And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  
Gn0203 So God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [as His own, that is, set it apart as holy from other days], because in it He rested from all His work which He had created and done.  
Gn0204 This is the history of [the origin of] the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [that is, days of creation] that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens—  
Gn0205 no shrub or plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground,  
Gn0206 but a mist (fog, dew, vapor) used to rise from the land and water the entire surface of the ground—  
Gn0207 then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].  
Gn0208 And the LORD God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there.  
Gn0209 And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.  
Gn0210 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four [branching] rivers.  
Gn0211 The first [river] is named Pishon; it flows around the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.  
Gn0212 The gold of that land is good; bdellium (a fragrant, valuable resin) and the onyx stone are found there.  
Gn0213 The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the entire land of Cush [in Mesopotamia].  
Gn0214 The third river is named Hiddekel (Tigris); it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.  
Gn0215 So the LORD God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.  
Gn0216 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden;  
Gn0217 but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].”  
Gn0218 Now the LORD God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.”  
Gn0219 So the LORD God formed out of the ground every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.  
Gn0220 And the man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper [that was] suitable (a companion) for him.  
Gn0221 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  
Gn0222 And the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man He made (fashioned, formed) into a woman, and He brought her and presented her to the man.  
Gn0223 Then Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”  
Gn0224 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  
Gn0225 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.  
Gn0301 Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the LORD God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”  
Gn0302 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,  
Gn0303 except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.’”  
Gn0304 But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die!  
Gn0305 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.”  
Gn0306 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.  
Gn0307 Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.  
Gn0308 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.  
Gn0309 But the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?”  
Gn0310 He said, “I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”  
Gn0311 God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten [fruit] from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”  
Gn0312 And the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me—she gave me [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it.”  
Gn0313 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent beguiled and deceived me, and I ate [from the forbidden tree].”  
Gn0314 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all the cattle, And more than any animal of the field; On your belly you shall go, And dust you shall eat All the days of your life.  
Gn0315 “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”  
Gn0316 To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth; In pain you will give birth to children; Yet your desire and longing will be for your husband, And he will rule [with authority] over you and be responsible for you.”  
Gn0317 Then to Adam the LORD God said, “Because you have listened [attentively] to the voice of your wife, and have eaten [fruit] from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’; The ground is [now] under a curse because of you; In sorrow and toil you shall eat [the fruit] of it All the days of your life.  
Gn0318 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field.  
Gn0319 “By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”  
Gn0320 The man named his wife Eve (life spring, life giver), because she was the mother of all the living.  
Gn0321 The LORD God made tunics of [animal] skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them.  
Gn0322 And the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), knowing [how to distinguish between] good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take from the tree of life as well, and eat [its fruit], and live [in this fallen, sinful condition] forever”—  
Gn0323 therefore the LORD God sent Adam away from the Garden of Eden, to till and cultivate the ground from which he was taken.  
Gn0324 So God drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He [permanently] stationed the cherubim and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round [in every direction] to protect and guard the way (entrance, access) to the tree of life.  
Gn0401 Now the man Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have obtained a man (baby boy, son) with the help of the LORD.”  
Gn0402 And [later] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept the flocks [of sheep and goats], but Cain cultivated the ground.  
Gn0403 And in the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground.  
Gn0404 But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the LORD had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering;  
Gn0405 but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and he looked annoyed and hostile.  
Gn0406 And the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed?  
Gn0407 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”  
Gn0408 Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And when they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him.  
Gn0409 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he [lied and] said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”  
Gn0410 The LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice].  
Gn0411 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s [shed] blood from your hand.  
Gn0412 When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast].”  
Gn0413 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.  
Gn0414 Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Your face (presence) I will be hidden, and I will be a fugitive and an [aimless] vagabond on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”  
Gn0415 And the LORD said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, a sevenfold vengeance [that is, punishment seven times worse] shall be taken on him [by Me].” And the LORD set a [protective] mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him.  
Gn0416 So Cain went away from the [manifested] presence of the LORD, and lived in the land of Nod [wandering in exile], east of Eden.  
Gn0417 Cain knew his wife [one of Adam’s descendants] and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city and named it Enoch, after the name of his son.  
Gn0418 Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech.  
Gn0419 And Lamech took for himself two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah.  
Gn0420 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he became the father of those [nomadic herdsmen] who live in tents and have cattle and raise livestock.  
Gn0421 His brother’s name was Jubal; he became the father of all those [musicians] who play the lyre and flute.  
Gn0422 Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain, the smith (craftsman) and teacher of every artisan in instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.  
Gn0423 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; You wives of Lamech, Listen to what I say; For I have killed a man [merely] for wounding me, And a boy [only] for striking (bruising) me.  
Gn0424 “If Cain is avenged sevenfold [as the LORD said he would be], Then Lamech [will be avenged] seventy-sevenfold.”  
Gn0425 Adam knew [Eve as] his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for [she said], “God has granted another child for me in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.”  
Gn0426 To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].  
Gn0501 This is the book (the written record, the history) of the generations of [the descendants of] Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness].  
Gn0502 He created them male and female, and blessed them and named them Mankind at the time they were created.  
Gn0503 When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.  
Gn0504 After he became the father of Seth, Adam lived eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0505 So Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years in all, and he died.  
Gn0506 When Seth was a hundred and five years old, he became the father of Enosh.  
Gn0507 Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after the birth of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0508 So Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years, and he died.  
Gn0509 When Enosh was ninety years old, he became the father of Kenan.  
Gn0510 Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after the birth of Kenan and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0511 So Enosh lived nine hundred and five years, and he died.  
Gn0512 When Kenan was seventy years old, he became the father of Mahalalel.  
Gn0513 Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years after the birth of Mahalalel and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0514 So Kenan lived nine hundred and ten years, and he died.  
Gn0515 When Mahalalel was sixty-five years old, he became the father of Jared.  
Gn0516 Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years after the birth of Jared and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0517 So Mahalalel lived eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died.  
Gn0518 When Jared was a hundred and sixty-two years old, he became the father of Enoch.  
Gn0519 Jared lived eight hundred years after the birth of Enoch and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0520 So Jared lived nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.  
Gn0521 When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he became the father of Methuselah.  
Gn0522 Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0523 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.  
Gn0524 And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him [away to be home with Him].  
Gn0525 When Methuselah was a hundred and eighty-seven years old, he became the father of Lamech.  
Gn0526 Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after the birth of Lamech and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0527 So Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.  
Gn0528 When Lamech was a hundred and eighty-two years old, he became the father of a son.  
Gn0529 He named him Noah, saying, “This one shall bring us rest and comfort from our work and from the [dreadful] toil of our hands because of the ground which the LORD cursed.”  
Gn0530 Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years after the birth of Noah and had other sons and daughters.  
Gn0531 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.  
Gn0532 After Noah was five hundred years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  
Gn0601 Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,  
Gn0602 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and desirable; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose and desired.  
Gn0603 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive and remain with man forever, because he is indeed flesh [sinful, corrupt—given over to sensual appetites]; nevertheless his days shall yet be a hundred and twenty years.”  
Gn0604 There were Nephilim (men of stature, notorious men) on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God lived with the daughters of men, and they gave birth to their children. These were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (great reputation, fame).  
Gn0605 The LORD saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.  
Gn0606 The LORD regretted that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was [deeply] grieved in His heart.  
Gn0607 So the LORD said, “I will destroy (annihilate) mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth—not only man, but the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air—because it [deeply] grieves Me [to see mankind’s sin] and I regret that I have made them.”  
Gn0608 But Noah found favor and grace in the eyes of the LORD.  
Gn0609 These are the records of the generations (family history) of Noah. Noah was a righteous man [one who was just and had right standing with God], blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked (lived) [in habitual fellowship] with God.  
Gn0610 Now Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  
Gn0611 The [population of the] earth was corrupt [absolutely depraved—spiritually and morally putrid] in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence [desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power].  
Gn0612 God looked on the earth and saw how debased and degenerate it was, for all humanity had corrupted their way on the earth and lost their true direction.  
Gn0613 God said to Noah, “I intend to make an end of all that lives, for through men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I am about to destroy them together with the land.  
Gn0614 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make in it rooms (stalls, pens, coops, nests, cages, compartments) and coat it inside and out with pitch (bitumen).  
Gn0615 This is the way you are to make it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits (450’ x 75’ x 45’).  
Gn0616 You shall make a window [for light and ventilation] for the ark, and finish it to at least a cubit (eighteen inches) from the top—and set the [entry] door of the ark in its side; and you shall make it with lower, second and third decks.  
Gn0617 For behold, I, even I, will bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all life under the heavens in which there is the breath and spirit of life; everything that is on the land shall die.  
Gn0618 But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark—you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.  
Gn0619 And of every living thing [found on land], you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.  
Gn0620 Of fowls and birds according to their kind, of animals according to their kind, of every crawling thing of the ground according to its kind—two of every kind shall come to you to keep them alive.  
Gn0621 Also take with you every kind of food that is edible, and you shall collect and store it; and it shall be food for you and for them.”  
Gn0622 So Noah did this; according to all that God commanded him, that is what he did.  
Gn0701 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you with all your household, for you [alone] I have seen as righteous (doing what is right) before Me in this generation.  
Gn0702 Of every clean animal you shall take with you seven pair, the male and his female, and of animals that are not clean, two each the male and his female;  
Gn0703 also of the birds of the air, seven pair, the male and the female, to keep the offspring alive on the surface of the earth.  
Gn0704 For in seven days I am going to cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and I will destroy (blot out, wipe away) every living thing that I have made from the surface of the earth.”  
Gn0705 So Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.  
Gn0706 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood (deluge) of water came on the earth [covering all of the land].  
Gn0707 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark to escape the flood waters.  
Gn0708 Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and fowls and everything that crawls on the ground,  
Gn0709 they came [motivated by God] into the ark with Noah two by two, the male and the female, just as God had commanded Noah.  
Gn0710 And after the seven days [God released the rain and] the floodwaters came on the earth.  
Gn0711 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month, on that same day all the fountains of the great deep [subterranean waters] burst open, and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened.  
Gn0712 It rained on the earth for forty days and forty nights.  
Gn0713 On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark,  
Gn0714 they and every animal according to its kind, all the livestock according to their kinds, every moving thing that crawls on the earth according to its kind, and every bird according to its kind, every winged thing of every sort.  
Gn0715 So they went into the ark with Noah, two by two of all living beings in which there was the breath and spirit of life.  
Gn0716 Those which entered, male and female of all flesh (creatures), entered as God had commanded Noah; and the LORD closed the door behind him.  
Gn0717 The flood [the great downpour of rain] was forty days and nights on the earth; and the waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it floated [high] above the land.  
Gn0718 The waters became mighty and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters.  
Gn0719 The waters prevailed so greatly and were so mighty and overwhelming on the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.  
Gn0720 [In fact] the waters became fifteen cubits higher [than the highest ground], and the mountains were covered.  
Gn0721 All living beings that moved on the earth perished—birds and cattle (domestic animals), [wild] animals, all things that swarm and crawl on the earth, and all mankind.  
Gn0722 Everything on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath and spirit of life, died.  
Gn0723 God destroyed (blotted out, wiped away) every living thing that was on the surface of the earth; man and animals and the crawling things and the birds of the heavens were destroyed from the land. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.  
Gn0724 The waters covered [all of] the earth for a hundred and fifty days (five months).  
Gn0801 And God remembered and thought kindly of Noah and every living thing and all the animals that were with him in the ark; and God made a wind blow over the land, and the waters receded.  
Gn0802 Also the fountains of the deep [subterranean waters] and the windows of the heavens were closed, the [pouring] rain from the sky was restrained,  
Gn0803 and the waters receded steadily from the earth. At the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters had diminished.  
Gn0804 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month [five months after the rain began], the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat [in Turkey].  
Gn0805 The waters continued to decrease until the tenth month; on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen.  
Gn0806 At the end of [another] forty days Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made;  
Gn0807 and he sent out a raven, which flew here and there until the waters were dried up from the earth.  
Gn0808 Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the water level had fallen below the surface of the land.  
Gn0809 But the dove found no place on which to rest the sole of her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were [still] on the face of the entire earth. So he reached out his hand and took the dove, and brought her into the ark.  
Gn0810 He waited another seven days and again sent the dove out from the ark.  
Gn0811 The dove came back to him in the evening, and there, in her beak, was a fresh olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water level had subsided from the earth.  
Gn0812 Then he waited another seven days and sent out the dove, but she did not return to him again.  
Gn0813 Now in the six hundred and first year [of Noah’s life], on the first day of the first month, the waters were drying up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and the surface of the ground was drying.  
Gn0814 On the twenty-seventh day of the second month the land was [entirely] dry.  
Gn0815 And God spoke to Noah, saying,  
Gn0816 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives with you.  
Gn0817 Bring out with you every living thing from all flesh—birds and animals and every crawling thing that crawls on the earth—that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”  
Gn0818 So Noah went out, and his wife and his sons and their wives with him [after being in the ark one year and ten days].  
Gn0819 Every animal, every crawling thing, every bird—and whatever moves on the land—went out by families (types, groupings) from the ark.  
Gn0820 And Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every [ceremonially] clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  
Gn0821 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma [a soothing, satisfying scent] and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent (strong inclination, desire) of man’s heart is wicked from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.  
Gn0822 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”  
Gn0901 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.  
Gn0902 The fear and the terror of you shall be [instinctive] in every animal of the land and in every bird of the air; and together with everything that moves on the ground, and with all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hand.  
Gn0903 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; I give you everything, as I gave you the green plants and vegetables.  
Gn0904 But you shall not eat meat along with its life, that is, its blood.  
Gn0905 For your lifeblood I will most certainly require an accounting; from every animal [that kills a person] I will require it. And from man, from every man’s brother [that is, anyone who murders] I will require the life of man.  
Gn0906 “Whoever sheds man’s blood [unlawfully], By man (judicial government) shall his blood be shed, For in the image of God He made man.  
Gn0907 “As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”  
Gn0908 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,  
Gn0909 “Now behold, I am establishing My covenant (binding agreement, solemn promise) with you and with your descendants after you  
Gn0910 and with every living creature that is with you—the birds, the livestock, and the wild animals of the earth along with you, of everything that comes out of the ark—every living creature of the earth.  
Gn0911 I will establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the water of a flood, nor shall there ever again be a flood to destroy and ruin the earth.”  
Gn0912 And God said, “This is the token (visible symbol, memorial) of the [solemn] covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations;  
Gn0913 I set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.  
Gn0914 It shall come about, when I bring clouds over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the clouds,  
Gn0915 and I will [compassionately] remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again will the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.  
Gn0916 When the rainbow is in the clouds and I look at it, I will [solemnly] remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”  
Gn0917 And God said to Noah, “This [rainbow] is the sign of the covenant (solemn pledge, binding agreement) which I have established between Me and all living things on the earth.”  
Gn0918 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth. Ham would become the father of Canaan.  
Gn0919 These are the three sons of Noah, and from these [men] the whole earth was populated and scattered with inhabitants.  
Gn0920 And Noah began to farm and cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard.  
Gn0921 He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he was uncovered and lay exposed inside his tent.  
Gn0922 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw [by accident] the nakedness of his father, and [to his father’s shame] told his two brothers outside.  
Gn0923 So Shem and Japheth took a robe and put it on both their shoulders, and walked backwards and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.  
Gn0924 When Noah awoke from his wine [induced stupor], he knew what his younger son [Ham] had done to him.  
Gn0925 So he said, “Cursed be Canaan [the son of Ham]; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers.”  
Gn0926 He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.  
Gn0927 “May God enlarge [the land of] Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.”  
Gn0928 Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood.  
Gn0929 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.  
Gn1001 These are the records of the generations (descendants) of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and the sons born to them after the flood:  
Gn1002 the sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras;  
Gn1003 the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah;  
Gn1004 the sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.  
Gn1005 From these, [the people of] the coastlands of the nations were separated and spread into their lands, every one according to his own language, according to their constituent groups (families), and into their nations:  
Gn1006 the sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim [from whom descended the Egyptians], Put, and Canaan;  
Gn1007 the sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah; Sheba and Dedan.  
Gn1008 Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.  
Gn1009 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.”  
Gn1010 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar [in Babylonia].  
Gn1011 From that land Nimrod went to Assyria, and built Nineveh, and Rehoboth-Ir, and Calah,  
Gn1012 and [Nimrod built] Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah; all these [combined to form] the great city [Nineveh].  
Gn1013 Mizraim [the ancestor of the Egyptians] became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim  
Gn1014 and Pathrusim and Casluhim—from whom came the Philistines—and Caphtorim.  
Gn1015 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth  
Gn1016 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite  
Gn1017 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite  
Gn1018 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad.  
Gn1019 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as one goes to Gerar, as far as Gaza; and as one goes to Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.  
Gn1020 These are the descendants of Ham according to their constituent groups, according to their languages, by their lands, and by their nations.  
Gn1021 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber [including the Hebrews], the older brother of Japheth, children were born.  
Gn1022 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud and Aram;  
Gn1023 the sons of Aram [ancestor of the Syrians]: Uz, Hul, Gether and Mash.  
Gn1024 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber.  
Gn1025 Two sons were born to Eber; the name of one was Peleg (division), for [the inhabitants of] the earth were divided in his days; and his brother’s name was Joktan.  
Gn1026 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,  
Gn1027   and Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,   
Gn1028 and Obal, Abimael, Sheba,  
Gn1029 and Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan.  
Gn1030 Now their territory extended from Mesha as one goes toward Sephar, to the hill country of the east.  
Gn1031 These are Shem’s descendants according to their constituent groups (families), according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations.  
Gn1032 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their descendants, by their nations; and from these [people] the nations were separated and spread abroad on the earth after the flood.  
Gn1101 Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary).  
Gn1102 And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they settled there.  
Gn1103 They said one to another, “Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly [in a kiln, to harden and strengthen them].” So they used brick for stone [as building material], and they used tar (bitumen, asphalt) for mortar.  
Gn1104 They said, “Come, let us build a city for ourselves, and a tower whose top will reach into the heavens, and let us make a [famous] name for ourselves, so that we will not be scattered [into separate groups] and be dispersed over the surface of the entire earth [as the LORD instructed].”  
Gn1105 Now the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.  
Gn1106 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one [unified] people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.  
Gn1107 Come, let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) go down and there confuse and mix up their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”  
Gn1108 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the surface of the entire earth; and they stopped building the city.  
Gn1109 Therefore the name of the city was Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the entire earth; and from that place the LORD scattered and dispersed them over the surface of all the earth.  
Gn1110 These are the records of the generations of Shem [from whom Abraham descended]. Shem was a hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad, two years after the flood.  
Gn1111 And Shem lived five hundred years after Arpachshad was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1112 When Arpachshad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah.  
Gn1113 Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years after Shelah was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1114 When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber.  
Gn1115 Shelah lived four hundred and three years after Eber was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1116 When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg.  
Gn1117 And Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after Peleg was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1118 When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Reu.  
Gn1119 And Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after Reu was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1120 When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug.  
Gn1121 And Reu lived two hundred and seven years after Serug was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1122 When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor.  
Gn1123 And Serug lived two hundred years after Nahor was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1124 When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah.  
Gn1125 And Nahor lived a hundred and nineteen years after Terah was born, and he had other sons and daughters.  
Gn1126 After Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram and Nahor and Haran [his firstborn].  
Gn1127 Now these are the records of the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram (Abraham), Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.  
Gn1128 Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.  
Gn1129 Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai (later called Sarah), and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.  
Gn1130 But Sarai was barren; she did not have a child.  
Gn1131 Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together to go from Ur of the Chaldeans into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran [about five hundred and fifty miles northwest of Ur], they settled there.  
Gn1132 Terah lived two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.  
Gn1201 Now [in Haran] the LORD had said to Abram, “Go away from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;  
Gn1202 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];  
Gn1203 And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”  
Gn1204 So Abram departed [in faithful obedience] as the LORD had directed him; and Lot [his nephew] left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.  
Gn1205 Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had acquired, and the people (servants) which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,  
Gn1206 Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the [great] terebinth (oak) tree of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time.  
Gn1207 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there to [honor] the LORD who had appeared to him.  
Gn1208 Then he moved on from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].  
Gn1209 Then Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev (the South country of Judah).  
Gn1210 Now there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive and severe.  
Gn1211 And when he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “Listen: I know that you are a beautiful woman;  
Gn1212 so when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me [to acquire you], but they will let you live.  
Gn1213 Please tell them that you are my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”  
Gn1214 And when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful.  
Gn1215 Pharaoh’s princes (officials) also saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken [for the purpose of marriage] into Pharaoh’s house (harem).  
Gn1216 Therefore Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake; he acquired sheep, oxen, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.  
Gn1217 But the LORD punished Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.  
Gn1218 Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?  
Gn1219 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her and go!”  
Gn1220 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him on his way, with his wife and all that he had.  
Gn1301 So Abram went up out of Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot [his nephew] with him, into the Negev (the South country of Judah).  
Gn1302 Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold.  
Gn1303 He journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,  
Gn1304 where he had first built an altar; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD [in prayer].  
Gn1305 But Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.  
Gn1306 Now the land was not able to support them [that is, sustain all their grazing and water needs] while they lived near one another, for their possessions were too great for them to stay together.  
Gn1307 And there was strife and quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were living in the land at that same time [making grazing of the livestock difficult].  
Gn1308 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, because we are relatives.  
Gn1309 Is not the entire land before you? Please separate [yourself] from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.”  
Gn1310 So Lot looked and saw that the valley of the Jordan was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah; [it was all] like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar [at the south end of the Dead Sea].  
Gn1311 Then Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and he traveled east. So they separated from each other.  
Gn1312 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled in the cities of the valley and camped as far as Sodom and lived there.  
Gn1313 But the men of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful against the LORD [unashamed in their open sin before Him].  
Gn1314 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had left him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are standing, northward and southward and eastward and westward;  
Gn1315 for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever.  
Gn1316 I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.  
Gn1317 Arise, walk (make a thorough reconnaissance) around in the land, through its length and its width, for I will give it to you.”  
Gn1318 Then Abram broke camp and moved his tent, and came and settled by the [grove of the great] terebinths (oak trees) of Mamre [the Amorite], which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to [honor] the LORD.  
Gn1401 In the days of the [Eastern] kings Amraphel of Shinar, Arioch of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer of Elam, and Tidal of Goiim,  
Gn1402 they [invaded the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, and] made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).  
Gn1403 All of these [kings] joined together [as allies] in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Sea of Salt).  
Gn1404 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer [the most powerful king in the invading confederacy], but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  
Gn1405 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the [three] kings who were with him attacked and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh- kiriathaim,  
Gn1406 and the Horites in their mountainous country of Seir, as far as El-paran, which is on the border of the wilderness.  
Gn1407 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.  
Gn1408 Then the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they joined together for battle with the invading kings in the Valley of Siddim,  
Gn1409 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.  
Gn1410 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar (bitumen) pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them. But the remainder [of the kings] who survived fled to the hill country.  
Gn1411 Then the victors took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and provisions and left.  
Gn1412 And they also took [captive] Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and left, for he was living in Sodom.  
Gn1413 Then a survivor who had escaped [from the invading forces on the other side of the Jordan] came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was living by the terebinths (oaks) of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner—they were allies of Abram.  
Gn1414 When Abram heard that his nephew [Lot] had been captured, he armed and led out his trained men, born in his own house, [numbering] three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far [north] as Dan.  
Gn1415 He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and attacked and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.  
Gn1416 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, and also the women, and the people.  
Gn1417 Then after Abram’s return from the defeat (slaughter) of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  
Gn1418 Melchizedek king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine [for them]; he was the priest of God Most High.  
Gn1419 And Melchizedek blessed Abram and said, “Blessed (joyful, favored) be Abram by God Most High, Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth;  
Gn1420 And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your enemies into your hand.” And Abram gave him a tenth of all [the treasure he had taken in battle].  
Gn1421 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods (spoils of battle) for yourself.”  
Gn1422 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand and sworn an oath to the LORD God Most High, the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth,  
Gn1423 that I would not take anything that is yours, from a thread to a sandal strap, so you could not say, ‘I [the King of Sodom] have made Abram rich.’  
Gn1424 I will take nothing except what my young men have eaten, and the share of the spoils belonging to the men [my allies] who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share of the spoils.”  
Gn1501 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great.”  
Gn1502 Abram said, “Lord GOD, what reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?”  
Gn1503 And Abram continued, “Since You have given no child to me, one (a servant) born in my house is my heir.”  
Gn1504 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.”  
Gn1505 And the LORD brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.”  
Gn1506 Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the LORD; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man).  
Gn1507 And He said to him, “I am the [same] LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.”  
Gn1508 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, by what [proof] will I know that I will inherit it?”  
Gn1509 So God said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  
Gn1510 So Abram brought all these to Him and cut them down the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.  
Gn1511 The birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.  
Gn1512 When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him.  
Gn1513 God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.  
Gn1514 But on that nation whom your descendants will serve I will bring judgment, and afterward they will come out [of that land] with great possessions.  
Gn1515 As for you, you shall [die and] go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.  
Gn1516 Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished).”  
Gn1517 When the sun had gone down and a [deep] darkness had come, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch which passed between the [divided] pieces [of the animals].  
Gn1518 On the same day the LORD made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates—  
Gn1519 [the land of] the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites  
Gn1520 and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim,  
Gn1521 the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”  
Gn1601 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not borne him any children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.  
Gn1602 So Sarai said to Abram, “See here, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. I am asking you to go in to [the bed of] my maid [so that she may bear you a child]; perhaps I will obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to Sarai and did as she said.  
Gn1603 After Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian [maid], and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife.  
Gn1604 He went in to [the bed of] Hagar, and she conceived; and when she realized that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress [regarding Sarai as insignificant because of her infertility].  
Gn1605 Then Sarai said to Abram, “May [the responsibility for] the wrong done to me [by the arrogant behavior of Hagar] be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, and when she realized that she had conceived, I was despised and looked on with disrespect. May the LORD judge [who has done right] between you and me.”  
Gn1606 But Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is entirely in your hands and subject to your authority; do as you please with her.” So Sarai treated her harshly and humiliated her, and Hagar fled from her.  
Gn1607 But the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, on the road to [Egypt by way of] Shur.  
Gn1608 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where did you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am running away from my mistress Sarai.”  
Gn1609 The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Go back to your mistress, and submit humbly to her authority.”  
Gn1610 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”  
Gn1611 The Angel of the LORD continued, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall name him Ishmael (God hears), Because the LORD has heard and paid attention to your persecution (suffering).  
Gn1612 “He (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man; His hand will be against every man [continually fighting] And every man’s hand against him; And he will dwell in defiance of all his brothers.”  
Gn1613 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are God Who Sees”; for she said, “Have I not even here [in the wilderness] remained alive after seeing Him [who sees me with understanding and compassion]?”  
Gn1614 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me); it is between Kadesh and Bered.  
Gn1615 So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son; and Abram named his son, to whom Hagar gave birth, Ishmael (God hears).  
Gn1616 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.  
Gn1701 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].  
Gn1702 “I will establish My covenant (everlasting promise) between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly [through your descendants].”  
Gn1703 Then Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,  
Gn1704 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And [as a result] you shall be the father of many nations.  
Gn1705 “No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), But your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); For I will make you the father of many nations.  
Gn1706 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.  
Gn1707 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.  
Gn1708 I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger [moving from place to place], all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession [of property]; and I will be their God.”  
Gn1709 Further, God said to Abraham, “As for you [your part of the agreement], you shall keep and faithfully obey [the terms of] My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.  
Gn1710 This is [the sign of] My covenant, which you shall keep and faithfully obey, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.  
Gn1711 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be the sign (symbol, memorial) of the covenant between Me and you.  
Gn1712 Every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, [including] a servant whether born in the house or one who is purchased with [your] money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.  
Gn1713 A servant who is born in your house or one who is purchased with your money must be circumcised; and [the sign of] My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  
Gn1714 And the male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”  
Gn1715 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai (my princess), but her name will be Sarah (Princess).  
Gn1716 I will bless her, and indeed I will also give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”  
Gn1717 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”  
Gn1718 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael [my firstborn] might live before You!”  
Gn1719 But God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall name him Isaac (laughter); and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his descendants after him.  
Gn1720 As for Ishmael, I have heard and listened to you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will greatly multiply him [through his descendants]. He will be the father of twelve princes (chieftains, sheiks), and I will make him a great nation.  
Gn1721 But My covenant [My promise, My solemn pledge], I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”  
Gn1722 And God finished speaking with him and went up from Abraham.  
Gn1723 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all the servants who were born in his house and all who were purchased with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin the very same day, as God had said to him.  
Gn1724 So Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.  
Gn1725 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised.  
Gn1726 On the very same day Abraham was circumcised, as well as Ishmael his son.  
Gn1727 All the men [servants] of his household, both those born in the house and those purchased with money from a foreigner, were circumcised along with him [as the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham].  
Gn1801 Now the LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre [in Hebron], while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.  
Gn1802 When he raised his eyes and looked up, behold, three men were standing [a little distance] from him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down [with his face] to the ground,  
Gn1803 and Abraham said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant [without stopping to visit].  
Gn1804 Please let a little water be brought [by one of my servants] and [you may] wash your feet, and recline and rest comfortably under the tree.  
Gn1805 And I will bring a piece of bread to refresh and sustain you; after that you may go on, since you have come to your servant.” And they replied, “Do as you have said.”  
Gn1806 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, get ready three measures of fine meal, knead it and bake cakes.”  
Gn1807 Abraham also ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and choice, and he gave it to the servant [to butcher], and he hurried to prepare it.  
Gn1808 Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before the men; and he stood beside them under the tree while they ate.  
Gn1809 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”  
Gn1810 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.  
Gn1811 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing.  
Gn1812 So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the LORD’S words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband) being also old?”  
Gn1813 And the LORD asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’  
Gn1814 Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the LORD? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son.”  
Gn1815 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; because she was afraid. And He (the LORD) said, “No, but you did laugh.”  
Gn1816 Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way.  
Gn1817 The LORD said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do,  
Gn1818 since Abraham is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?  
Gn1819 For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is righteous and just, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”  
Gn1820 And the LORD said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.  
Gn1821 I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”  
Gn1822 Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.  
Gn1823 Abraham approached [the LORD] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)?  
Gn1824 Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?  
Gn1825 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?”  
Gn1826 So the LORD said, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty righteous [people], then I will spare the entire place for their sake.”  
Gn1827 Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the Lord.  
Gn1828 If five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will You destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find [at least] forty-five [righteous people] there, I will not destroy it.”  
Gn1829 Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].”  
Gn1830 Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”  
Gn1831 And he said, “Now behold, I have decided to speak to the Lord [again]. Suppose [only] twenty [righteous people] are found there?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”  
Gn1832 Then Abraham said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry [with me], and I will speak only this once; suppose ten [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”  
Gn1833 As soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his own place.  
Gn1901 It was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. Lot was sitting at Sodom’s [city] gate. Seeing them, Lot got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.  
Gn1902 And he said, “See here, my lords, please turn aside and come into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may get up early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, we shall spend the night in the open plaza [of the city].”  
Gn1903 However, Lot strongly urged them, so they turned aside and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them [with wine], and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.  
Gn1904 But before they lay down [to sleep], the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house, all the men from every quarter;  
Gn1905 and they called out to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may know them [intimately].”  
Gn1906 But Lot went out of the doorway to the men, and shut the door after him,  
Gn1907 and said, “Please, my brothers, do not do something so wicked.  
Gn1908 See here, I have two daughters who have not known a man [intimately]; please let me bring them out to you [instead], and you can do as you please with them; only do nothing to these men, because they have in fact come under the shelter of my roof [for protection].”  
Gn1909 But they said, “Get out of the way!” And they said, “This man (Lot) came [as an outsider] to live here temporarily, and now he is acting like a judge. Now we will treat you worse than your visitors!” So they rushed forward and pressed violently against Lot and came close to breaking down the door [of his house].  
Gn1910 But the men (angels) reached out with their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door [after him].  
Gn1911 They struck (punished) the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, from the young men to the old men, so that they exhausted themselves trying to find the doorway.  
Gn1912 And the [two] men (angels) asked Lot, “Have you any others here [in Sodom]—a son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters? Whomever you have in the city, take them out of here;  
Gn1913 for we are destroying this place, because the outcry [for judgment] against them has grown so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy and ruin it.”  
Gn1914 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were [betrothed, and legally promised] to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he appeared to be joking.  
Gn1915 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot [to hurry], saying, “Get up! Take your wife and two daughters who are here [and go], or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”  
Gn1916 But Lot hesitated and lingered. The men took hold of his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, because the LORD was merciful to him [for Abraham’s sake]; and they brought him out, and left him outside the city [with his family].  
Gn1917 When they had brought them outside, one [of the angels] said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, or stop anywhere in the entire valley; escape to the mountains [of Moab], or you will be consumed and swept away.”  
Gn1918 But Lot said to them, “Oh no, [not that place] my lords!  
Gn1919 Please listen, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness (mercy) to me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, because the disaster will overtake me and I will be killed.  
Gn1920 Now look, this town [in the distance] is near enough for us to flee to, and it is small [with only a few people]. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) so that my life will be saved.”  
Gn1921 And the angel said to him, “Behold, I grant you this request also; I will not destroy this town of which you have spoken.  
Gn1922 Hurry and take refuge there, for I cannot do anything [to punish Sodom] until you arrive there.” For this reason the town was named Zoar (few, small).  
Gn1923 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar.  
Gn1924 Then the LORD rained down brimstone (flaming sulfur) and fire on Sodom and on Gomorrah from the LORD out of heaven,  
Gn1925 and He overthrew (demolished, ended) those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.  
Gn1926 But Lot’s wife, from behind him, [foolishly, longingly] looked [back toward Sodom in an act of disobedience], and she became a pillar of salt.  
Gn1927 Abraham started out early the next morning to the place where he [only the day before] had stood before the LORD;  
Gn1928 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley [of the Dead Sea]; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a kiln (pottery furnace).  
Gn1929 Now when God ravaged and destroyed the cities of the plain [of Siddim], He remembered Abraham [and for that reason], and He sent [Abraham’s nephew] Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He destroyed the cities in which Lot had lived.  
Gn1930 Now Lot went up from Zoar, and lived in the mountain together with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay [any longer] in Zoar; and he lived in a cave with his two daughters.  
Gn1931 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is aging, and there is not a man on earth [available] to be intimate with us in the customary way [so that we may have children].  
Gn1932 Come, let us make our father drunk with wine, and we will lie with him so that we may preserve our family through our father.”  
Gn1933 So they gave their father wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she got up [because he was completely intoxicated].  
Gn1934 Then the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay with my father last night; let us make him drunk with wine tonight also, and then you go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve our family through our father.”  
Gn1935 So they gave their father wine that night also, and the younger got up and lay with him; and again he did not know when she lay down or when she got up.  
Gn1936 Thus both the daughters of Lot conceived by their father.  
Gn1937 The firstborn gave birth to a son, and named him Moab (from father); he is the father of the Moabites to this day.  
Gn1938 The younger also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-ammi (son of my people); he is the father of the Ammonites to this day.  
Gn2001 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar.  
Gn2002 Abraham said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem].  
Gn2003 But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.”  
Gn2004 Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]?  
Gn2005 Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”  
Gn2006 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her.  
Gn2007 So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).”  
Gn2008 So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified.  
Gn2009 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”  
Gn2010 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered or seen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?”  
Gn2011 Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’  
Gn2012 Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife.  
Gn2013 When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”  
Gn2014 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded].  
Gn2015 So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”  
Gn2016 Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.”  
Gn2017 So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children,  
Gn2018 for the LORD had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.  
Gn2101 The LORD graciously remembered and visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for her as He had promised.  
Gn2102 So Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him.  
Gn2103 Abraham named his son Isaac (laughter), the son to whom Sarah gave birth.  
Gn2104 So Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, just as God had commanded him.  
Gn2105 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born.  
Gn2106 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh; all who hear [about our good news] will laugh with me.”  
Gn2107 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have given birth to a son by him in his old age.”  
Gn2108 The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.  
Gn2109 Now [as time went on] Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking [Isaac].  
Gn2110 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.”  
Gn2111 The situation distressed Abraham greatly because of his son [Ishmael].  
Gn2112 God said to Abraham, “Do not let it distress you because of Ishmael and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her and do what she asks, for your descendants will be named through Isaac.  
Gn2113 And I will also make a nation of [Ishmael] the son of the maid, because he is your descendant.”  
Gn2114 So Abraham got up early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she left [but lost her way] and wandered [aimlessly] in the Wilderness of Beersheba.  
Gn2115 When the water in the skin was all gone, Hagar abandoned the boy under one of the bushes.  
Gn2116 Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And as she sat down opposite him, she raised her voice and wept.  
Gn2117 God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from where he is [resting].  
Gn2118 Get up, help the boy up, and hold him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.”  
Gn2119 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] skin with water and gave the boy a drink.  
Gn2120 God was with Ishmael, and he grew and developed; and he lived in the wilderness and became an [expert] archer.  
Gn2121 He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.  
Gn2122 Now at that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do;  
Gn2123 so now, swear to me here by God that you will not deal unfairly with me [by breaking any agreements we have] or with my son or with my descendants, but as I have treated you with kindness, you shall do the same to me and to the land in which you have sojourned (temporarily lived).”  
Gn2124 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”  
Gn2125 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water which the servants of Abimelech had [violently] seized [from him],  
Gn2126 Abimelech said, “I do not know who did this thing. Indeed, you did not tell me, and I did not hear of it until today.”  
Gn2127 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant (binding agreement).  
Gn2128 Then Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock,  
Gn2129 and Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set apart?”  
Gn2130 Abraham said, “You are to accept these seven ewe lambs from me as a witness for me, that I dug this well.”  
Gn2131 Therefore that place was called Beersheba (Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), because there the two of them swore an oath.  
Gn2132 So they made a covenant at Beersheba; then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, got up and returned to the land of the Philistines.  
Gn2133 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD [in prayer], the Eternal God.  
Gn2134 And Abraham lived [as a resident alien] in the land of the Philistines for many days.  
Gn2201 Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.”  
Gn2202 God said, “Take now your son, your only son [of promise], whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”  
Gn2203 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he got up and went to the place of which God had told him.  
Gn2204 On the third day [of travel] Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  
Gn2205 Abraham said to his servants, “Settle down and stay here with the donkey; the young man and I will go over there and worship [God], and we will come back to you.”  
Gn2206 Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the fire (firepot) in his own hand and the [sacrificial] knife; and the two of them walked on together.  
Gn2207 And Isaac said to Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  
Gn2208 Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself a lamb for the burnt offering.” So the two walked on together.  
Gn2209 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood, and bound Isaac his son and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood.  
Gn2210 Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.  
Gn2211 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He answered, “Here I am.”  
Gn2212 The LORD said, “Do not reach out [with the knife in] your hand against the boy, and do nothing to [harm] him; for now I know that you fear God [with reverence and profound respect], since you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son [of promise].”  
Gn2213 Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering (ascending sacrifice) instead of his son.  
Gn2214 So Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide. And it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be seen and provided.”  
Gn2215 The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time  
Gn2216 and said, “By Myself (on the basis of Who I Am) I have sworn [an oath], declares the LORD, that since you have done this thing and have not withheld [from Me] your son, your only son [of promise],  
Gn2217 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [by conquering them].  
Gn2218 Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”  
Gn2219 So Abraham returned to his servants, and they got up and went with him to Beersheba; and Abraham settled in Beersheba.  
Gn2220 Now after these things Abraham was told, “Milcah has borne children to your brother Nahor:  
Gn2221 Uz the firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram,  
Gn2222 Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel.”  
Gn2223 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight [children] Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.  
Gn2224 Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, gave birth to Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.  
Gn2301 Sarah lived a hundred and twenty-seven years; this was the length of the life of Sarah.  
Gn2302 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.  
Gn2303 Then Abraham stood up before his dead [wife’s body], and spoke to the sons of Heth (Hittites), saying,  
Gn2304 “I am a stranger and a sojourner (resident alien) among you; give (sell) me property for a burial place among you so that I may bury my dead [in the proper manner].”  
Gn2305 The Hittites replied to Abraham,  
Gn2306 “Listen to us, my lord; you are a prince of God [a mighty prince] among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our graves; none of us will refuse you his grave or hinder you from burying your dead [wife].”  
Gn2307 So Abraham stood up and bowed to the people of the land, the Hittites.  
Gn2308 And Abraham said to them, “If you are willing to grant my dead a [proper] burial, listen to me, and plead with Ephron the son of Zohar for me,  
Gn2309 so that he may give (sell) me the cave of Machpelah which he owns—it is at the end of his field; let him give it to me here in your presence for the full price as a burial site [which I may keep forever among you].”  
Gn2310 Now Ephron was present there among the sons of Heth; so within the hearing of all the sons of Heth and all who were entering the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham, saying,  
Gn2311 “No, my lord, hear me; I give you the [entire] field, and I also give you the cave that is in it. In the presence of the men of my people I give (sell) it to you; bury your dead [there].”  
Gn2312 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.  
Gn2313 He said to Ephron in the presence of the people of the land, “If you will only please listen to me and accept my offer. I will give you the price of the field; accept it from me and I will bury my dead there.”  
Gn2314 Ephron replied to Abraham,  
Gn2315 “My lord, listen to me. The land [you seek] is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that between you and me? So bury your dead.”  
Gn2316 So Abraham listened to Ephron [and agreed to his terms]; and he weighed out for Ephron the [amount of] silver which he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.  
Gn2317 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre (Hebron)—the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and in all its borders around it—were deeded over [legally]  
Gn2318 to Abraham as his possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who were entering at the gate of his city.  
Gn2319 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah to the east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.  
Gn2320 The field and the cave in it were deeded over to Abraham by the Hittites as a [permanent] possession and burial place.  
Gn2401 Now Abraham was old, [well] advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  
Gn2402 Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer of Damascus], the oldest of his household, who had charge over all that Abraham owned, “Please, put your hand under my thigh [as is customary for affirming a solemn oath],  
Gn2403 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,  
Gn2404 but you will [instead] go to my [former] country (Mesopotamia) and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac [the heir of the covenant promise].”  
Gn2405 The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me back to this country; should I take your son back to the country from which you came?”  
Gn2406 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there!  
Gn2407 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, from the land of my family and my birth, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you [to guide you], and you will take a wife from there for my son [and bring her here].  
Gn2408 If the woman is not willing to follow you [to this land], then you will be free from this my oath and blameless; only you must never take my son back there.”  
Gn2409 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.  
Gn2410 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and set out, taking some of his master’s good things with him; so he got up and journeyed to Mesopotamia [between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers], to the city of Nahor [the home of Abraham’s brother].  
Gn2411 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water.  
Gn2412 And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master Abraham.  
Gn2413 Behold, I stand here at the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;  
Gn2414 now let it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please, let down your jar so that I may [have a] drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink’—may she be the one whom You have selected [as a wife] for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master.”  
Gn2415 Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.  
Gn2416 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin and unmarried; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.  
Gn2417 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar.”  
Gn2418 And she said, “Drink, my lord”; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.  
Gn2419 When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.”  
Gn2420 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels.  
Gn2421 Meanwhile, the man stood gazing at Rebekah in [reverent] silence, [waiting] to know if the LORD had made his trip successful or not.  
Gn2422 When the camels had finished drinking, Eliezer took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her hands weighing ten shekels in gold,  
Gn2423 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”  
Gn2424 And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to [her husband] Nahor.”  
Gn2425 Again she said to him, “We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room to lodge.”  
Gn2426 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD.  
Gn2427 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not denied His lovingkindness and His truth to my master. As for me, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brothers.”  
Gn2428 Then the girl ran and told her mother’s household what had happened.  
Gn2429 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man at the well.  
Gn2430 When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he heard Rebekah his sister, saying, “The man said this to me,” he went to Eliezer and found him standing by the camels at the spring.  
Gn2431 And Laban said, “Come in, blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside since I have made the house ready and have prepared a place for the camels?”  
Gn2432 So the man came into the house, and Laban unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed, and [he gave] water to [Eliezer to] wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.  
Gn2433 But when food was set before him, he said, “I will not eat until I have stated my business.” And Laban said, “Speak on.”  
Gn2434 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.  
Gn2435 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great (wealthy, powerful); He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys.  
Gn2436 Now Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was in her old age, and he has given everything that he has to him.  
Gn2437 My master made me swear [an oath], saying, ‘You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live;  
Gn2438 but you shall [instead] go to my father’s house and to my family and take a wife for my son [Isaac].’  
Gn2439 Then I said to my master, ‘But suppose the woman will not follow me [back to this land].’  
Gn2440 He said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk [habitually and obediently], will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house;  
Gn2441 then you will be free of my oath, when you come to my relatives; and if they do not give her to you, you will [also] be free of my oath.’  
Gn2442 “I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful;  
Gn2443 please look, I am standing by the spring of water; now let it be that when the maiden [whom You have chosen for Isaac] comes out to draw [water], and to whom I say, “Please, give me a little water to drink from your jar”;  
Gn2444 and if she says to me, “You drink, and I will also draw [water] for your camels”; let that woman be the one whom the LORD has selected and chosen [as a wife] for my master’s son.’  
Gn2445 “Before I had finished praying in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please, let me have a drink.’  
Gn2446 And she quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’; so I drank, and she also watered the camels.  
Gn2447 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him’; and I put the ring in her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.  
Gn2448 And I bowed down my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s brother to his son [as a wife].  
Gn2449 So now if you are going to show kindness and truth to my master [being faithful to him], tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or to the left [and go on my way].”  
Gn2450 Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter has come from the LORD; so we dare not speak bad or good [to you about it—we cannot interfere].  
Gn2451 Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”  
Gn2452 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground [in worship] before the LORD.  
Gn2453 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and articles of clothing, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and her mother.  
Gn2454 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night [there]. In the morning when they got up, he said, “Now send me back to my master.”  
Gn2455 But Rebekah’s brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days—at least ten; then she may go.”  
Gn2456 But Eliezer said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away, so that I may go back to my master.”  
Gn2457 And they said, “We will call the girl and ask her what she prefers.”  
Gn2458 So they called Rebekah and said, “Will you go with this man?” And she answered, “I will go.”  
Gn2459 So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse [Deborah, as her attendant] and Abraham’s servant [Eliezer] and his men.  
Gn2460 They blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, Become [the mother of] thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess (conquer) The [city] gate of those who hate them.”  
Gn2461 Then Rebekah and her attendants stood, and they mounted camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.  
Gn2462 Now Isaac had returned from going to Beer-lahai-roi (Well of the Living One Who Sees Me), for he was living in the Negev.  
Gn2463 Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening; he raised his eyes and looked, and camels were coming.  
Gn2464 Rebekah also raised her eyes and looked, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel.  
Gn2465 She said to the servant, “Who is that man there walking across the field to meet us?” And the servant said, “He is my master [Isaac].” So she took a veil and covered herself [as was customary].  
Gn2466 The servant told Isaac everything that he had done.  
Gn2467 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah [in marriage], and she became his wife, and he loved her; therefore Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.  
Gn2501 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.  
Gn2502 She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.  
Gn2503 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.  
Gn2504 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.  
Gn2505 Now Abraham gave everything that he had to Isaac;  
Gn2506 but to the sons of his concubines [Hagar and Keturah], Abraham gave gifts while he was still living and he sent them to the east country, away from Isaac his son [of promise].  
Gn2507 The days of Abraham’s life were a hundred and seventy-five years.  
Gn2508 Then Abraham breathed his last and he died at a good old age, an old man who was satisfied [with life]; and he was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death].  
Gn2509 So his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is east of Mamre,  
Gn2510 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth; there Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife.  
Gn2511 Now after the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac lived at Beer- lahai-roi.  
Gn2512 Now these are the records of the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maid, bore to Abraham;  
Gn2513 and these are the names of the [twelve] sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their births: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael, and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,  
Gn2514 Mishma, Dumah, Massa,  
Gn2515 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.  
Gn2516 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their settlements, and by their encampments (sheepfolds); twelve princes (sheiks) according to their tribes.  
Gn2517 Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years; then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death].  
Gn2518 Ishmael’s sons (descendants) settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled opposite (east) of all his relatives.  
Gn2519 Now these are the records of the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac.  
Gn2520 Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean (Syrian) of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean.  
Gn2521 Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was unable to conceive children; and the LORD granted his prayer and Rebekah his wife conceived [twins].  
Gn2522 But the children struggled together within her [kicking and shoving one another]; and she said, “If it is so [that the LORD has heard our prayer], why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the LORD [praying for an answer].  
Gn2523 The LORD said to her, “[The founders of] two nations are in your womb; And the separation of two nations has begun in your body; The one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.”  
Gn2524 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  
Gn2525 The first came out reddish all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau (hairy).  
Gn2526 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand grasped Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob (one who grabs by the heel, supplanter). Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.  
Gn2527 When the boys grew up, Esau was an able and skilled hunter, a man of the outdoors, but Jacob was a quiet and peaceful man, living in tents.  
Gn2528 Now Isaac loved [and favored] Esau, because he enjoyed eating his game, but Rebekah loved [and favored] Jacob.  
Gn2529 Jacob had cooked [reddish-brown lentil] stew [one day], when Esau came from the field and was famished;  
Gn2530 and Esau said to Jacob, “Please, let me have a quick swallow of that red stuff there, because I am exhausted and famished.” For that reason Esau was [also] called Edom (Red).  
Gn2531 Jacob answered, “First sell me your birthright (the rights of a firstborn).”  
Gn2532 Esau said, “Look, I am about to die [if I do not eat soon]; so of what use is this birthright to me?”  
Gn2533 Jacob said, “Swear [an oath] to me today [that you are selling it to me for this food]”; so he swore [an oath] to him, and sold him his birthright.  
Gn2534 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and got up and went on his way. In this way Esau scorned his birthright.  
Gn2601 Now there was a famine in the land [of Canaan], besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines.  
Gn2602 The LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I will tell you.  
Gn2603 Live temporarily [as a resident] in this land and I will be with you and will bless and favor you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will establish and carry out the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.  
Gn2604 I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of the heavens, and will give to your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,  
Gn2605 because Abraham listened to and obeyed My voice and [consistently] kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”  
Gn2606 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.  
Gn2607 The men of the place asked him about his wife, and he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife”—thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, since she is very beautiful.”  
Gn2608 It happened when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah his wife.  
Gn2609 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “See here, Rebekah is in fact your wife! How did you [dare to] say to me, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I thought I might be killed because of her [desirability].”  
Gn2610 Abimelech said, “What is this that you have done to us? One of the men [among our people] might easily have been intimate with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us [before God].”  
Gn2611 Then Abimelech commanded all his people, “Whoever touches this man [Isaac] or his wife [Rebekah] shall without exception be put to death.”  
Gn2612 Then Isaac planted [seed] in that land [as a farmer] and reaped in the same year a hundred times [as much as he had planted], and the LORD blessed and favored him.  
Gn2613 And the man [Isaac] became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and extremely distinguished;  
Gn2614 he owned flocks and herds and a great household [with a number of servants], and the Philistines envied him.  
Gn2615 Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with dirt.  
Gn2616 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from here, because you are far too powerful for us.”  
Gn2617 So Isaac left that region and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and settled there.  
Gn2618 Now Isaac again dug [and reopened] the wells of water which had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, because the Philistines had filled them up [with dirt] after the death of Abraham; and he gave the wells the same names that his father had given them.  
Gn2619 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing [spring] water,  
Gn2620 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours!” So Isaac named the well Esek (quarreling), because they quarreled with him.  
Gn2621 Then his servants dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so Isaac named it Sitnah (enmity).  
Gn2622 He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over that one; so he named it Rehoboth (broad places), saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be prosperous in the land.”  
Gn2623 Then he went up from there to Beersheba.  
Gn2624 The LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father; Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless and favor you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.”  
Gn2625 So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD [in prayer]. He pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.  
Gn2626 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, his [close friend and confidential] adviser, and Phicol, the commander of his army.  
Gn2627 Isaac said to them, “Why have you [people] come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”  
Gn2628 They said, “We see clearly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, ‘There should now be an oath between us [with a curse for the one who breaks it], that is, between you and us, and let us make a covenant (binding agreement, solemn promise) with you,  
Gn2629 that you will not harm us, just as we have not touched you and have done nothing but good to you and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed and favored of the LORD!’”  
Gn2630 Then Isaac held a [formal] banquet (covenant feast) for them, and they ate and drank.  
Gn2631 They got up early in the morning and swore oaths [pledging to do nothing but good to each other]; and Isaac sent them on their way and they left him in peace.  
Gn2632 Now on the same day, Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug, saying, “We have found water.”  
Gn2633 So he named the well Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.  
Gn2634 When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite as his wives;  
Gn2635 and they were a source of grief to [Esau’s parents] Isaac and Rebekah.  
Gn2701 Now when Isaac was old and his eyes were too dim to see, he called his elder [and favorite] son Esau and said to him, “My son.” And Esau answered him, “Here I am.”  
Gn2702 Isaac said, “See here, I am old; I do not know when I may die.  
Gn2703 So now, please take your [hunting] gear, your quiver [of arrows] and your bow, and go out into the open country and hunt game for me;  
Gn2704 and make me a savory and delicious dish [of meat], the kind I love, and bring it to me to eat, so that my soul may bless you [as my firstborn son] before I die.”  
Gn2705 But Rebekah overheard what Isaac said to Esau his son; and when Esau had gone to the open country to hunt for game that he might bring back,  
Gn2706 Rebekah said to Jacob her [younger and favorite] son, “Listen carefully: I heard your father saying to Esau your brother,  
Gn2707 ‘Bring me some game and make me a savory and delicious dish [of meat], so that I may eat it, and declare my blessing on you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’  
Gn2708 So now, my son, listen [carefully] to me [and do exactly] as I command you.  
Gn2709 Go now to the flock and bring me two good and suitable young goats, and I will make them into a savory dish [of meat] for your father, the kind he loves [to eat].  
Gn2710 Then you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”  
Gn2711 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth [skinned] man.  
Gn2712 Suppose my father touches me and feels my skin; then I will be seen by him as a cheat (imposter), and I will bring his curse on me and not a blessing.”  
Gn2713 But his mother said to him, “May your curse be on me, my son; only listen and obey me, and go, bring the young goats to me.”  
Gn2714 So Jacob went and got the two young goats, and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared a delicious dish of food [with a delightful aroma], the kind his father loved [to eat].  
Gn2715 Then Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes, which were with her in her house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.  
Gn2716 And she put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.  
Gn2717 Then she gave her son Jacob the delicious meat and the bread which she had prepared.  
Gn2718 So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And Isaac said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”  
Gn2719 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done what you told me to do. Now please, sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may bless me.”  
Gn2720 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found the game so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the LORD your God caused it to come to me.”  
Gn2721 But Isaac [wondered and] said to Jacob, “Please come close [to me] so that I may touch you, my son, and determine if you are really my son Esau or not.”  
Gn2722 So Jacob approached Isaac, and his father touched him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”  
Gn2723 He could not recognize him [as Jacob], because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.  
Gn2724 But he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” Jacob answered, “I am.”  
Gn2725 Then Isaac said, “Bring the food to me, and I will eat some of my son’s game, so that I may bless you.” He brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine and he drank.  
Gn2726 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come, my son, and kiss me.”  
Gn2727 So he came and kissed him; and Isaac smelled his clothing and blessed him and said, “The scent of my son [Esau] Is like the aroma of a field which the LORD has blessed;  
Gn2728 Now may God give you of the dew of heaven [to water your land], And of the fatness (fertility) of the earth, And an abundance of grain and new wine;  
Gn2729 May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be lord and master over your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, And may those who bless you be blessed.”  
Gn2730 Now as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely left the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.  
Gn2731 Esau also made a delicious dish [of meat] and brought it to his father and said to him, “Let my father get up and eat some of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.”  
Gn2732 Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?” And he replied, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”  
Gn2733 Then Isaac trembled violently, and he said, “Then who was the one [who was just here] who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I blessed him. Yes, and he [in fact] shall be (shall remain) blessed.”  
Gn2734 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with a great and extremely bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”  
Gn2735 Isaac said, “Your brother came deceitfully and has [fraudulently] taken away your blessing [for himself].”  
Gn2736 Esau replied, “Is he not rightly named Jacob (the supplanter)? For he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing. Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”  
Gn2737 But Isaac replied to Esau, “Listen carefully: I have made Jacob your lord and master; I have given him all his brothers and relatives as servants; and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then, can I do for you, my son?”  
Gn2738 Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” Then Esau [no longer able to restrain himself] raised his voice and wept [loudly].  
Gn2739 Then Isaac his father answered and [prophesied and] said to him, “Your dwelling shall be away from the fertility of the earth And away from the dew of heaven above;  
Gn2740 But you shall live by your sword, And serve your brother; However it shall come to pass when you break loose [from your anger and hatred], That you will tear his yoke off your neck [and you will be free of him].”  
Gn2741 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are very near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”  
Gn2742 When these words of her elder son Esau were repeated to Rebekah, she sent for Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Listen carefully, your brother Esau is comforting himself concerning you by planning to kill you.  
Gn2743 So now, my son, listen and do what I say; go, escape to my brother Laban in Haran!  
Gn2744 Stay with him for a while, until your brother’s anger subsides.  
Gn2745 When your brother’s anger toward you subsides and he forgets what you did to him, then I will send and bring you back from there. Why should I be deprived of you both in a single day?”  
Gn2746 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth [these insolent wives of Esau]. If Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”  
Gn2801 So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, “You shall not marry one of the women of Canaan.  
Gn2802 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take from there as a wife for yourself one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.  
Gn2803 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a [great] company of peoples.  
Gn2804 May He also give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the [promised] land of your sojournings, which He gave to Abraham.”  
Gn2805 Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.  
Gn2806 Now Esau noticed that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife for himself from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a prohibition, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,”  
Gn2807 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram.  
Gn2808 So Esau realized that [his two wives] the daughters of Canaan displeased Isaac his father;  
Gn2809 and [to appease his parents] Esau went to [the family of] Ishmael and took as his wife, in addition to the wives he [already] had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth [Ishmael’s firstborn son].  
Gn2810 Now Jacob left Beersheba [never to see his mother again] and traveled toward Haran.  
Gn2811 And he came to a certain place and stayed overnight there because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down there [to sleep].  
Gn2812 He dreamed that there was a ladder (stairway) placed on the earth, and the top of it reached [out of sight] toward heaven; and [he saw] the angels of God ascending and descending on it [going to and from heaven].  
Gn2813 And behold, the LORD stood above and around him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your [father’s] father and the God of Isaac; I will give to you and to your descendants the land [of promise] on which you are lying.  
Gn2814 Your descendants shall be as [countless as] the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and the east and the north and the south; and all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed through you and your descendants.  
Gn2815 Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  
Gn2816 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, “Without any doubt the LORD is in this place, and I did not realize it.”  
Gn2817 So he was afraid and said, “How fearful and awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven.”  
Gn2818 So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone he had put under his head and he set it up as a pillar [that is, a monument to the vision in his dream], and he poured [olive] oil on the top of it [to consecrate it].  
Gn2819 He named that place Bethel (the house of God); the previous name of that city was Luz (Almond Tree).  
Gn2820 Then Jacob made a vow (promise), saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear,  
Gn2821 and if [He grants that] I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God.  
Gn2822 This stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument, memorial) will be God’s house [a sacred place to me], and of everything that You give me I will give the tenth to You [as an offering to signify my gratitude and dependence on You].”  
Gn2901 Then Jacob went on his way and came to the land of the people of the East [near Haran].  
Gn2902 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lying there [resting] beside it because the flocks were watered from that well. Now the stone on the mouth of the well [that covered and protected it] was large,  
Gn2903 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, water the sheep, and [afterward] replace the stone on the mouth of the well.  
Gn2904 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” And they said, “We are from Haran.”  
Gn2905 So he said to them, “Do you know Laban the grandson of Nahor [Abraham’s brother]?” And they replied, “We know him.”  
Gn2906 And he asked them, “Is it well with him?” And they said, “He is doing well; look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep!”  
Gn2907 Jacob said, “Look, the sun is still high [overhead]; it is a long time before the flocks need to be gathered [in their folds for the night]. Water the sheep, and go, and return them to their pasture.”  
Gn2908 But they said, “We cannot [leave] until all the flocks are gathered together, and the shepherds roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we will water the sheep.”  
Gn2909 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.  
Gn2910 When Jacob saw [his cousin] Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and Laban’s sheep, he came up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered the flock of Laban, his uncle.  
Gn2911 Then Jacob kissed Rachel [in greeting], and he raised his voice and wept.  
Gn2912 Jacob told Rachel he was her father’s relative, Rebekah’s son; and she ran and told her father.  
Gn2913 When Laban heard of the arrival of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him, and embraced and kissed him and brought him to his house. Then he told Laban all these things.  
Gn2914 Then Laban said to him, “You are my bone and my flesh.” And Jacob stayed with him a month.  
Gn2915 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?”  
Gn2916 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  
Gn2917 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.  
Gn2918 Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, “I will serve you [as a hired workman] for seven years [in return] for [the privilege of marrying] Rachel your younger daughter.”  
Gn2919 Laban said, “It is better that I give her [in marriage] to you than give her to another man. Stay and work with me.”  
Gn2920 So Jacob served [Laban] for seven years for [the right to marry] Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.  
Gn2921 Finally, Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time [of service] is completed, so that I may take her to me [as my wife].”  
Gn2922 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and prepared a [wedding] feast [with wine].  
Gn2923 But in the evening he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob went in to [consummate the marriage with] her.  
Gn2924 Laban also gave Zilpah his maid to his daughter Leah as a maid.  
Gn2925 But in the morning [when Jacob awoke], it was Leah [who was with him]! And he said to Laban, “What is this that you have done to me? Did I not work for you [for seven years] for Rachel? Why have you deceived and betrayed me [like this]?”  
Gn2926 But Laban only said, “It is not the tradition here to give the younger [daughter in marriage] before the older.  
Gn2927 Finish the week [of the wedding feast] for Leah; then we will give you Rachel also, and in return you shall work for me for seven more years.”  
Gn2928 So Jacob complied and fulfilled Leah’s week [of celebration]; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his [second] wife.  
Gn2929 Laban also gave Bilhah his maid to his daughter Rachel as a maid.  
Gn2930 So Jacob consummated his marriage and lived with Rachel [as his wife], and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years.  
Gn2931 Now when the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren.  
Gn2932 Leah conceived and gave birth to a son and named him Reuben (See, a son!), for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my humiliation and suffering; now my husband will love me [since I have given him a son].”  
Gn2933 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Because the LORD heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon (God hears).  
Gn2934 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me [as a companion], for I have given him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.  
Gn2935 Again she conceived and gave birth to a [fourth] son, and she said, “Now I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah; then [for a time] she stopped bearing [children].  
Gn3001 When Rachel saw that she conceived no children for Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”  
Gn3002 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has denied you children?”  
Gn3003 She said, “Here, take my maid Bilhah and go in to her; and [when the baby comes] she shall deliver it [while sitting] on my knees, so that by her I may also have children [to count as my own].”  
Gn3004 So she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob went in to her.  
Gn3005 Bilhah conceived and gave birth to a son for Jacob.  
Gn3006 Then Rachel said, “God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son [through my maid].” So she named him Dan (He judged).  
Gn3007 Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, conceived again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob.  
Gn3008 So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings [in prayer to God] I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali (my wrestlings).  
Gn3009 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing [children], she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a [secondary] wife.  
Gn3010 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a son for Jacob.  
Gn3011 Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad (good fortune).  
Gn3012 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a second son for Jacob.  
Gn3013 Then Leah said, “I am happy! For women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher (happy).  
Gn3014 Now at the time of wheat harvest Reuben [the eldest child] went and found some mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”  
Gn3015 But Leah answered, “Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Jacob shall sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”  
Gn3016 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must sleep with me [tonight], for I have in fact hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.  
Gn3017 God listened and answered [the prayer of] Leah, and she conceived and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.  
Gn3018 Then Leah said, “God has given me my reward because I have given my maid to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.  
Gn3019 Leah conceived again and gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob.  
Gn3020 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good [marriage] gift [for my husband]; now he will live with me [regarding me with honor as his wife], because I have given birth to six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.  
Gn3021 Afterward she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.  
Gn3022 Then God remembered [the prayers of] Rachel, and God thought of her and opened her womb [so that she would conceive].  
Gn3023 So she conceived and gave birth to a son; and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace and humiliation.”  
Gn3024 She named him Joseph (may He add) and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”  
Gn3025 Now when Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go back to my own place and to my own country.  
Gn3026 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know the work which I have done for you.”  
Gn3027 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay with me; for I have learned [from the omens in divination and by experience] that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”  
Gn3028 He said, “Name your wages, and I will give it [to you].”  
Gn3029 Jacob answered him, “You know how I have served you and how your possessions, your cattle and sheep and goats, have fared with me.  
Gn3030 For you had little before I came and it has increased and multiplied abundantly, and the LORD has favored you with blessings wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household?”  
Gn3031 Laban asked, “What shall I give you?” Jacob replied, “You shall not give me anything. But if you will do this one thing for me [which I now propose], I will again pasture and keep your flock:  
Gn3032 Let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every dark or black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and those shall be my wages.  
Gn3033 So my honesty will be evident for me later, when you come [for an accounting] concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and dark among the young lambs, if found with me, shall be considered stolen.”  
Gn3034 And Laban said, “Good! Let it be done as you say.”  
Gn3035 So on that same day Laban [secretly] removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one with white on it, and all the dark ones among the sheep, and put them in the care of his sons.  
Gn3036 And he put [a distance of] three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob was then left in care of the rest of Laban’s flock.  
Gn3037 Then Jacob took branches of fresh poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white in the branches.  
Gn3038 Then he set the branches which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated and conceived when they came to drink.  
Gn3039 So the flocks mated and conceived by the branches, and the flocks gave birth to streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring.  
Gn3040 Jacob separated the lambs, and [as he had done with the peeled branches] he made the flocks face toward the streaked and all the dark or black in the [new] flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart by themselves and did not put them [where they could breed] with Laban’s flock.  
Gn3041 Furthermore, whenever the stronger [animals] of the flocks were breeding, Jacob would place the branches in the sight of the flock in the watering troughs, so that they would mate and conceive among the branches;  
Gn3042 but when the flock was sickly, he did not put the branches there; so the sicker [animals] were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s.  
Gn3043 So Jacob became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks [of sheep and goats], and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.  
Gn3101 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken away everything that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has acquired all this wealth and honor.”  
Gn3102 Jacob noticed [a change in] the attitude of Laban, and saw that it was not friendly toward him as before.  
Gn3103 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your people, and I will be with you.”  
Gn3104 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field,  
Gn3105 and he said to them, “I see [a change in] your father’s attitude, that he is not friendly toward me as [he was] before; but the God of my father [Isaac] has been with me.  
Gn3106 You know that I have served your father with all my strength.  
Gn3107 Yet your father has cheated me [as often as possible] and changed my wages ten times; but God did not allow him to hurt me.  
Gn3108 If he said, ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled [young]; and if he said, ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked [young].  
Gn3109 Thus God has taken away the flocks of your father and given them to me.  
Gn3110 And it happened at the time when the flock conceived that I looked up and saw in a dream that the rams which mated [with the female goats] were streaked, speckled, and spotted.  
Gn3111 And the Angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’  
Gn3112 He said, ‘Look up and see, all the rams which are mating [with the flock] are streaked, speckled, and spotted; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.  
Gn3113 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you made a vow to Me; now stand up, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’”  
Gn3114 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?  
Gn3115 Are we not counted by him as foreigners? For he sold us [to you in marriage], and has also entirely used up our purchase price.  
Gn3116 Surely all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has told you to do, do it.”  
Gn3117 Then Jacob stood [and took action] and put his children and his wives on camels;  
Gn3118 and he drove away all his livestock and [took along] all his property which he had acquired, the livestock he had obtained and accumulated in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.  
Gn3119 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel [went inside the house and] stole her father’s household gods.  
Gn3120 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean (Syrian) by not telling him that he intended to leave and he slipped away secretly.  
Gn3121 So he fled with everything that he had, and got up and crossed the river [Euphrates], and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead [east of the Jordan River].  
Gn3122 On the third day [after his departure] Laban was told that Jacob had fled.  
Gn3123 So he took his relatives with him and pursued him for seven days, and they overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.  
Gn3124 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob, either good or bad.”  
Gn3125 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the hill, and Laban with his relatives camped on the same hill of Gilead.  
Gn3126 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What do you mean by deceiving me and leaving without my knowledge, and carrying off my daughters as if [they were] captives of the sword?  
Gn3127 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me and not tell me, so that [otherwise] I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with [music on the] tambourine and lyre?  
Gn3128 And why did you not allow me to kiss my grandchildren and my daughters [goodbye]? Now you have done a foolish thing [in behaving like this].  
Gn3129 It is in my power to harm you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak to Jacob, either good or bad.’  
Gn3130 Now [I suppose] you felt you must go because you were homesick for your father’s house and family; but why did you steal my [household] gods?”  
Gn3131 Jacob answered Laban, “[I left secretly] because I was afraid, for I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.  
Gn3132 The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our relatives [search my possessions and] point out whatever you find that belongs to you and take it.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.  
Gn3133 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he came out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.  
Gn3134 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddlebag and sat on them. Laban searched through all her tent, but did not find them.  
Gn3135 So Rachel said to her father, “Do not be displeased, my lord, that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is on me and I am unwell.” He searched [further] but did not find the household idols.  
Gn3136 Then Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. And he said to Laban, “What is my fault? What is my sin that you pursued me like this?  
Gn3137 Although you have searched through all my possessions, what have you found of your household goods? Put it here before my relatives and your relatives, so that they may decide [who has done right] between the two of us.  
Gn3138 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not lost their young, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks.  
Gn3139 I did not bring you the torn carcasses [of the animals attacked by predators]; I [personally] took the loss. You required of me [to make good] everything that was stolen, whether it occurred by day or night.  
Gn3140 This was my situation: by day the heat consumed me and by night the cold, and I could not sleep.  
Gn3141 These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for [my share of] your flocks, and you have changed my wages ten times.  
Gn3142 If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and [the Feared One] of Isaac, had not been with me, most certainly you would have sent me away now empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and humiliation and the [exhausting] labor of my hands, so He rendered judgment and rebuked you last night.”  
Gn3143 Laban answered Jacob, “These women [that you married] are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, these flocks are [from] my flocks, and all that you see [here] is mine. But what can I do today to these my daughters or to their children to whom they have given birth?  
Gn3144 So come now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between you and me.”  
Gn3145 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a [memorial] pillar.  
Gn3146 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a mound [of stones], and they ate [a ceremonial meal together] there on the mound [of stones].  
Gn3147 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha (stone monument of testimony in Aramaic), but Jacob called it Galeed.  
Gn3148 Laban said, “This mound [of stones] is a witness [a reminder of the oath taken] today between you and me.” Therefore he [also] called the name Galeed,  
Gn3149 and Mizpah (watchtower), for Laban said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent from one another.  
Gn3150 If you should mistreat (humiliate, oppress) my daughters, or if you should take other wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us [as a witness], see and remember, God is witness between you and me.”  
Gn3151 Laban said to Jacob, “Look at this mound [of stones] and look at this pillar which I have set up between you and me.  
Gn3152 This mound is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this mound to harm you, and that you will not pass by this mound and this pillar to harm me.  
Gn3153 The God of Abraham [your father] and the God of Nahor [my father], and the god [the image of worship] of their father [Terah, an idolater], judge between us.” But Jacob swore [only] by [the one true God] the Fear of his father Isaac.  
Gn3154 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice [to the LORD] on the mountain, and called his relatives to the meal; and they ate food and spent the night on the mountain.  
Gn3155 Early in the morning Laban got up and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters [goodbye] and pronounced a blessing [asking God’s favor] on them. Then Laban left and returned home.  
Gn3201 Then as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him [to reassure and protect him].  
Gn3202 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim (double camps).  
Gn3203 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  
Gn3204 He commanded them, saying, “This is what to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says this, “I have been living temporarily with Laban, and have stayed there until now;  
Gn3205 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants; and I have sent [this message] to tell my lord, so that I may find grace and kindness in your sight.”’”  
Gn3206 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.”  
Gn3207 Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps;  
Gn3208 and he said, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the other camp which is left will escape.”  
Gn3209 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your people, and I will make you prosper,’  
Gn3210 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and compassion and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant. With only my staff [long ago] I crossed over this Jordan, and now I have become [blessed and increased into these] two groups [of people].  
Gn3211 Save me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children.  
Gn3212 And You [LORD] said, ‘I will certainly make you prosper and make your descendants as [numerous as] the sand of the sea, which is too great to be counted.’”  
Gn3213 So Jacob spent the night there. Then he selected a present for his brother Esau from the livestock he had acquired:  
Gn3214 two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams,  
Gn3215 thirty milking camels with their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten [donkey] colts.  
Gn3216 He put them into the care of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go on ahead of me, and put an interval [of space] between the individual herds.”  
Gn3217 Then he commanded the one in front, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks to whom you belong, and where you are going, and whose are the animals in front of you?  
Gn3218 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s; they are a gift sent to my lord Esau. And he also is behind us.’”  
Gn3219 And so Jacob commanded the second and the third as well, and all that followed the herds, saying, “This is what you shall say to Esau when you meet him;  
Gn3220 and you shall say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he said [to himself], “I will try to appease him with the gift that is going ahead of me. Then afterward I will see him; perhaps he will accept and forgive me.”  
Gn3221 So the gift [of the herds of livestock] went on ahead of him, and he himself spent that night back in the camp.  
Gn3222 But he got up that same night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and waded over the ford of the Jabbok.  
Gn3223 Then he took them and sent them across the brook. And he also sent across whatever he had.  
Gn3224 So Jacob was left alone, and a Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak.  
Gn3225 When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him.  
Gn3226 Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.”  
Gn3227 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”  
Gn3228 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”  
Gn3229 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “Why is it that you ask My name?” And He declared a blessing [of the covenant promises] on Jacob there.  
Gn3230 So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.”  
Gn3231 Now the sun rose on him as he passed Penuel (Peniel), and he was limping because of his hip.  
Gn3232 Therefore, to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh by the tendon of the hip.  
Gn3301 Then Jacob looked up, and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids.  
Gn3302 He put the maids and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.  
Gn3303 Then Jacob crossed over [the stream] ahead of them and bowed himself to the ground seven times [bowing and moving forward each time], until he approached his brother.  
Gn3304 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and hugged his neck and kissed him, and they wept [for joy].  
Gn3305 Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So Jacob replied, “They are the children whom God has graciously given your servant.”  
Gn3306 Then the maids approached with their children, and they bowed down.  
Gn3307 Leah also approached with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel approached, and they bowed down.  
Gn3308 Esau asked, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he answered, “[These are] to find favor in the sight of my lord.”  
Gn3309 But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”  
Gn3310 Jacob replied, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then accept my gift [as a blessing] from my hand, for I see your face as if I had seen the face of God, and you have received me favorably.  
Gn3311 Please accept my blessing (gift) which has been brought to you, for God has dealt graciously with me and I have everything [that I could possibly want].” So Jacob kept urging him and Esau accepted it.  
Gn3312 Then Esau said, “Let us get started on our journey and I will go in front of you [to lead the way].”  
Gn3313 But Jacob replied, “You know, my lord, that the children are frail and need gentle care, and the nursing flocks and herds [with young] are of concern to me; for if the men should drive them hard for a single day, all the flocks will die.  
Gn3314 Please let my lord go on ahead of his servant, and I will move on slowly, governed by the pace of the livestock that are in front of me and according to the endurance of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir [in Edom].”  
Gn3315 Then Esau said, “Please let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But Jacob said, “What need is there [for it]? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”  
Gn3316 So Esau turned back [toward the south] that day on his way to Seir.  
Gn3317 But Jacob journeyed [north] to Succoth, and built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock; so the name of the place is Succoth (huts, shelters).  
Gn3318 When Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely and in peace at the city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and camped in front of the [walled] city.  
Gn3319 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had pitched his tents from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money.  
Gn3320 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.  
Gn3401 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out [unescorted] to visit the girls of the land.  
Gn3402 When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince (sheik) of the land, saw her, he kidnapped her and lay [intimately] with her by force [humbling and offending her].  
Gn3403 But his soul longed for and clung to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke comfortingly to her young heart’s wishes.  
Gn3404 So Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”  
Gn3405 Now Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled (violated) Dinah his daughter; but his sons were in the field with his livestock, so Jacob said nothing until they came in.  
Gn3406 But Shechem’s father Hamor went to Jacob to talk with him.  
Gn3407 Now when Jacob’s sons heard of it they came in from the field; they were deeply grieved, and they were very angry, for Shechem had done a disgraceful thing to Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing is not to be done.  
Gn3408 But Hamor conferred with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem [deeply] longs for your daughter [and sister]. Please give her to him as his wife.  
Gn3409 And [beyond that] intermarry with us; give your daughters to us [as wives] and take our daughters for yourselves.  
Gn3410 In this way you shall live with us; the country will be open to you; live and do business in it and acquire property and possessions in it.”  
Gn3411 Shechem also said to Dinah’s father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your sight, and I will give you whatever you ask of me.  
Gn3412 Demand of me a very large bridal payment and gift [as compensation for giving up your daughter and sister], and I will give you whatever you tell me; only give me the girl to be my wife.”  
Gn3413 Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because Shechem had defiled and disgraced their sister Dinah.  
Gn3414 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing and give our sister [in marriage] to one who is not circumcised, because that would be a disgrace to us.  
Gn3415 But we will consent to you only on this condition: if you will become like us, in that every male among you consents to be circumcised,  
Gn3416 then we will give our daughters to you [in marriage], and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people.  
Gn3417 But if you do not listen to us and refuse to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter [Dinah] and go.”  
Gn3418 Their words seemed reasonable to Hamor and his son Shechem,  
Gn3419 and the young man did not hesitate to do the [required] thing, for he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter. Now he was more respected and honored than all [others] in the household of his father.  
Gn3420 Then Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their [walled] city [where the leading men would meet] and spoke with the men of the city, saying,  
Gn3421 “These men are peaceful and friendly with us; so let them live in the land and do business in it, for the land is large enough [for us and] for them; let us take their daughters for wives and let us give them our daughters [in marriage].  
Gn3422 But only on this condition will the men consent to our request that they live among us and become one people: that every male among us become circumcised just as they are circumcised.  
Gn3423 Will not their cattle and their possessions and all their animals be ours [if we do this]? Let us consent [to do as they ask], and they will live here with us.”  
Gn3424 And every [Canaanite] man who went out of the city gate listened and considered what Hamor and Shechem said; and every male who was a resident of that city was circumcised.  
Gn3425 Now on the third day [after the circumcision], when all the men were [terribly] sore and in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s [full] brothers, took their swords, boldly entered the city [without anyone suspecting them of evil intent], and they killed every male.  
Gn3426 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house [where she was staying], and left.  
Gn3427 Then Jacob’s [other] sons came upon those who were killed and looted the town, because their sister had been defiled and disgraced.  
Gn3428 They took the Canaanites’ flocks and their herds and their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field;  
Gn3429 they looted all their wealth, and [took captive] all their children and their wives, even everything that was in the houses.  
Gn3430 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me, making me a stench to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites! My men are few in number, and the men of the land will band together against me and attack me; I shall be destroyed, I and my household.”  
Gn3431 But they said, “Should he [be permitted to] treat our sister as a prostitute?”  
Gn3501 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled [years ago] from Esau your brother.”  
Gn3502 Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the [idols and images of] foreign gods that are among you, and ceremonially purify yourselves and change [into fresh] clothes;  
Gn3503 then let us get up and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”  
Gn3504 So they gave Jacob all the [idols and images of the] foreign gods they had and the rings which were in their ears [worn as charms against evil], and Jacob buried them under the oak tree near Shechem.  
Gn3505 As they journeyed, there was a great [supernatural] terror [sent from God] on the cities around them, and [for that reason] the Canaanites did not pursue the sons of Jacob.  
Gn3506 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him.  
Gn3507 There he built an altar [to worship the LORD], and called the place El-bethel (God of the House of God), because there God had revealed Himself to him when he escaped from his brother.  
Gn3508 Now Deborah, [who once was] Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried below Bethel under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth (Oak of Weeping).  
Gn3509 Then God [in a visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Paddan-aram, and declared a blessing on him.  
Gn3510 Again God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.” So he was called Israel.  
Gn3511 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall be born of your loins.  
Gn3512 “The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.”  
Gn3513 Then God ascended from Jacob in the place where He had spoken with him.  
Gn3514 Jacob set up a pillar (memorial, monument) in the place where he had talked with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering [of wine] on it; he also poured oil on it [to declare it sacred for God’s purpose].  
Gn3515 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (the House of God).  
Gn3516 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel began to give birth and had difficulty and suffered severely.  
Gn3517 When she was in hard labor the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid; you now have another son.”  
Gn3518 And as her soul was departing, (for she died), she named him Ben-oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of the right hand).  
Gn3519 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).  
Gn3520 Jacob set a pillar (memorial, monument) on her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.  
Gn3521 Then Israel (Jacob) journeyed on and pitched his tent on the other side of the tower of Eder [the lookout point used by shepherds].  
Gn3522 While Israel was living in that land, Reuben [his eldest son] went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons—  
Gn3523 The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;  
Gn3524 and the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;  
Gn3525 and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali;  
Gn3526 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob born to him in Paddan-aram.  
Gn3527 Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived temporarily.  
Gn3528 Now the days of Isaac were a hundred and eighty years.  
Gn3529 Isaac’s spirit departed and he died and was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death], an old man full of days (satisfied, fulfilled); his sons Esau and Jacob buried him [in the cave of Machpelah with his parents Abraham and Sarah].  
Gn3601 Now these are the records of the descendants of Esau, (that is, Edom).  
Gn3602 Esau took his [three] wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the son of Zibeon the Hivite,  
Gn3603 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.  
Gn3604 Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel,  
Gn3605 and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau born to him in Canaan.  
Gn3606 Now Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all the members of his household, and his livestock and all his cattle and all his possessions which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother Jacob.  
Gn3607 For their [great flocks and herds and] possessions made it impossible for them to live together [in the same region]; the land in which they lived temporarily could not support them because of their livestock.  
Gn3608 So Esau lived in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom.  
Gn3609 These are the records of the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.  
Gn3610 These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, the son of Adah, Esau’s wife, and Reuel, the son of Basemath, Esau’s wife.  
Gn3611 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.  
Gn3612 And Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son; and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.  
Gn3613 These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.  
Gn3614 And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the son of Zibeon. She bore to Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.  
Gn3615 These are the tribal chiefs of the sons of Esau: The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,  
Gn3616 Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Adah.  
Gn3617 These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah. These are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.  
Gn3618 These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the chiefs born of Oholibamah, daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.  
Gn3619 These are the sons of Esau, (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.  
Gn3620 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,  
Gn3621 Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom.  
Gn3622 The sons of Lotan are Hori and Hemam; and Lotan’s sister is Timna.  
Gn3623 The sons of Shobal are these: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.  
Gn3624 These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of Zibeon his father.  
Gn3625 The children of Anah are these: Dishon and Oholibamah [Esau’s wife], the daughter of Anah.  
Gn3626 These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.  
Gn3627 Ezer’s sons are these: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.  
Gn3628 The sons of Dishan are these: Uz and Aran.  
Gn3629 The Horite chiefs are these: Chiefs Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,  
Gn3630 Dishon, Ezer, Dishan. These are the Horite chiefs, according to their various clans in the land of Seir.  
Gn3631 And these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:  
Gn3632 Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.  
Gn3633 Now Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned as his successor.  
Gn3634 Then Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned as his successor.  
Gn3635 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned as his successor. The name of his [walled] city was Avith.  
Gn3636 Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him.  
Gn3637 Then Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the river [Euphrates] reigned as his successor.  
Gn3638 And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned as his successor.  
Gn3639 Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and then Hadar reigned [as his successor]. His [walled] city was Pau; his wife’s name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.  
Gn3640 And these are the names of the tribal chiefs of Esau, according to their families and places of residence, by their names: Chiefs Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,  
Gn3641 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,  
Gn3642 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,  
Gn3643 Magdiel, and Iram. These are the tribal chiefs of Edom (that is, of Esau the father of the Edomites), according to their dwelling places in the land of their possession.  
Gn3701 So Jacob (Israel) lived in the land where his father [Isaac] had been a stranger (sojourner, resident alien), in the land of Canaan.  
Gn3702 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers [Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher]; the boy was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s [secondary] wives; and Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.  
Gn3703 Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a [distinctive] multicolored tunic.  
Gn3704 His brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than all of his brothers; so they hated him and could not [find it within themselves to] speak to him on friendly terms.  
Gn3705 Now Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more.  
Gn3706 He said to them, “Please listen to [the details of] this dream which I have dreamed;  
Gn3707 we [brothers] were binding sheaves [of grain stalks] in the field, and lo, my sheaf [suddenly] got up and stood upright and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves stood all around my sheaf and bowed down [in respect].”  
Gn3708 His brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Are you really going to rule and govern us as your subjects?” So they hated him even more for [telling them about] his dreams and for his [arrogant] words.  
Gn3709 But Joseph dreamed still another dream, and told it to his brothers [as well]. He said, “See here, I have again dreamed a dream, and lo, [this time I saw] eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowed down [in respect] to me!”  
Gn3710 He told it to his father as well as to his brothers; but his father rebuked him and said to him [in disbelief], “What is [the meaning of] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down to the ground [in respect] before you?”  
Gn3711 Joseph’s brothers were envious and jealous of him, but his father kept the words [of Joseph] in mind [wondering about their meaning].  
Gn3712 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem.  
Gn3713 Israel (Jacob) said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing [the flock] at Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said, “Here I am [ready to obey you].”  
Gn3714 Then Jacob said to him, “Please go and see whether everything is all right with your brothers and all right with the flock; then bring word [back] to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.  
Gn3715 Now a certain man found Joseph, and saw that he was wandering around and had lost his way in the field; so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”  
Gn3716 He said, “I am looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are pasturing our flocks.”  
Gn3717 Then the man said, “[They were here, but] they have moved on from this place. I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.  
Gn3718 And when they saw him from a distance, even before he came close to them, they plotted to kill him.  
Gn3719 They said to one another, “Look, here comes this dreamer.  
Gn3720 Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits (cisterns, underground water storage); then we will say [to our father], ‘A wild animal killed and devoured him’; and we shall see what will become of his dreams!”  
Gn3721 Now Reuben [the eldest] heard this and rescued him from their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”  
Gn3722 Reuben said to them, “Do not shed his blood, but [instead] throw him [alive] into the pit that is here in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him [to kill him]”—[he said this so] that he could rescue him from them and return him [safely] to his father.  
Gn3723 Now when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the [distinctive] multicolored tunic which he was wearing;  
Gn3724 then they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty; there was no water in it.  
Gn3725 Then they sat down to eat their meal. When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead [east of the Jordan], with their camels bearing ladanum resin [for perfume] and balm and myrrh, going on their way to carry the cargo down to Egypt.  
Gn3726 Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)?  
Gn3727 Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed.  
Gn3728 Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt.  
Gn3729 Now Reuben [unaware of what had happened] returned to the pit, and [to his great alarm found that] Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his clothes [in deep sorrow].  
Gn3730 He rejoined his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where shall I go [to hide from my father]?”  
Gn3731 Then they took Joseph’s tunic, slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;  
Gn3732 and they brought the multicolored tunic to their father, saying, “We have found this; please examine it and decide whether or not it is your son’s tunic.”  
Gn3733 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces!”  
Gn3734 So Jacob tore his clothes [in grief], put on sackcloth and mourned many days for his son.  
Gn3735 Then all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in mourning for my son.” And his father wept for him.  
Gn3736 Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph [as a slave] to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the [royal] guard.  
Gn3801 Now at that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to [stay with] a certain Adullamite named Hirah.  
Gn3802 There Judah saw a daughter of Shua, a Canaanite, and he took her [as his wife] and lived with her.  
Gn3803 So she conceived and gave birth to a son and Judah named him Er.  
Gn3804 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.  
Gn3805 Again she conceived and gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.  
Gn3806 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.  
Gn3807 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him [in judgment].  
Gn3808 Then Judah told Onan, “Go in to your brother’s widow, and perform your duty as a brother- in-law [under the levirate marriage custom]; [be her husband and] raise children for [the name of] your brother.”  
Gn3809 Onan knew that the child (heir) would not be his [but his dead brother’s]; so whenever he lay with his brother’s widow, he spilled his seed on the ground [to prevent conception], so that he would not give a child to his brother.  
Gn3810 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; therefore He killed him also [in judgment].  
Gn3811 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow at your father’s house until Shelah my [youngest] son is grown”; [but he was deceiving her] for he thought that [if Shelah should marry her] he too might die like his brothers did. So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.  
Gn3812 But quite a while later, Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.  
Gn3813 Tamar was told, “Listen, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”  
Gn3814 So she removed her widow’s clothes and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself up [in disguise], and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife [as Judah had promised].  
Gn3815 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a [temple] prostitute, for she had covered her face [as such women did].  
Gn3816 He turned to her by the road, and said, “Please come, let me lie with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may lie with me?”  
Gn3817 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “Will you give me a pledge [as a deposit] until you send it?”  
Gn3818 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She said, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and was intimate with her, and she conceived by him.  
Gn3819 Then she got up and left, and removed her veil and put on her widow’s clothing.  
Gn3820 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to get his pledge [back] from the woman, he was unable to find her.  
Gn3821 He asked the men of that place, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the roadside at Enaim?” They said, “There was no prostitute here.”  
Gn3822 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I cannot find her; also the local men said, ‘There was no prostitute around here.’”  
Gn3823 Then Judah said, “Let her keep the things (pledge articles) for herself, otherwise we will be a laughingstock [searching everywhere for her]. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”  
Gn3824 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the [role of a] prostitute, and she is with child because of her immorality.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned [to death as punishment]!”  
Gn3825 While she was being brought out, she [took the things Judah had given her and] sent [them along with a message] to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these articles belong.” And she added, “Please examine [them carefully] and see [clearly] to whom these things belong, the seal and the cord and staff.”  
Gn3826 Judah recognized the articles, and said, “She has been more righteous [in this matter] than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah [as I had promised].” And Judah did not have [intimate] relations with her again.  
Gn3827 Now when the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.  
Gn3828 And when she was in labor, one [baby] put out his hand, and the midwife took his hand and tied a scarlet thread on it, saying, “This one was born first.”  
Gn3829 But he pulled back his hand, and his brother was born first. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself [to be the firstborn]!” So he was named Perez (breach, break forth).  
Gn3830 Afterward his brother who had the scarlet [thread] on his hand was born and was named Zerah (brightness).  
Gn3901 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the [royal] guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.  
Gn3902 The LORD was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.  
Gn3903 Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand.  
Gn3904 So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favor in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge.  
Gn3905 It happened that from the time that he made Joseph overseer in his house and [put him in charge] over all that he owned, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph; so the LORD’S blessing was on everything that Potiphar owned, in the house and in the field.  
Gn3906 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with Joseph there he did not [need to] pay attention to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and attractive in form and appearance.  
Gn3907 Then after a time his master’s wife looked at Joseph with desire, and she said, “Lie with me.”  
Gn3908 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me in the house, my master does not concern himself with anything; he has put everything that he owns in my charge.  
Gn3909 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?”  
Gn3910 And so it was that she spoke to Joseph [persistently] day after day, but he did not listen to her [plea] to lie beside her or be with her.  
Gn3911 Then it happened one day that Joseph went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the men of the household was there in the house.  
Gn3912 She caught Joseph by his [outer] robe, saying, “Lie with me!” But he left his robe in her hand and ran, and got outside [the house].  
Gn3913 When she saw that he had left his robe in her hand and had run outside,  
Gn3914 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “Look at this, your master has brought a Hebrew [into the household] to mock and insult us; he came to me to lie with me, and I screamed.  
Gn3915 When he heard me screaming, he left his robe with me and ran outside [the house].”  
Gn3916 So she left Joseph’s [outer] robe beside her until his master came home.  
Gn3917 Then she told her husband the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you brought among us, came to me to mock and insult me;  
Gn3918 then as soon as I raised my voice and screamed, he left his robe with me and ran outside [the house].”  
Gn3919 And when Joseph’s master heard the words of his wife, saying, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger burned.  
Gn3920 So Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison.  
Gn3921 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended lovingkindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden.  
Gn3922 The warden committed to Joseph’s care (management) all the prisoners who were in the prison; so that whatever was done there, he was in charge of it.  
Gn3923 The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the LORD was with him; whatever Joseph did, the LORD made to prosper.  
Gn4001 Now some time later, the cupbearer (butler) and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, Egypt’s king.  
Gn4002 Pharaoh (Sesostris II) was extremely angry with his two officials, the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers.  
Gn4003 He put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.  
Gn4004 The captain of the guard put Joseph in charge of them, and he served them; and they continued to be in custody for some time.  
Gn4005 Then the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, both dreamed a dream in the same night, each man with his [own significant] dream and each dream with its [personal] interpretation.  
Gn4006 When Joseph came to them in the morning and looked at them, [he saw that] they were sad and depressed.  
Gn4007 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in confinement with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so down-hearted today?”  
Gn4008 And they said to him, “We have [each] dreamed [distinct] dreams and there is no one to interpret them.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell me [your dreams].”  
Gn4009 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream there was a grapevine in front of me;  
Gn4010 and on the vine were three branches. Then as soon as it budded, its blossoms burst open, and its clusters produced ripe grapes [in rapid succession].  
Gn4011 Now Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup; then I placed the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”  
Gn4012 Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: the three branches represent three days;  
Gn4013 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head (present you in public) and restore you to your position; and you will [again] put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand just as [you did] when you were his cupbearer.  
Gn4014 Only think of me when it goes well with you, and please show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.  
Gn4015 For in fact I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for which they should put me in the dungeon.”  
Gn4016 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation [of the dream] was good, he said to Joseph, “I also dreamed, and [in my dream] there were three cake baskets on my head;  
Gn4017 and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds [of prey] were eating [these foods] out of the basket on my head.”  
Gn4018 Joseph answered, “This is the interpretation of it: the three baskets represent three days;  
Gn4019 within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and will hang you on a tree (gallows, pole), and [you will not so much as be given a burial, but] the birds will eat your flesh.”  
Gn4020 Now on the third day, [which was] the Pharaoh’s birthday, he [released the two men from prison and] made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker [that is, presented them in public] among his servants.  
Gn4021 He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and the cupbearer [once again] put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;  
Gn4022 but Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted [the meaning of the dreams] to them.  
Gn4023 Yet [even after all that] the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot [all about] him.  
Gn4101 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile.  
Gn4102 And lo, there came up out of the Nile seven [healthy] cows, sleek and handsome and fat; and they grazed in the reed grass [in a marshy pasture].  
Gn4103 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, ugly and gaunt and raw- boned, and stood by the fat cows on the bank of the Nile.  
Gn4104 Then the ugly and gaunt and raw-boned cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.  
Gn4105 Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good.  
Gn4106 Then behold, seven ears [of grain], thin and dried up by the east wind, sprouted after them.  
Gn4107 Then the thin ears swallowed the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.  
Gn4108 So when morning came his spirit was troubled and disturbed and he sent and called for all the magicians and all the wise men of Egypt. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them to him.  
Gn4109 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would mention my faults today.  
Gn4110 [Two years ago] Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker.  
Gn4111 We dreamed a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to [the significance of] the interpretation of his own dream.  
Gn4112 Now there was with us [in the prison] a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us, to each man according to the significance of his own dream.  
Gn4113 And just as he interpreted [the dreams] for us, so it happened; I was restored to my office [as chief cupbearer], and the baker was hanged.”  
Gn4114 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when Joseph shaved himself and changed his clothes [making himself presentable], he came to Pharaoh.  
Gn4115 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you that you can understand a dream and interpret it.”  
Gn4116 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me [to interpret the dream]; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a favorable answer [through me].”  
Gn4117 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile;  
Gn4118 and seven fat, sleek and handsome cows came up out of the river, and they grazed in the reed grass [of a marshy pasture].  
Gn4119 Lo, seven other cows came up after them, very ugly and gaunt [just skin and bones]; such emaciated animals as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt.  
Gn4120 And the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.  
Gn4121 Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had eaten them, because they were still as thin and emaciated as before. Then I awoke [but again I fell asleep and dreamed].  
Gn4122 I saw in my [second] dream, seven ears [of grain], plump and good, growing on a single stalk;  
Gn4123 and lo, seven [other] ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted after them;  
Gn4124 and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. Now I told this to the magicians and soothsayers, but there was no one who could explain it [to me].”  
Gn4125 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The [two] dreams are one [and the same and have one interpretation]; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.  
Gn4126 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the [two] dreams are one [and the same].  
Gn4127 The seven thin and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years; and also the seven thin ears, dried up and scorched by the east wind, they are seven years of famine and hunger.  
Gn4128 This is the message just as I have told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.  
Gn4129 Listen very carefully: seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt;  
Gn4130 but afterward seven years of famine and hunger will come, and [there will be such desperate need that] all the great abundance [of the previous years] will be forgotten in the land of Egypt [as if it never happened], and famine and destitution will ravage and destroy the land.  
Gn4131 So the great abundance will become forgotten in the land because of that subsequent famine, for it will be very severe.  
Gn4132 That the dream was repeated twice to Pharaoh [and in two different ways] indicates that this matter is fully determined and established by God, and God will bring it to pass very quickly.  
Gn4133 So now let Pharaoh [prepare ahead and] look for a man discerning and clear-headed and wise, and set him [in charge] over the land of Egypt [as governor under Pharaoh].  
Gn4134 Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers and officials over the land, and set aside one-fifth [of the produce] of the [entire] land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance.  
Gn4135 Let them gather [as a tax] all [of the fifth of] the food of these good years that are coming, and store up grain under the direction and authority of Pharaoh, and let them guard the food [in fortified granaries] in the cities.  
Gn4136 That food shall be put [in storage] as a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine and hunger which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land (people) will not be ravaged during the famine.”  
Gn4137 Now the plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all of his servants.  
Gn4138 So Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this [a man equal to Joseph], in whom is the divine spirit [of God]?”  
Gn4139 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since [your] God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and clear-headed and wise as you are.  
Gn4140 You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word and pay respect [to you with reverence, submission, and obedience]; only in [matters of] the throne will I be greater than you [in Egypt].”  
Gn4141 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you [in charge] over all the land of Egypt.”  
Gn4142 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and dressed him in [official] vestments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.  
Gn4143 He had him ride in his second chariot; and runners proclaimed before him, “[Attention,] bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt.  
Gn4144 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission shall no man raise his hand [to do anything] or set his foot [to go anywhere] in all the land of Egypt [all classes of people shall submit to your authority].”  
Gn4145 Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Heliopolis in Egypt), as his wife. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt [to inspect and govern it].  
Gn4146 Now Joseph [had been in Egypt thirteen years and] was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph departed from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt [performing his duties].  
Gn4147 In the seven abundant years the earth produced handfuls [for each seed planted].  
Gn4148 And Joseph gathered all the [surplus] food of the seven [good] years in the land of Egypt and stored [enormous quantities of] the food in the cities. He stored away in every city the food [collected] from its own surrounding fields.  
Gn4149 Thus Joseph gathered and stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting it, for it could not be measured.  
Gn4150 Now two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.  
Gn4151 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget), for he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.”  
Gn4152 He named the second [son] Ephraim (fruitfulness), for “God has caused me to be fruitful and very successful in the land of my suffering.”  
Gn4153 When the seven years of plenty came to an end in the land of Egypt,  
Gn4154 the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said [they would]; the famine was in all the [surrounding] lands, but in the land of Egypt there was bread (food).  
Gn4155 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; do whatever he says to you.”  
Gn4156 When the famine was spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold [surplus grain] to the Egyptians; and the famine grew [extremely] severe in the land of Egypt.  
Gn4157 And [the people of] all countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the [known] earth.  
Gn4201 Now when Jacob (Israel) learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another [in bewilderment and not taking action]?”  
Gn4202 He said, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy [some] grain for us, so that we may live and not die [of starvation].”  
Gn4203 So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.  
Gn4204 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s [younger] brother, with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that some harm or injury may come to him.”  
Gn4205 So the sons of Israel came [to Egypt] to buy grain along with the others who were coming, for famine was in the land of Canaan also.  
Gn4206 Now Joseph was the ruler over the land, and he was the one who sold [grain] to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s [half] brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.  
Gn4207 When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but [hiding his identity] he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”  
Gn4208 Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.  
Gn4209 Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies; you have come [with a malicious purpose] to observe the undefended parts of our land.”  
Gn4210 But they said to him, “No, my lord, for your servants have [only] come to buy food.  
Gn4211 We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.”  
Gn4212 Yet he said to them, “No, you have come to see the undefended parts of our land.”  
Gn4213 But they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers [in all], the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; please listen: the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.”  
Gn4214 Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies.  
Gn4215 In this way you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here!  
Gn4216 Send one of you [back home], and let him bring your brother [here], while [the rest of] you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, [to see] whether there is any truth in you [and your story]; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, certainly you are spies.”  
Gn4217 Then Joseph put them all in prison for three days.  
Gn4218 Now Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and [you may] live, for I fear God:  
Gn4219 if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your [place here in] prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine in your households,  
Gn4220 but bring your youngest brother to me, so your words will be verified and you will not die.” And they did so.  
Gn4221 And they said to one another, “Truly we are guilty regarding our brother [Joseph], because we saw the distress and anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us [to let him go], yet we would not listen [to his cry]; so this distress and anguish has come on us.”  
Gn4222 Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now the accounting for his blood is required [of us for we are guilty of his death].”  
Gn4223 They did not know that Joseph understood [their conversation], because he spoke to them through an interpreter.  
Gn4224 He turned away from his brothers and [left the room and] wept; then he returned and talked with them, and took Simeon from them and bound him in front of them [to be kept as a hostage in Egypt].  
Gn4225 Then Joseph gave orders [privately] that their bags be filled with grain, and that every man’s money [used to pay for the grain] be put back in his sack, and that provisions be given to them for the journey. And so this was done for them.  
Gn4226 They loaded their donkeys with grain and left from there.  
Gn4227 And at the lodging place, as one of them opened his sack to feed his donkey, he saw his money in the opening of his sack.  
Gn4228 And he said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! Here it is in my sack!” And their hearts sank, and they were afraid and turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”  
Gn4229 When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them, saying,  
Gn4230 “The man who is the lord of the land spoke harshly to us, and took us for spies of the land.  
Gn4231 But we told him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.  
Gn4232 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.’  
Gn4233 And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this [test] I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers here with me and take grain for your starving households and go.  
Gn4234 Bring your youngest brother to me; then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. Then I will return your [imprisoned] brother [back] to you, and you may trade and do business in the land.’”  
Gn4235 Now when they emptied their sacks, every man’s bundle of money [paid to buy grain] was in his sack. When they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.  
Gn4236 Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me [by causing the loss] of my children. Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin [from me]. All these things are [working] against me.”  
Gn4237 Then Reuben spoke to his father, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring Benjamin back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.”  
Gn4238 But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down [to Egypt] with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left [of Rachel’s children]. If any harm or accident should happen to him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in sorrow.”  
Gn4301 Now the famine was very severe in the land [of Canaan].  
Gn4302 And it happened that when the families of Jacob’s sons had finished eating [all of] the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”  
Gn4303 But Judah said to him, “The man [representing Pharaoh] solemnly and sternly warned us, saying, ‘You will not see my face [again] unless your brother is with you.’  
Gn4304 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down [to Egypt] and buy you food.  
Gn4305 But if you will not send him, we will not go down there; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”  
Gn4306 And Israel (Jacob) said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man that you had another brother?”  
Gn4307 And they said, “The man asked us straightforward questions about ourselves and our relatives. He said, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down [here to Egypt]’?”  
Gn4308 Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the young man with me and we will get up and go [buy food], so that we may live and not die [of starvation], we as well as you and our little ones.  
Gn4309 I will be security (a guarantee) for him; you may hold me [personally] responsible for him. If I do not bring him [back] to you and place him [safely] before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever.  
Gn4310 For if we had not delayed like this, surely by now we would have returned the second time.”  
Gn4311 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this; take some of the choicest products of the land in your sacks, and carry it as a present [of tribute] to the man [representing Pharaoh], a little balm and a little honey, aromatic spices or gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.  
Gn4312 Take double the [amount of] money with you, and take back the money that was returned in the opening of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.  
Gn4313 Take your brother [Benjamin] also, and get up, and go to the man;  
Gn4314 and may God Almighty grant you compassion and favor before the man, so that he will release to you your other brother [Simeon] and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children [Joseph, Simeon, and Benjamin], I am bereaved.”  
Gn4315 Then the men took the present, and they took double the [amount of] money with them, and Benjamin; then they left and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.  
Gn4316 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and kill an animal and make [a meal] ready; for the men will dine with me at noon.”  
Gn4317 So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph’s house.  
Gn4318 The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and [expecting the worst] they said, “It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time [we came] that we are being brought in, so that he may find a reason to accuse us and assail us, and take us as slaves, and seize our donkeys.”  
Gn4319 So they approached the steward of Joseph’s house, and talked with him at the entrance of the house,  
Gn4320 and said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down here the first time to buy food;  
Gn4321 and when we arrived at the inn [after leaving here], we opened our sacks and there was each man’s money [with which he had paid for grain], in full, returned in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back [this time].  
Gn4322 We have also brought down with us additional money to buy food; we do not know who put our money [back] in our sacks [last time].”  
Gn4323 But the steward [encouraged them and] said, “Peace be to you, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father has [miraculously] given you treasure in your sacks. I [already] had your money [which you paid to us].” Then he brought Simeon out to them.  
Gn4324 Then the steward brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed [the dust off] their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.  
Gn4325 So they prepared the present [of tribute] for Joseph before his arrival at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.  
Gn4326 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present [of tribute] which they had with them and bowed to the ground before him.  
Gn4327 He asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”  
Gn4328 And they answered, “Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive.” And they bowed down [their heads before Joseph] in respect.  
Gn4329 And he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s [only other] son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” And Joseph said, “God be gracious to you and show you favor, my son.”  
Gn4330 Then Joseph hurried out [of the room] because his heart was deeply touched over his brother, and he sought privacy to weep; so he entered his chamber and wept there.  
Gn4331 Then he washed his face and came out, and, restraining himself, said, “Let the meal be served.”  
Gn4332 So the servants served Joseph by himself [in honor of his rank], and his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because [according to custom] the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.  
Gn4333 Now Joseph’s brothers were seated [by the steward] before him [in the order of their birth]—the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in astonishment [because so much was known about them].  
Gn4334 Joseph selected and sent portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely and celebrated with him.  
Gn4401 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s [grain] money in the mouth of the sack.  
Gn4402 Put my [personal] cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his grain money.” And the steward did as Joseph had told him.  
Gn4403 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.  
Gn4404 When they had left the city, and were not yet far away, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil [to us] for good [paid to you]?  
Gn4405 Is this not my lord’s drinking cup and the one which he uses for divination? You have done [a great and unforgivable] wrong in doing this.’”  
Gn4406 So the steward overtook them and he said these words to them.  
Gn4407 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak these things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!  
Gn4408 Please remember, the money which we found in the mouths of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Is it likely then that we would steal silver or gold from your master’s house?  
Gn4409 With whomever of your servants your master’s cup is found, let him die, and the rest of us will be my lord’s slaves.”  
Gn4410 And the steward said, “Now let it be as you say; he with whom the cup is found will be my slave, but the rest of you shall be blameless.”  
Gn4411 Then every man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and each man opened his sack [confident the cup would not be found among them].  
Gn4412 The steward searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.  
Gn4413 Then they tore their clothes [in grief]; and after each man had loaded his donkey again, they returned to the city.  
Gn4414 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.  
Gn4415 Joseph spoke harshly to them, “What is this thing that you have done? Do you not realize that such a man as I can indeed practice divination and foretell [everything you do without outside knowledge of it]?”  
Gn4416 So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we reply? Or how can we clear ourselves, since God has exposed the sin and guilt of your servants? Behold, we are my lord’s slaves, the rest of us as well as he with whom the cup is found.”  
Gn4417 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me that I should do that; but the man in whose hand the cup has been found, he will be my servant; and as for [the rest of] you, get up and go in peace to your father.”  
Gn4418 Then Judah approached him, and said, “O my lord, please let your servant say a word to you in private, and do not let your anger blaze against your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh [so I speak as if directly to him].  
Gn4419 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’  
Gn4420 We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a young [brother, Benjamin, the] child of his old age. Now his brother [Joseph] is dead, and he alone is left of [the two sons born of] his mother, and his father loves him.’  
Gn4421 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me that I may actually see him.’  
Gn4422 But we said to my lord, ‘The young man cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’  
Gn4423 You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes with you, you shall not see my face again.’  
Gn4424 So when we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.  
Gn4425 Our father said, ‘Go back [to Egypt], and buy us a little food.’  
Gn4426 But we said, ‘We cannot go down [to Egypt]. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down [there]; for we [were sternly told that we] cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’  
Gn4427 Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife [Rachel] bore me [only] two sons.  
Gn4428 And one [son] went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces,” and I have not seen him since.  
Gn4429 If you take this one also from me, and harm or an accident happens to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’  
Gn4430 Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the young man is not with us, since his life is bound up in the young man’s life,  
Gn4431 when he sees that the young man is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in [great] sorrow.  
Gn4432 For your servant became security for the young man to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’  
Gn4433 Now, therefore, please let your servant (Judah) remain here instead of the youth [to be] a slave to my lord, and let the young man go home with his brothers.  
Gn4434 How can I go up to my father if the young man is not with me—for fear that I would see the tragedy that would overtake my [elderly] father [if Benjamin does not return]?”  
Gn4501 Then Joseph could not control himself [any longer] in front of all those who attended him, and he called out, “Have everyone leave me.” So no man stood there when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.  
Gn4502 Joseph wept aloud, and the Egyptians [who had just left him] heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard of it.  
Gn4503 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless, for they were stunned and dismayed by [the fact that they were in] Joseph’s presence.  
Gn4504 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they approached him. And he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.  
Gn4505 Now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to save life and preserve our family.  
Gn4506 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five more years in which there will be no plowing and harvesting.  
Gn4507 God sent me [to Egypt] ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great escape.  
Gn4508 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  
Gn4509 Hurry and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘Your son Joseph says this to you: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay.  
Gn4510 You shall live in the land of Goshen [the best pasture land of Egypt], and you shall be close to me—you and your children and your grandchildren, your flocks and your herds and all you have.  
Gn4511 There I will provide for you and sustain you, so that you and your household and all that are yours may not become impoverished, for there are still five years of famine to come.”’  
Gn4512 Look! Your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that I am speaking to you [personally in your language and not through an interpreter].  
Gn4513 Now you must tell my father of all my splendor and power in Egypt, and of everything that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here.”  
Gn4514 Then he embraced his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  
Gn4515 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.  
Gn4516 When the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.  
Gn4517 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and return to the land of Canaan [without delay],  
Gn4518 and get your father and your households and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat (the finest produce) of the land.’  
Gn4519 Now you [brothers of Joseph] are ordered [by Pharaoh], ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.  
Gn4520 Do not be concerned with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”  
Gn4521 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.  
Gn4522 To each of them Joseph gave changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.  
Gn4523 To his father he sent the following: ten male donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father [to supply all who were with him] on the journey.  
Gn4524 So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “See that you do not quarrel on the journey [about how to explain this to our father].”  
Gn4525 So they went up from Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father,  
Gn4526 and they said to him, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But Jacob was stunned and his heart almost stopped beating, because he did not believe them.  
Gn4527 When they told him everything that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.  
Gn4528 And Israel (Jacob) said, “It is enough! Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”  
Gn4601 So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba [where both his father and grandfather had worshiped God], and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.  
Gn4602 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”  
Gn4603 And He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you (your descendants) a great nation there.  
Gn4604 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you (your people) up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes [to close them at the time of your death].”  
Gn4605 So Jacob set out from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.  
Gn4606 And they took their livestock and the possessions which they had acquired in the land of Canaan and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.  
Gn4607 His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.  
Gn4608 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.  
Gn4609 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.  
Gn4610 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.  
Gn4611 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  
Gn4612 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah—but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.  
Gn4613 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.  
Gn4614 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.  
Gn4615 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all of his sons and daughters numbered thirty-three.  
Gn4616 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.  
Gn4617 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.  
Gn4618 These are the sons of Zilpah, [the maid] whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter [when she married Jacob]; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons [two sons and fourteen grandchildren].  
Gn4619 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.  
Gn4620 Now to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Heliopolis in Egypt), bore to him.  
Gn4621 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.  
Gn4622 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob; [there were] fourteen persons in all [two sons and twelve grandchildren].  
Gn4623 The son of Dan: Hushim.  
Gn4624 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.  
Gn4625 These are the sons of Bilhah, [the maid] whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter [when she married Jacob]. And she bore these to Jacob; [there were] seven persons in all [two sons and five grandchildren].  
Gn4626 All the persons who came with Jacob into Egypt—who were his direct descendants, not counting the wives of [Jacob or] Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all,  
Gn4627 and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob [including Jacob, and Joseph and his sons], who came into Egypt, were seventy.  
Gn4628 Now Jacob (Israel) sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.  
Gn4629 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; as soon as he presented himself before him (authenticating his identity), he fell on his [father’s] neck and wept on his neck a [very] long time.  
Gn4630 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die [in peace], since I have seen your face [and know] that you are still alive.”  
Gn4631 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me;  
Gn4632 and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’  
Gn4633 And it shall be that when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’  
Gn4634 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our fathers [before us],’ in order that you may live [separately and securely] in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is repulsive to the Egyptians.”  
Gn4701 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and their herds and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan, and they are in the land of Goshen.”  
Gn4702 He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.  
Gn4703 And Pharaoh said to his brothers [as Joseph expected], “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers [before us].”  
Gn4704 Moreover, they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live temporarily (sojourn) in the land [of Egypt], for there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants [in our land], for the famine is very severe in Canaan. So now, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.”  
Gn4705 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you.  
Gn4706 The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know of any men of ability among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”  
Gn4707 Then Joseph brought Jacob (Israel) his father and presented him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.  
Gn4708 And Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old are you?”  
Gn4709 Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, and they have not reached the years that my fathers lived during the days of their pilgrimage.”  
Gn4710 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and departed from his presence.  
Gn4711 So Joseph settled his father and brothers and gave them a possession in Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses (Goshen), as Pharaoh commanded.  
Gn4712 Joseph provided and supplied his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to [the needs of] their children.  
Gn4713 Now [in the course of time] there was no food in all the land, for the famine was distressingly severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan languished [in destitution and starvation] because of the famine.  
Gn4714 Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan [in payment] for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.  
Gn4715 And when the money was exhausted in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food! Why should we die before your very eyes? For our money is gone.”  
Gn4716 Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, since the money is gone.”  
Gn4717 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.  
Gn4718 When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord [the fact] that our money is spent; my lord also has our herds of livestock; there is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.  
Gn4719 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed [to plant], that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”  
Gn4720 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every Egyptian sold his field because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s.  
Gn4721 And as for the people, he relocated them [temporarily] to cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other.  
Gn4722 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived on the amount which Pharaoh gave them, so they did not sell their land.  
Gn4723 Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you shall plant the land.  
Gn4724 At harvest time [when you reap the increase] you shall give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four- fifths will be your own to use for seed for the field and as food for you and those of your households and for your little ones.”  
Gn4725 And they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”  
Gn4726 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt—valid to this day—that Pharaoh should have the fifth part [of the crops]; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s.  
Gn4727 Now [the people of] Israel lived in the country of Egypt, in [the land of] Goshen, and they gained possessions and acquired property there and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.  
Gn4728 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was a hundred and forty-seven years.  
Gn4729 And when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh and [promise to] deal loyally and faithfully with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,  
Gn4730 but when I lie down with my fathers [in death], you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place [at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah].” And Joseph said, “I will do as you have directed.”  
Gn4731 Then he said, “Swear to me [that you will do it].” So he swore to him. Then Israel (Jacob) bowed in worship at the head of the bed.  
Gn4801 Now some time after these things happened, Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him [to go to Goshen].  
Gn4802 And when Jacob (Israel) was told, “Look now, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.  
Gn4803 Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz (Bethel) in the land of Canaan and blessed me,  
Gn4804 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a great company of people, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’  
Gn4805 Now your two sons [Ephraim and Manasseh], who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine [that is, adopted as my heirs and sons as surely], as Reuben and Simeon are my sons.  
Gn4806 But other sons who were born to you after them shall be your own; they shall be called by the names of their [two] brothers in their inheritance.  
Gn4807 Now as for me, when I came from Paddan [in Mesopotamia], Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”  
Gn4808 When Israel [who was almost blind] saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”  
Gn4809 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here [in Egypt].” So he said, “Please bring them to me, so that I may bless them.”  
Gn4810 Now Israel’s eyes were so dim from age that he could not see [clearly]. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed and embraced them.  
Gn4811 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, but see, God has shown me your children as well.”  
Gn4812 Then Joseph took the boys [from his father’s embrace], and he bowed [before him] with his face to the ground.  
Gn4813 Then Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him.  
Gn4814 But Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands [intentionally], even though Manasseh was the firstborn.  
Gn4815 Then Jacob (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked [in faithful obedience], The God who has been my Shepherd [leading and caring for me] all my life to this day,  
Gn4816 The Angel [that is, the LORD Himself] who has redeemed me [continually] from all evil, Bless the boys; And may my name live on in them [may they be worthy of having their names linked with mine], And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a [great] multitude in the midst of the earth.”  
Gn4817 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him [because he was not the firstborn]; and he grasped his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.  
Gn4818 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; place your right hand on Manasseh’s head.”  
Gn4819 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; Manasseh also will become a people and he will be great; but his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”  
Gn4820 Then Jacob blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce a blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” And he put Ephraim before Manasseh.  
Gn4821 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to [Canaan] the land of your fathers.  
Gn4822 Moreover, I have given you [the birthright,] one portion [Shechem, one mountain ridge] more than any of your brothers, which I took [reclaiming it] from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”  
Gn4901 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves [around me] that I may tell you what will happen to you and your descendants in the days to come.  
Gn4902 “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel (Jacob) your father.  
Gn4903 “Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might, the beginning of my strength and vigor, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power [that should have been your birthright].  
Gn4904 “But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall not excel or have the preeminence [of the firstborn], Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah]; You defiled it—he went up to my couch.  
Gn4905 “Simeon and Levi are brothers [equally headstrong, deceitful, vindictive, and cruel]; Their swords are weapons of violence and revenge.  
Gn4906 “O my soul, do not come into their secret council; Let not my glory (honor) be united with their assembly [for I knew nothing of their plot]; Because in their anger they killed men [an honored man, Shechem, and the Shechemites], And in their self-will they lamed oxen.  
Gn4907 “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide and disperse them in Jacob, And scatter them in [the midst of the land of] Israel.  
Gn4908 “Judah, you are the one whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you.  
Gn4909 “Judah, a lion’s cub; With the prey, my son, you have gone high up [the mountain]. He stooped down, he crouched like a lion, And like a lion—who dares rouse him?  
Gn4910 “The scepter [of royalty] shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes, And to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.  
Gn4911 “Tying his foal to the [strong] vine And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washes his clothing in wine [because the grapevine produces abundantly], And his robes in the blood of grapes.  
Gn4912 “His eyes are darker and sparkle more than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.  
Gn4913 “Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore; And he shall be a haven (landing place) for ships, And his flank shall be toward Sidon.  
Gn4914 “Issachar is [like] a strong-boned donkey, Crouching down between the sheepfolds.  
Gn4915 “When he saw that the resting place was good And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear [burdens], And became a servant at forced labor.  
Gn4916 “Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.  
Gn4917 “Dan shall be a [venomous] serpent in the way, A fanged snake in the path, That bites the horse’s heels, So that his rider falls backward.  
Gn4918 “I wait for Your salvation, O LORD.  
Gn4919 “As for Gad—a raiding troop shall raid him, But he shall raid at their heels and assault them [victoriously].  
Gn4920 “Asher’s food [supply] shall be rich and bountiful, And he shall yield and deliver royal delights.  
Gn4921 “Naphtali is a doe let loose, [a swift warrior,] Which yields branched antlers (eloquent words).  
Gn4922 “Joseph is a fruitful bough (a main branch of the vine), A fruitful bough by a spring (a well, a fountain); Its branches run over the wall [influencing others].  
Gn4923 “The [skilled] archers have bitterly attacked and provoked him; They have shot [at him] and harassed him.  
Gn4924 “But his bow remained firm and steady [in the Strength that does not fail], For his arms were made strong and agile By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (By the name of the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),  
Gn4925 By the God of your father who will help you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of the heavens above, Blessings lying in the deep that couches beneath, Blessings of the [nursing] breasts and of the [fertile] womb.  
Gn4926 “The blessings of your father Are greater than the blessings of my ancestors [Abraham and Isaac] Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; They shall be on the head of Joseph, Even on the crown of the head of him who was the distinguished one and the one who is prince among (separate from) his brothers.  
Gn4927 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And at night he divides the spoil.”  
Gn4928 All these are the [beginnings of the] twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each one according to the blessing appropriate to him.  
Gn4929 He charged them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,  
Gn4930 in the cave in the field at Machpelah, east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought, along with the field from Ephron the Hittite, to possess as a burial site.  
Gn4931 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—  
Gn4932 the field and the cave that is in it was purchased from the sons of Heth.”  
Gn4933 When Jacob (Israel) had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people [who had preceded him in death].  
Gn5001 Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him [tenderly].  
Gn5002 Then Joseph ordered his servants the physicians to embalm (mummify) his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel (Jacob).  
Gn5003 Now forty days were required for this, for that is the customary number of days [of preparation] required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept and grieved for him [in public mourning as they would for royalty] for seventy days.  
Gn5004 When the days of weeping and public mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to [the nobles of] the house of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying,  
Gn5005 ‘My father made me swear [an oath], saying, “Hear me, I am about to die; bury me in my tomb which I prepared for myself in the land of Canaan.” So now let me go up [to Canaan], please, and bury my father; then I will return.’”  
Gn5006 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”  
Gn5007 So Joseph went up [to Canaan] to bury his father, and with him went all the officials of Pharaoh, [the nobles of his court and] the elders of his household and all [the nobles and] the elders of the land of Egypt—  
Gn5008 and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household. They left only their little ones and their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen.  
Gn5009 Both chariots and horsemen also went up [to Canaan] with Joseph; and it was a very great company.  
Gn5010 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they mourned there with a great lamentation (expressions of mourning for the deceased) and [extreme demonstrations of] sorrow [according to Egyptian custom]; and Joseph observed a seven-day mourning for his father.  
Gn5011 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim (mourning of Egypt); it is west of the Jordan.  
Gn5012 So Jacob’s sons did for him as he had commanded them;  
Gn5013 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.  
Gn5014 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him.  
Gn5015 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph carries a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him?”  
Gn5016 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded us before he died, saying,  
Gn5017 ‘You are to say to Joseph, “I beg you, please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ Now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  
Gn5018 Then his brothers went and fell down before him [in confession]; then they said, “Behold, we are your servants (slaves).”  
Gn5019 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.]  
Gn5020 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day].  
Gn5021 So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and support you and your little ones.” So he comforted them [giving them encouragement and hope] and spoke [with kindness] to their hearts.  
Gn5022 Now Joseph lived in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.  
Gn5023 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children; also the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born and raised on Joseph’s knees.  
Gn5024 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up out of this land to the land which He promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob [to give you].”  
Gn5025 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) swear [an oath], saying, “God will surely visit you and take care of you [returning you to Canaan], and [when that happens] you shall carry my bones up from here.”  
Gn5026 So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.  
Ex0101 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household:  
Ex0102 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;  
Ex0103 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;  
Ex0104 Dan and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.  
Ex0105 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy people; Joseph was [already] in Egypt.  
Ex0106 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation,  
Ex0107 but the Israelites were prolific and increased greatly; they multiplied and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them.  
Ex0108 Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph [nor the history of his accomplishments].  
Ex0109 He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are too many and too mighty for us [they greatly outnumber us].  
Ex0110 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they will not multiply and in the event of war, join our enemies, and fight against us and escape from the land.”  
Ex0111 So they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with hard labor. And the sons of Israel built Pithom and Raamses as storage cities for Pharaoh.  
Ex0112 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that the Egyptians dreaded and were exasperated by the Israelites.  
Ex0113 And the Egyptians made the Israelites serve rigorously [forcing them into severe slavery].  
Ex0114 They made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar, brick, and all kinds of field work. All their labor was harsh and severe.  
Ex0115 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah (beauty) and the other named Puah (splendor),  
Ex0116 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”  
Ex0117 But the midwives feared God [with profound reverence] and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but they let the boy babies live.  
Ex0118 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and allowed the boy babies to live?”  
Ex0119 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth quickly and their babies are born before the midwife can get to them.”  
Ex0120 So God was good to the midwives, and the people [of Israel] multiplied and became very strong.  
Ex0121 And because the midwives feared God [with profound reverence], He established families and households for them.  
Ex0122 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born [to the Hebrews] must be thrown into the Nile, but every daughter you shall keep alive.”  
Ex0201 Now a man of the house of Levi [the priestly tribe] went and took as his wife a daughter of Levi.  
Ex0202 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son; and when she saw that he was [especially] beautiful and healthy, she hid him for three months [to protect him from the Egyptians].  
Ex0203 When she could no longer hide him, she got him a basket (chest) made of papyrus reeds and covered it with tar and pitch [making it waterproof]. Then she put the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.  
Ex0204 And his sister [Miriam] stood some distance away to find out what would happen to him.  
Ex0205 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, and [she, together with] her maidens walked along the river’s bank; she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid [to get it], and she brought it to her.  
Ex0206 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. And she took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”  
Ex0207 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a wet-nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”  
Ex0208 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.  
Ex0209 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.  
Ex0210 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”  
Ex0211 One day, after Moses had grown [into adulthood], it happened that he went to his countrymen and looked [with compassion] at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his countrymen.  
Ex0212 He turned to look around, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.  
Ex0213 He went out the next day and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other; and he said to the aggressor, “Why are you striking your friend?”  
Ex0214 But the man said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Certainly this incident is known.”  
Ex0215 When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he tried to kill Moses. Then Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well.  
Ex0216 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water [from the well where Moses was resting] and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.  
Ex0217 Then shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.  
Ex0218 When they came to Reuel (Jethro) their father, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?”  
Ex0219 They said, “An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even drew water [from the well] for us and watered the flock.”  
Ex0220 Then he said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why have you left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.”  
Ex0221 Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah [to be his wife].  
Ex0222 She gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom (stranger); for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”  
Ex0223 Now it happened after a long time [about forty years] that the king of Egypt died. And the children of Israel (Jacob) groaned and sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out. And their cry for help because of their bondage ascended to God.  
Ex0224 So God heard their groaning and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).  
Ex0225 God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice [of them] and was concerned about them [knowing all, understanding all, remembering all].  
Ex0301 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.  
Ex0302 The Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed.  
Ex0303 So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.”  
Ex0304 When the LORD saw that he turned away [from the flock] to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”  
Ex0305 Then God said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet [out of respect], because the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  
Ex0306 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.  
Ex0307 The LORD said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering.  
Ex0308 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]—to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.  
Ex0309 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.  
Ex0310 Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and then bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”  
Ex0311 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  
Ex0312 And God said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve and worship God at this mountain.”  
Ex0313 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers (ancestors) has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”  
Ex0314 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “You shall say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  
Ex0315 Then God also said to Moses, “This is what you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Israel), has sent me to you.’ This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial [name] to all generations.  
Ex0316 Go, gather the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt.  
Ex0317 So I said I will bring you up out of the suffering and oppression of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’  
Ex0318 The elders [of the tribes] will listen and pay attention to what you say; and you, with the elders of Israel, shall go to the king of Egypt and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; so now, please, [we ask and plead with you,] let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’  
Ex0319 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless [he is forced] by a strong hand.  
Ex0320 So I will reach out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.  
Ex0321 And I will grant this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; therefore, it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.  
Ex0322 But every woman shall [insistently] ask her neighbor and any woman who lives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you are to plunder the Egyptians [leaving bondage with great possessions that are rightfully yours].”  
Ex0401 Then Moses answered [the LORD] and said, “What if they will not believe me or take seriously what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”  
Ex0402 And the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”  
Ex0403 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a [living] serpent [like the royal symbol on the crown of Pharaoh]; and Moses ran from it.  
Ex0404 But the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and grasp it by the tail.” So he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—  
Ex0405 [“You shall do this,” said the LORD,] “so that the elders may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has [most certainly] appeared to you.”  
Ex0406 The LORD also said to him, “Put your hand into your robe [where it covers your chest].” So he put his hand into his robe, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.  
Ex0407 Then God said, “Put your hand into your robe again.” So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he took it out, it was restored [and was] like the rest of his body.  
Ex0408 “If they will not believe you or pay attention to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign.  
Ex0409 But if they will not believe these two signs or pay attention to what you say, you are to take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take out of the river will turn into blood on the dry ground.”  
Ex0410 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.”  
Ex0411 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?  
Ex0412 Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.”  
Ex0413 But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].”  
Ex0414 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed.  
Ex0415 You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.  
Ex0416 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you].  
Ex0417 You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”  
Ex0418 Then Moses went away and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please, let me go back so that I may return to my relatives in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”  
Ex0419 Then the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life [for killing the Egyptian] are dead.”  
Ex0420 So Moses took his wife [Zipporah] and his sons [Gershom and Eliezer] and seated them on donkeys, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.  
Ex0421 The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders (miracles) which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and make him stubborn so that he will not let the people go.  
Ex0422 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.  
Ex0423 So I say to you, ‘Let My son go so that he may serve Me’; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”’”  
Ex0424 Now it happened at the lodging place, that the LORD met Moses and sought to kill him [making him deathly ill because he had not circumcised one of his sons].  
Ex0425 Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and threw it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Indeed you are a husband of blood to me!”  
Ex0426 So He let Moses alone [to recover]. At that time Zipporah said, “You are a husband of blood”—because of the circumcision.  
Ex0427 The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God (Sinai) and kissed him.  
Ex0428 Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.  
Ex0429 Then Moses and Aaron went [into Egypt] and assembled all the elders of the Israelites;  
Ex0430 and Aaron said all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then Moses performed the signs [given to him by God] before the people.  
Ex0431 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the Israelites and that He had looked [with compassion] on their suffering, then they bowed their heads and worshiped [the LORD].  
Ex0501 Afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go, so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”  
Ex0502 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”  
Ex0503 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go on a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God, so that He does not discipline us with pestilence or with the sword.”  
Ex0504 But the king of Egypt said to Moses and Aaron, “Why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens!”  
Ex0505 Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them stop their work!”  
Ex0506 The very same day Pharaoh gave orders to the [Egyptian] taskmasters in charge of the people and their [Hebrew] foremen, saying,  
Ex0507 “You will no longer give the people straw to make brick as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.  
Ex0508 But the number of bricks which they were making before, you shall [still] require of them; you are not to reduce it in the least. For they are idle and lazy; that is why they cry, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’  
Ex0509 Let labor be heavier on the men, and let them work [hard] at it so that they will pay no attention to [their God’s] lying words.”  
Ex0510 Then the [Egyptian] taskmasters [in charge] of the people and their [Hebrew] foremen went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you any straw.  
Ex0511 Go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work [quota] will not be reduced in the least.’”  
Ex0512 So the people were scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw.  
Ex0513 And the taskmasters pressured them, saying, “Finish your work, [fulfill] your daily quotas, just as when there was straw [given to you].”  
Ex0514 And the Hebrew foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your required quota of making bricks yesterday and today, as before?”  
Ex0515 Then the Hebrew foremen came to Pharaoh and cried, “Why do you deal like this with your servants?  
Ex0516 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And look, your servants are being beaten, but it is the fault of your own people.”  
Ex0517 But Pharaoh said, “You are lazy, very lazy and idle! That is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’  
Ex0518 Get out now and get to work; for no straw will be given to you, yet you are to deliver the same quota of bricks.”  
Ex0519 The Hebrew foremen saw that they were in a bad situation because they were told, “You must not reduce [in the least] your daily quota of bricks.”  
Ex0520 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them.  
Ex0521 And the foremen said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, because you have made us odious (something hated) in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and you have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”  
Ex0522 Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm and oppression to this people? Why did You ever send me? [I cannot understand Your purpose!]  
Ex0523 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmed and oppressed this people, and You have done nothing at all to rescue Your people.”  
Ex0601 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will [not only] let them go, but under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”  
Ex0602 Then God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD.  
Ex0603 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Israel) as God Almighty [El Shaddai], but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them [in acts and great miracles].  
Ex0604 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as strangers (temporary residents, foreigners).  
Ex0605 And I have also heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have [faithfully] remembered My covenant [with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob].  
Ex0606 Therefore, say to the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage. I will redeem and rescue you with an outstretched (vigorous, powerful) arm and with great acts of judgment [against Egypt].  
Ex0607 Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who redeemed you and brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  
Ex0608 I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel); and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD [you have the promise of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].’”  
Ex0609 Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their impatience and despondency, and because of their forced labor.  
Ex0610 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex0611 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.”  
Ex0612 But Moses said to the LORD, “Look, [my own people] the Israelites have not listened to me; so how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled and inept in speech?”  
Ex0613 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command concerning the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.  
Ex0614 These are the heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Reuben, Israel’s (Jacob’s) firstborn: Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.  
Ex0615 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.  
Ex0616 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their births: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and Levi lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.  
Ex0617 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families.  
Ex0618 The sons of Kohath: Amram (Moses’ father), Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Kohath lived a hundred and thirty-three years.  
Ex0619 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their generations.  
Ex0620 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she gave birth to Aaron and Moses; and Amram lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.  
Ex0621 The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.  
Ex0622 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.  
Ex0623 Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she gave birth to Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
Ex0624 The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These are the [extended] families of the Korahites.  
Ex0625 Eleazar, Aaron’s son, married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she gave birth to Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites by their families.  
Ex0626 These are [the same] Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.”  
Ex0627 They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt; these are [the same] Moses and Aaron.  
Ex0628 Now it happened on the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,  
Ex0629 that He said, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything that I say to you.”  
Ex0630 But Moses said before the LORD, “Look, I am unskilled and inept in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me and pay attention to what I say?”  
Ex0701 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now hear this: I make you as God to Pharaoh [to declare My will and purpose to him]; and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.  
Ex0702 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go out of his land.  
Ex0703 And I will make Pharaoh’s heart hard, and multiply My signs and My wonders (miracles) in the land of Egypt.  
Ex0704 But Pharaoh will not listen to you, and I shall lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts [like a defensive army, tribe by tribe], My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment (the plagues).  
Ex0705 The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”  
Ex0706 And Moses and Aaron did so; just as the LORD commanded them, so they did.  
Ex0707 Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.  
Ex0708 Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,  
Ex0709 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Work a miracle [to prove your authority],’ then you say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, so that it may become a serpent.’”  
Ex0710 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and did just as the LORD had commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.  
Ex0711 Then Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and omens] and the sorcerers [skilled in witchcraft], and they also, these magicians (soothsayer-priests) of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts and enchantments.  
Ex0712 For every man threw down his staff and they turned into serpents; but Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.  
Ex0713 Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.  
Ex0714 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.  
Ex0715 Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he is going out to the water, and wait for him on the bank of the Nile; and you shall take in your hand the staff that was turned into a serpent.  
Ex0716 You shall say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness. But behold, you have not listened until now.”  
Ex0717 Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know and recognize and acknowledge that I am the LORD: look, with the staff in my hand I will strike the water in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood.  
Ex0718 The fish in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become foul, and the Egyptians will not be able to drink water from the Nile.”’”  
Ex0719 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, so that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, in containers both of wood and of stone.’”  
Ex0720 So Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded; Aaron lifted up the staff and struck the waters in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned into blood.  
Ex0721 The fish in the Nile died, and the river became foul smelling, and the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.  
Ex0722 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts and enchantments; so Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.  
Ex0723 Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this [divine sign] to heart.  
Ex0724 So all the Egyptians dug near the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the Nile.  
Ex0725 Seven days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.  
Ex0801 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.  
Ex0802 However, if you refuse to let them go, hear this: I am going to strike your entire land with frogs.  
Ex0803 The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your home, into your bedroom and on to your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls.  
Ex0804 So the frogs will come up on you and on your people and all your servants.”’”  
Ex0805 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and canals, over the pools [among the reeds], and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’”  
Ex0806 So Aaron stretched out his hand [with his staff] over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.  
Ex0807 But the magicians (soothsayer-priests) did the same thing with their secret arts and enchantments, and brought up [more] frogs on the land of Egypt.  
Ex0808 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and my people; and I will let the people go, so that they may sacrifice to the LORD.”  
Ex0809 And Moses said to Pharaoh, “I am entirely at your service: when shall I plead [with the Lord] for you and your servants and your people, so that the frogs may leave you and your houses and remain only in the Nile?”  
Ex0810 Then Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” Moses replied, “May it be as you say, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that there is no one like the LORD our God.  
Ex0811 The frogs will leave you and your houses and leave your servants and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.”  
Ex0812 So Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses cried out to the LORD [as he had agreed to do] concerning the frogs which God had inflicted on Pharaoh.  
Ex0813 The LORD did as Moses asked, and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards and villages, and out of the fields.  
Ex0814 So they piled them up in heaps, and the land was detestable and stank.  
Ex0815 But when Pharaoh saw that there was [temporary] relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen or pay attention to them, just as the LORD had said.  
Ex0816 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become [biting] gnats (lice) throughout the land of Egypt.’”  
Ex0817 They did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were [biting] gnats on man and animal. All the dust of the land became gnats through all the land of Egypt.  
Ex0818 The magicians (soothsayer-priests) tried by their secret arts and enchantments to create gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats on man and animal.  
Ex0819 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the [supernatural] finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.  
Ex0820 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he is coming out to the water [of the Nile], and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.  
Ex0821 For if you do not let My people go, hear this: I will send swarms of [bloodsucking] insects on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians will be full of swarms of insects, as well as the ground on which they stand.  
Ex0822 But on that day I will separate and set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the earth.  
Ex0823 I will put a division (distinction) between My people and your people. By tomorrow this sign shall be in evidence.”’”  
Ex0824 Then the LORD did so. And there came heavy and oppressive swarms of [bloodsucking] insects into the house of Pharaoh and his servants’ houses; in all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted and ruined because of the [great invasion of] insects.  
Ex0825 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God [here] in the land [of Egypt].”  
Ex0826 But Moses said, “It is not right [or even possible] to do that, for we will sacrifice to the LORD our God what is repulsive and unacceptable to the Egyptians [that is, animals that the Egyptians consider sacred]. If we sacrifice what is repulsive and unacceptable to the Egyptians, will they not riot and stone us?  
Ex0827 We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He commands us.”  
Ex0828 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Plead [with your God] for me.”  
Ex0829 Moses said, “I am going to leave you, and I will urgently petition (pray, entreat) the LORD that the swarms of insects may leave Pharaoh, his servants, and his people tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”  
Ex0830 So Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD [on behalf of Pharaoh].  
Ex0831 The LORD did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms of [bloodsucking] insects from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one remained.  
Ex0832 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.  
Ex0901 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.  
Ex0902 But if you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them,  
Ex0903 now hear this: the hand of the LORD will fall on your livestock which are out in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks—a horrible plague shall come.  
Ex0904 But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing that belongs to the Israelites will die.”’”  
Ex0905 The LORD set a [definite] time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.”  
Ex0906 And the LORD did this thing the next day, and all [kinds of] the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the Israelites, not one died.  
Ex0907 Then Pharaoh sent [men to investigate], and not even one of the livestock of the Israelites had died. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened [and his mind was firmly set], and he did not let the people go.  
Ex0908 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the brick kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.  
Ex0909 It will become fine dust over the entire land of Egypt, and it will become boils breaking out in sores on man and animal in all the land [occupied by the Egyptians].”  
Ex0910 So they took soot from the kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it toward the sky, and it became boils erupting in sores on man and animal.  
Ex0911 The magicians (soothsayer-priests) could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians.  
Ex0912 But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen or pay attention to them, just as the LORD had told Moses.  
Ex0913 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.  
Ex0914 For this time I will send all My plagues on you [in full force,] and on your servants and on your people, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that there is no one like Me in all the earth.  
Ex0915 For by now I could have put out My hand and struck you and your people with a pestilence, and you would then have been cut off (obliterated) from the earth.  
Ex0916 But indeed for this very reason I have allowed you to live, in order to show you My power and in order that My name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth.  
Ex0917 Since you are still [arrogantly] exalting yourself [in defiance] against My people by not letting them go,  
Ex0918 hear this: tomorrow about this time I will send a very heavy and dreadful hail, such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  
Ex0919 Now therefore send [a message], bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and animal that is in the field and is not brought home shall be struck by the hail and shall die.”’”  
Ex0920 Then everyone among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses and shelters;  
Ex0921 but everyone who ignored and did not take seriously the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field.  
Ex0922 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand [with your staff] toward the sky, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and on animal and on all the vegetation of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.”  
Ex0923 Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning (fireballs) ran down to the earth and along the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt.  
Ex0924 So there was hail, and lightning (fireballs) flashing intermittently in the midst of the extremely heavy hail, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.  
Ex0925 The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and animal; the hail struck and beat down all the plants in the field and shattered every tree in the field.  
Ex0926 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel lived, was there no hail.  
Ex0927 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.  
Ex0928 Pray and entreat the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; I will let you go, and you shall stay here no longer.”  
Ex0929 Moses said to him, “As soon as I leave the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease and there will be no more hail, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that the earth is the LORD’S.  
Ex0930 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”  
Ex0931 (Now the flax and the barley were battered and ruined [by the hail], because the barley was in the ear (ripe, but soft) and the flax was in bud,  
Ex0932 but the wheat and spelt (coarse wheat) were not battered and ruined, because they ripen late in the season.)  
Ex0933 So Moses left the city and Pharaoh, and stretched out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth.  
Ex0934 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, both he and his servants.  
Ex0935 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses.  
Ex1001 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants [making them determined and unresponsive], so that I may exhibit My signs [of divine power] among them,  
Ex1002 and that you may recount and explain in the hearing of your son, and your grandson, what I have done [repeatedly] to make a mockery of the Egyptians—My signs [of divine power] which I have done among them—so that you may know [without any doubt] and recognize [clearly] that I am the LORD.”  
Ex1003 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.  
Ex1004 For if you refuse to let My people go, then hear this: tomorrow I will bring [migratory] locusts into your country.  
Ex1005 They shall cover the [visible] surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the ground, and they will eat the rest of what has remained—that is, the vegetation left after the hail—and they will eat every one of your trees that grows in the field;  
Ex1006 your houses and those of all your servants and of all the Egyptians shall be filled with locusts, as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from their birth until this day.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh.  
Ex1007 Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a trap to us? Let the men go, so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?”  
Ex1008 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, “Go, serve the LORD your God! Who specifically are the ones that are going?”  
Ex1009 Moses said, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds [all of us and all that we have], for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”  
Ex1010 Pharaoh said to them, “The LORD be with you [to help you], if I ever let you go with your children [because you will never return]! Look [be forewarned], you have an evil plan in mind.  
Ex1011 No! Go now, you who are men, [without your families] and serve the LORD, if that is what you want.” So Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.  
Ex1012 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, so that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat all the plants of the land, all that the hail has left.”  
Ex1013 So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; when it was morning, the east wind had brought the [swarms of] locusts.  
Ex1014 The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled down in the whole territory, a very dreadful mass of them; never before were there such locusts as these, nor will there ever be again.  
Ex1015 For they covered the [visible] surface of the land, so that the ground was darkened; and they ate every plant of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. There remained not a green thing on the trees or the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt.  
Ex1016 Then Pharaoh hurried to call for Moses and Aaron, and he said, “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you.  
Ex1017 Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once [more], and pray and entreat the LORD your God, so that He will remove this [plague of] death from me.”  
Ex1018 Moses left Pharaoh and entreated the LORD.  
Ex1019 So the LORD shifted the wind to a violent west wind which lifted up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust remained within the border of Egypt.  
Ex1020 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart [so that it was even more resolved and obstinate], and he did not let the Israelites go.  
Ex1021 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, so that darkness may come over the land of Egypt, a darkness which [is so awful that it] may be felt.”  
Ex1022 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and for three days a thick darkness was all over the land of Egypt [no sun, no moon, no stars].  
Ex1023 The Egyptians could not see one another, nor did anyone leave his place for three days, but all the Israelites had [supernatural] light in their dwellings.  
Ex1024 Then Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only your flocks and your herds must be left behind. Even your children may go with you.”  
Ex1025 But Moses said, “You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings, so that we may sacrifice them to the LORD our God.  
Ex1026 Therefore, our livestock must also go with us; not one hoof shall be left behind, for we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God. Even we do not know with what we will serve the LORD until we arrive there.”  
Ex1027 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.  
Ex1028 Then Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get away from me! See that you never enter my presence again, for on the day that you see my face again you will die!”  
Ex1029 Then Moses said, “You are correct; I will never see your face again!”  
Ex1101 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will most certainly drive you out of here completely.  
Ex1102 Speak so that all of the people [of Israel] may hear, and tell every man to ask from his neighbor, and every woman to ask from her neighbor, articles of silver, and articles of gold.”  
Ex1103 The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, [both] in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.  
Ex1104 Then Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘At midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,  
Ex1105 and all the firstborn in the land [the pride, hope, and joy] of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the hand-mill, and all the firstborn of cattle as well.  
Ex1106 There shall be a great cry [of heartache and sorrow] throughout the land of Egypt, such as has never been before and such as shall never be again.  
Ex1107 But not even a dog will threaten any of the Israelites, whether man or animal, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’  
Ex1108 All these servants of yours will come down to me and bow down before me, saying, ‘Get out, you and all the people who follow you.’ After that I will leave.” And he left Pharaoh in the heat of anger.  
Ex1109 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders (miracles) may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”  
Ex1110 Moses and Aaron did all these wonders (miracles) before Pharaoh; yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the Israelites go out of his land.  
Ex1201 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,  
Ex1202 “This month shall be the beginning of months to you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.  
Ex1203 Tell all the congregation of Israel, ‘On the tenth [day] of this month they are to take a lamb or young goat for themselves, according to [the size of] the household of which he is the father, a lamb or young goat for each household.  
Ex1204 Now if the household is too small for a lamb [to be consumed], let him and his next door neighbor take one according to the number of people [in the households]; according to what each man can eat, you are to divide the lamb.  
Ex1205 Your lamb or young goat shall be [perfect] without blemish or bodily defect, a male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.  
Ex1206 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight.  
Ex1207 Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel [above the door] of the houses in which they eat it.  
Ex1208 They shall eat the meat that same night, roasted in fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  
Ex1209 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted in fire—both its head and its legs, along with its inner parts.  
Ex1210 You shall let none of the meat remain until the morning, and anything that remains left over until morning, you shall burn completely in the fire.  
Ex1211 Now you are to eat it in this manner: [be prepared for a journey] with your loins girded [that is, with the outer garment tucked into the band], your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; you shall eat it quickly—it is the LORD’S Passover.  
Ex1212 For I [the LORD] will pass through the land of Egypt on this night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal; against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments [exhibiting their worthlessness]. I am the LORD.  
Ex1213 The blood shall be a sign for you on [the doorposts of] the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affliction shall happen to you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.  
Ex1214 ‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as an ordinance forever.  
Ex1215 [In the celebration of the Passover in future years,] seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the leaven from your houses [because it represents the spread of sin]; for whoever eats leavened bread on the first day through the seventh day, that person shall be cut off and excluded from [the atonement made for] Israel.  
Ex1216 On the first day [of the feast] you shall have a holy and solemn assembly, and on the seventh day there shall be another holy and solemn assembly; no work of any kind shall be done on those days, except for the preparation of food which every person must eat—only that may be done by you.  
Ex1217 You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this very day I brought your hosts [grouped according to tribal armies] out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an ordinance forever.  
Ex1218 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, [and continue] until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.  
Ex1219 Seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off and excluded from [the atonement made for] the congregation of Israel, whether a stranger or native-born.  
Ex1220 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”  
Ex1221 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take a lamb for yourselves according to [the size of] your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.  
Ex1222 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch some of the blood to the lintel [above the doorway] and to the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.  
Ex1223 For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel [above the entry way] and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to slay you.  
Ex1224 You shall observe this event [concerning Passover] as an ordinance for you and for your children forever.  
Ex1225 When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall keep and observe this service.  
Ex1226 When your children say to you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’  
Ex1227 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S Passover, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians, but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed [their heads] low and worshiped [God].  
Ex1228 Then the Israelites went and did [as they had been told]: just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.  
Ex1229 Now it happened at midnight that the LORD struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the cattle.  
Ex1230 Pharaoh got up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry [of heartache and sorrow] in Egypt, for there was no house where there was not someone dead.  
Ex1231 Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, “Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the Israelites; and go, serve the LORD, as you said.  
Ex1232 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and [ask your God to] bless me also.”  
Ex1233 The Egyptians [anxiously] urged the people [to leave], to send them out of the land quickly, for they said, “We will all be dead.”  
Ex1234 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.  
Ex1235 Now the Israelites had acted in accordance with the word of Moses; and they had asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing.  
Ex1236 The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they asked. And so they plundered the Egyptians [of those things].  
Ex1237 Now the Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides [the women and] the children.  
Ex1238 A mixed multitude [of non-Israelites from foreign nations] also went with them, along with both flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.  
Ex1239 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought from Egypt; it was not leavened, since they were driven [quickly] from Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any food for themselves.  
Ex1240 Now the period of time the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.  
Ex1241 At the end of the four hundred and thirty years, to that very day, all the hosts of the LORD [gathered into tribal armies] left the land of Egypt.  
Ex1242 It is a night of watching to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out of the land of Egypt; this [same] night is for the LORD, to be observed and celebrated by all the Israelites throughout their generations.  
Ex1243 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat it;  
Ex1244 but every man’s slave who is bought with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.  
Ex1245 No stranger (temporary resident, foreigner) or hired servant shall eat it.  
Ex1246 It is to be eaten inside one house; you shall not take any of the meat outside the house, nor shall you break any of its bones.  
Ex1247 The entire congregation of Israel shall keep and celebrate it.  
Ex1248 If a stranger living temporarily among you wishes to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may participate and celebrate it like one that is born in the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat it.  
Ex1249 The same law shall apply to the native-born and to the stranger who lives temporarily among you.”  
Ex1250 Then all the Israelites did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.  
Ex1251 And on that very same day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their hosts (tribal armies).  
Ex1301 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex1302 “Sanctify to Me [that is, set apart for My purpose] every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal; it is Mine.”  
Ex1303 Moses said to the people, “Remember [solemnly observe and commemorate] this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage and slavery; for by a strong and powerful hand the LORD brought you out of this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.  
Ex1304 On this day in the month Abib, you are about to go onward.  
Ex1305 And it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land [of abundance] flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep and observe this rite (service) in this month.  
Ex1306 For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.  
Ex1307 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, nor shall there be leaven within the borders of your territory.  
Ex1308 You shall explain this to your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’  
Ex1309 It shall serve as a sign to you on your hand (arm), and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the instruction (law) of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong and powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.  
Ex1310 Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at this time from year to year.  
Ex1311 “Now it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,  
Ex1312 you shall set apart and dedicate to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock shall be the LORD’S.  
Ex1313 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem by [substituting] a lamb [as a sacrifice for it], but if you do not [wish to] redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons you shall redeem [that is, ‘buy back’ from God with a suitable sacrifice].  
Ex1314 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘With a strong and powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage and slavery.  
Ex1315 For it happened, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that the LORD struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animal. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD all the males, the first [to be born] of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’  
Ex1316 So it shall serve as a sign and a reminder on your [left] hand (arm) and as frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong and powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”  
Ex1317 So it happened, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearer; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war [that is, that there will be war], and return to Egypt.”  
Ex1318 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea; the sons of Israel went up in battle array (orderly ranks, marching formation) out of the land of Egypt.  
Ex1319 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had solemnly ordered (placed under an oath) the Israelites, saying, “God will assuredly take care of you, and you must carry my bones away from here with you.”  
Ex1320 They journeyed from Succoth [in Goshen] and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness.  
Ex1321 The [presence of the] LORD was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night.  
Ex1322 He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.  
Ex1401 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex1402 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. You shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea.  
Ex1403 For Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’  
Ex1404 I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD.” And they did so.  
Ex1405 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done? We have let Israel go from serving us!”  
Ex1406 So Pharaoh harnessed horses to his war-chariots [for battle] and took his army with him;  
Ex1407 and he took six hundred chosen war-chariots, and all the other war-chariots of Egypt with fighting charioteers over all of them.  
Ex1408 The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he pursued the Israelites, as they were leaving confidently and defiantly.  
Ex1409 The Egyptians chased them with all the horses and war-chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them as they camped by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.  
Ex1410 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were very frightened; so the Israelites cried out to the LORD.  
Ex1411 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  
Ex1412 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians [as slaves] than to die in the wilderness.”  
Ex1413 Then Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid! Take your stand [be firm and confident and undismayed] and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for those Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see again.  
Ex1414 The LORD will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.”  
Ex1415 The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to move forward [toward the sea].  
Ex1416 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the sons of Israel may go through the middle of the sea on dry land.  
Ex1417 As for Me, hear this: I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in [the sea] after them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and his war-chariots and his horsemen.  
Ex1418 And the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD, when I am glorified and honored through Pharaoh, through his war-chariots and his charioteers.”  
Ex1419 The angel of God, who had been going in front of the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. The pillar of the cloud moved from in front and stood behind them.  
Ex1420 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. It was a cloud along with darkness [even by day to the Egyptians], but it gave light by night [to the Israelites]; so one [army] did not come near the other all night.  
Ex1421 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and turned the seabed into dry land, and the waters were divided.  
Ex1422 The Israelites went into the middle of the sea on dry land, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.  
Ex1423 Then the Egyptians pursued them into the middle of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his war-chariots and his charioteers.  
Ex1424 So it happened at the early morning watch [before dawn], that the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and put them in a state of confusion.  
Ex1425 He made their chariot wheels hard to turn, and the chariots difficult to drive; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”  
Ex1426 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, on their war-chariots and their charioteers.”  
Ex1427 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal flow at sunrise; and the Egyptians retreated right into it [being met by the returning water]; so the LORD overthrew the Egyptians and tossed them into the midst of the sea.  
Ex1428 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the charioteers, and all the army of Pharaoh that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them survived.  
Ex1429 But the Israelites walked on dry land in the middle of the sea, and the waters formed a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.  
Ex1430 The LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians [lying] dead on the seashore.  
Ex1431 When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, they feared the LORD [with reverence and awe-filled respect], and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses.  
Ex1501 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, singing, “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.  
Ex1502 “The LORD is my strength and my song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.  
Ex1503 “The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.  
Ex1504 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea; His chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea.  
Ex1505 “The deep [water] covers them; [Clad in armor] they sank into the depths like a stone.  
Ex1506 “Your right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.  
Ex1507 “In the greatness of Your majesty You overthrow and annihilate those [adversaries] who rise [in rebellion] against You; You send out Your fury, and it consumes them like chaff.  
Ex1508 “With the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a mound; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.  
Ex1509 “The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied against them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall dispossess them and drive them out.’  
Ex1510 “You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; [Clad in armor] they sank like lead in the mighty waters.  
Ex1511 “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders?  
Ex1512 “You stretched out Your right hand, The sea swallowed them.  
Ex1513 “You in Your lovingkindness and goodness have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them with care to Your holy habitation.  
Ex1514 “The peoples have heard [about You], they tremble; Anguish and fear has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.  
Ex1515 “Then the [tribal] chiefs of Edom were dismayed and horrified; The [mighty] leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away [in despair]—  
Ex1516 Terror and dread fall on them; Because of the greatness of Your arm they are as still as a stone; Until Your people pass by and [into Canaan], O LORD, Until the people pass by whom You have purchased.  
Ex1517 “You will bring them [into the land of promise] and plant them on the mountain (Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem) of Your inheritance, The place, O LORD, You have made for Your dwelling [among them], The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.  
Ex1518 “The LORD shall reign to eternity and beyond.”  
Ex1519 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his war-chariots and his charioteers into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea.  
Ex1520 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron [and Moses], took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her with timbrels and dancing.  
Ex1521 Miriam answered them, “Sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously and is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.”  
Ex1522 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went into the Wilderness of Shur; they went [a distance of] three days (about thirty-three miles) in the wilderness and found no water.  
Ex1523 Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink its waters because they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah (bitter).  
Ex1524 The people [grew discontented and] grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we going to drink?”  
Ex1525 Then he cried to the LORD [for help], and the LORD showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There the LORD made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,  
Ex1526 saying, “If you will diligently listen and pay attention to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively obey] all His precepts and statutes, then I will not put on you any of the diseases which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.”  
Ex1527 Then the children of Israel came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.  
Ex1601 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they left the land of Egypt.  
Ex1602 The whole congregation of the Israelites [grew discontented and] murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,  
Ex1603 and the Israelites said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger.”  
Ex1604 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will cause bread to rain from heaven for you; the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them [to determine] whether or not they will walk [obediently] in My instruction (law).  
Ex1605 And it shall be that on the sixth day, they shall prepare to bring in twice as much as they gather daily [so that they will not need to gather on the seventh day].”  
Ex1606 So Moses and Aaron said to all Israel, “At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt,  
Ex1607 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, for He hears your murmurings against the LORD. What are we, that you murmur and rebel against us?”  
Ex1608 Moses said, “This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning [enough] bread to be fully satisfied, because the LORD has heard your murmurings against Him; for what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.”  
Ex1609 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to all the congregation of Israel, ‘Approach the LORD, because He has heard your murmurings.’”  
Ex1610 So it happened that as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory and brilliance of the LORD appeared in the cloud!  
Ex1611 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex1612 “I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’”  
Ex1613 So in the evening the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a blanket of dew around the camp.  
Ex1614 When the layer of dew evaporated, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine, flake-like thing, as fine as frost on the ground.  
Ex1615 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.  
Ex1616 This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather as much of it as he needs. Take an omer for each person, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.’”  
Ex1617 The Israelites did so, and some gathered much [of it] and some [only a] little.  
Ex1618 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered a large amount had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered according to his need (family size).  
Ex1619 Moses said, “Let none of it be left [overnight] until [the next] morning.”  
Ex1620 But they did not listen to Moses, and some left a supply of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul and rotten; and Moses was angry with them.  
Ex1621 So they gathered it every morning, each as much as he needed, because when the sun was hot it melted.  
Ex1622 Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each person; and all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses.  
Ex1623 He said to them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD’; bake and boil what you will bake and boil [today], and all that remains left over put aside for yourselves to keep until morning.”  
Ex1624 They put it aside until morning, as Moses told them, and it did not become foul nor was it wormy.  
Ex1625 Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.  
Ex1626 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none [in the field].”  
Ex1627 Now on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none.  
Ex1628 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you [people] refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions (laws)?  
Ex1629 See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you the bread for two days on the sixth day. Let every man stay in his place; no man is to leave his place on the seventh day.”  
Ex1630 So the people rested on the seventh day.  
Ex1631 The house of Israel called the bread manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and it tasted like flat pastry (wafers) made with honey.  
Ex1632 Then Moses said, “This is the word which the LORD commands, ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”  
Ex1633 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.”  
Ex1634 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron [eventually] placed it in the presence of the Testimony, to be kept.  
Ex1635 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they reached an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.  
Ex1636 (Now an omer is the tenth of an ephah.)  
Ex1701 Then all the congregation of the children of Israel moved on from the Wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.  
Ex1702 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so we may [have something to] drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you tempt the LORD and try His patience?”  
Ex1703 But the people were thirsty for water; and the people murmured against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”  
Ex1704 So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”  
Ex1705 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.  
Ex1706 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; there you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may [have something to] drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.  
Ex1707 He named the place [where this miracle occurred] Massah (test) and Meribah (contention) because of the quarreling of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the [patience of the] LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”  
Ex1708 Then Amalek [and his people] came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.  
Ex1709 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek [and his people]. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.”  
Ex1710 So Joshua did as Moses said, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop.  
Ex1711 Now when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand [due to fatigue], Amalek prevailed.  
Ex1712 But Moses’ hands were heavy and he grew tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so it was that his hands were steady until the sun set.  
Ex1713 So Joshua overwhelmed and defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  
Ex1714 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this in the book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua, that I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek [and his people] from under heaven.”  
Ex1715 And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner;  
Ex1716 saying, “The LORD has sworn [an oath]; the LORD will have war against [the people of] Amalek from generation to generation.”  
Ex1801 Now Jethro (Reuel), the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.  
Ex1802 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Moses’ wife Zipporah, after he had sent her away [from Egypt],  
Ex1803 along with her two sons, of whom one was named Gershom (stranger), for Moses said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”  
Ex1804 The other [son] was named Eliezer (my God is help), for Moses said, “The God of my father was my help, and He rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”  
Ex1805 Then Jethro, his father-in-law, came with Moses’ sons and his wife to [join] Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mountain of God [that is, Mt. Sinai in Horeb].  
Ex1806 He sent a message to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons [who are] with her.”  
Ex1807 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down [in respect] and kissed him. They asked each other about their well-being and went into the tent.  
Ex1808 Moses told his father-in-law about all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and about all the hardship that had happened during the journey, and how the LORD had rescued them.  
Ex1809 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the LORD had done to Israel, in that He had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.  
Ex1810 Jethro said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who has rescued the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.  
Ex1811 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods; indeed, it was proven when they acted insolently toward Israel [and the LORD showed Himself infinitely superior to all their gods].”  
Ex1812 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and [other] sacrifices [to offer] to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.  
Ex1813 Now the next day Moses sat to judge [the disputes] the people [had with one another], and the people stood around Moses from dawn to dusk.  
Ex1814 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting alone [as a judge] with all the people standing around you from dawn to dusk?”  
Ex1815 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to ask [about the will] of God.  
Ex1816 When they have a dispute they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”  
Ex1817 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you are doing is not good.  
Ex1818 You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you [to bear]; you cannot do it alone.  
Ex1819 Now listen to me; I will advise you, and may God be with you [to confirm my advice]. You shall represent the people before God. You shall bring their disputes and causes to Him.  
Ex1820 You shall teach them the decrees and laws. You shall show them the way they are to live and the work they are to do.  
Ex1821 Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.  
Ex1822 They shall judge the people at all times; have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them judge every minor dispute themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.  
Ex1823 If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”  
Ex1824 So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything that he had said.  
Ex1825 Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens [from the highest to the lowest judicial levels].  
Ex1826 And they judged the people at all times; they would bring the difficult cases to Moses, but every minor dispute they judged and decided themselves.  
Ex1827 Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own land (Midian).  
Ex1901 In the third month after the children of Israel had left the land of Egypt, the very same day, they came into the Wilderness of Sinai.  
Ex1902 When they moved out from Rephidim, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai and they camped there; Israel camped at the base of the mountain [of Sinai].  
Ex1903 Moses went up to God [on the mountain], and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Say this to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites:  
Ex1904 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.  
Ex1905 Now therefore, if you will in fact obey My voice and keep My covenant (agreement), then you shall be My own special possession and treasure from among all peoples [of the world], for all the earth is Mine;  
Ex1906 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation [set apart for My purpose].’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”  
Ex1907 So Moses called for the elders of the people, and told them all these words which the LORD commanded him.  
Ex1908 All the people answered together and said, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.  
Ex1909 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may believe and trust in you forever.” Then Moses repeated the words of the people to the LORD.  
Ex1910 The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow [that is, prepare them for My sacred purpose], and have them wash their clothes  
Ex1911 and be ready by the third day, because on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai [in the cloud] in the sight of all the people.  
Ex1912 You shall set barriers for the people all around [the mountain], saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch its border; whoever touches the mountain must be put to death.  
Ex1913 No hand shall touch him [that is, no one shall try to save the guilty party], but the offender must be stoned or shot through [with arrows]; whether man or animal [that touches the mountain], he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”  
Ex1914 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified them [for God’s sacred purpose], and they washed their clothes.  
Ex1915 He said to the people, “Be prepared for the third day; do not be intimate with a woman.”  
Ex1916 So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and flashes of lightning, and a thick cloud was on the mountain, and a very loud blast was sounded on a ram’s horn, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.  
Ex1917 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood and presented themselves at the foot of the mountain.  
Ex1918 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.  
Ex1919 And it happened, as the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with [a voice of] thunder.  
Ex1920 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up.  
Ex1921 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through [the barriers around the mountain] to the LORD to see [Me], and many of them perish [as a result].  
Ex1922 Also have the priests who approach the LORD consecrate (sanctify, set apart) themselves [for My sacred purpose], or else the LORD will break forth [in judgment] against them [and destroy them].”  
Ex1923 Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, because You warned us, saying, ‘Set barriers around the mountain and consecrate it.’”  
Ex1924 Then the LORD said to him, “Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through [the barriers] to come up to the LORD, or He will break forth [in judgment] against them [and destroy them].”  
Ex1925 So Moses went down to the people and told them [again about God’s warning].  
Ex2001 Then God spoke all these words:  
Ex2002 “I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  
Ex2003 “You shall have no other gods before Me.  
Ex2004 “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship].  
Ex2005 You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,  
Ex2006 but showing graciousness and steadfast lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.  
Ex2007 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the LORD will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].  
Ex2008 “Remember the Sabbath (seventh) day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God).  
Ex2009 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  
Ex2010 but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the LORD your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock or the temporary resident (foreigner) who stays within your [city] gates.  
Ex2011 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy [that is, set it apart for His purposes].  
Ex2012 “Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the LORD your God gives you.  
Ex2013 “You shall not commit murder (unjustified, deliberate homicide).  
Ex2014 “You shall not commit adultery.  
Ex2015 “You shall not steal [secretly, openly, fraudulently, or through carelessness].  
Ex2016 “You shall not testify falsely [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person).  
Ex2017 “You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”  
Ex2018 Now all the people witnessed the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the smoking mountain; and as they looked, the people were afraid, and they trembled [and moved backward] and stood at a [safe] distance.  
Ex2019 Then they said to Moses, “You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us or we will die.”  
Ex2020 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him [that is, a profound reverence for Him] will remain with you, so that you do not sin.”  
Ex2021 So the people stood at a [safe] distance, but Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.  
Ex2022 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.  
Ex2023 You shall not make other gods [to worship] besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make [these lifeless idols] for yourselves.  
Ex2024 You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause My Name to be recorded and remembered [through revelation of My divine nature] I will come to you and bless you.  
Ex2025 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you use a chisel on it, you will profane it.  
Ex2026 Nor shall you go up to My altar on steps, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.’  
Ex2101 “Now these are the ordinances (laws) which you shall set before the Israelites:  
Ex2102 “If you purchase a Hebrew servant [because of his debt or poverty], he shall serve six years, and in the seventh [year] he shall leave as a free man, paying nothing.  
Ex2103 If he came [to you] alone, he shall leave alone; if he came married, then his wife shall leave with him.  
Ex2104 If his master gives him a wife, and she gives birth to sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall leave [your service] alone.  
Ex2105 But if the servant plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’  
Ex2106 then his master shall bring him to God [that is, to the judges who act in God’s name], then he shall bring him to the door or doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl (strong needle); and he shall serve him for life.  
Ex2107 “If a man sells his daughter to be a female servant, she shall not go free [after six years] as male servants do.  
Ex2108 If she does not please her master who has chosen her for himself [as a wife], he shall let her be redeemed [by her family]. He does not have the authority to sell her to a foreign people, because he has been unfair to her.  
Ex2109 If her master chooses her [as a wife] for his son, he shall act toward her as if she were legally his daughter.  
Ex2110 If her master marries another wife, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her privilege as a wife.  
Ex2111 If he does not do these three things for her, then shall she leave free, without payment of money.  
Ex2112 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies must be put to death.  
Ex2113 However, if he did not lie in wait [for him], but God allowed him to fall into his hand, then I will establish for you a place to which he may escape [for protection until duly tried].  
Ex2114 But if a man acts intentionally against another and kills him by [design through] treachery, you are to take him from My altar [to which he may have fled for protection], so that he may be put to death.  
Ex2115 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death.  
Ex2116 “Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found with him in his possession, must be put to death.  
Ex2117 “Whoever curses his father or his mother or treats them contemptuously must be put to death.  
Ex2118 “If men quarrel and one strikes another with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed,  
Ex2119 if he gets up and walks around leaning on his cane, then the one who struck him shall be left [physically] unpunished; he must only pay for his loss of time [at work], and the costs [of treatment and recuperation] until he is thoroughly healed.  
Ex2120 “If a man strikes his male or his female servant with a staff and the servant dies at his hand, he must be punished.  
Ex2121 If, however, the servant survives for a day or two, the offender shall not be punished, for the [injured] servant is his own property.  
Ex2122 “If men fight with each other and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely [and the baby lives], yet there is no further injury, the one who hurt her must be punished with a fine [paid] to the woman’s husband, as much as the judges decide.  
Ex2123 But if there is any further injury, then you shall require [as a penalty] life for life,  
Ex2124 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,  
Ex2125 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.  
Ex2126 “If a man hits the eye of his male servant or female servant and it is destroyed, he must let the servant go free because of [the loss of] the eye.  
Ex2127 And if he knocks out the tooth of his male servant or female servant, he must let the servant go free because of [the loss of] the tooth.  
Ex2128 “If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned and its meat shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be cleared [of responsibility].  
Ex2129 But if the ox has tried to gore on a previous occasion, and its owner has been warned, but has not kept it confined and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner shall be put to death as well.  
Ex2130 If a ransom is demanded of him [in return for his life], then he shall give whatever is demanded for the redemption of his life.  
Ex2131 If the ox has gored another’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule.  
Ex2132 If the ox gores a male or a female servant, the owner shall give to the servant’s master thirty shekels of silver [the purchase price for a slave], and the ox shall be stoned.  
Ex2133 “If a man leaves a pit open, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,  
Ex2134 the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he shall give money to the animal’s owner, but the dead [animal] shall be his.  
Ex2135 “If one man’s ox injures another’s so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the proceeds equally; they shall also divide the dead ox [between them].  
Ex2136 Or if it is known that the ox was previously in the habit of goring, and its owner has not kept it confined, he must make restitution of ox for ox, and the dead [animal] shall be his.  
Ex2201 “If a man steals an ox or sheep and kills or sells it, he shall make restitution of five oxen for an ox or four sheep for a sheep.  
Ex2202 “If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.  
Ex2203 But if the sun has risen, there will be bloodguilt for him. The thief [if he lives] must make [full] restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold [as a slave to make restitution] for his theft.  
Ex2204 If the animal that he stole is found alive in his possession, whether it is ox or donkey or sheep, he shall pay double [for it].  
Ex2205 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed bare or lets his livestock loose so that it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.  
Ex2206 “If fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes so that the stacked grain or standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.  
Ex2207 “If a man gives his neighbor money or [other] goods to keep [for him while he is away] and it is stolen from the neighbor’s house, then, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double [for it].  
Ex2208 If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall appear before the judges [who act in God’s name], to determine whether or not he had stolen his neighbor’s goods.  
Ex2209 For every offense involving property, whether it concerns ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any piece of lost property, which another identifies as his, the case of both parties shall come before the judges [who act in God’s name]. Whomever the judges pronounce guilty shall pay double to his neighbor.  
Ex2210 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any [other] animal to keep [for him], and it dies or is injured or taken away while no one is looking,  
Ex2211 then an oath before the LORD shall be made by the two of them that he has not taken his neighbor’s property; and the owner of it shall accept his word and not require him to make restitution.  
Ex2212 But if it is actually stolen from him [when in his care], he shall make restitution to its owner.  
Ex2213 If it is torn to pieces [by some predator or by accident], let him bring the mangled carcass as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what was torn to pieces.  
Ex2214 “And if a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it gets injured or dies while its owner is not with it, the borrower shall make full restitution.  
Ex2215 But if the owner is with it [when the damage is done], the borrower shall not make restitution. If it was hired, the damage is included in [the price of] its fee.  
Ex2216 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry (marriage price) for her to be his wife.  
Ex2217 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must [still] pay money equivalent to the dowry of virgins.  
Ex2218 “You shall not allow a woman who practices sorcery to live.  
Ex2219 “Whoever lies with an animal must be put to death.  
Ex2220 “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the LORD alone, shall be put under a ban (designated) for destruction (execution).  
Ex2221 “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  
Ex2222 You shall not harm or oppress any widow or fatherless child.  
Ex2223 If you harm or oppress them in any way, and they cry at all to Me [for help], I will most certainly hear their cry;  
Ex2224 and My wrath shall be kindled and burn; I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.  
Ex2225 “If you lend money to any one of My people with you who is poor, you shall not act as a creditor (professional moneylender) to him; you shall not charge him interest.  
Ex2226 If you ever take your [poor] neighbor’s robe in pledge, you must return it to him before sunset,  
Ex2227 for that is his only covering; it is his clothing for his body. In what shall he sleep? And when he cries to Me [for help], I will hear him, for I am compassionate and gracious.  
Ex2228 “You shall not curse God, nor curse the ruler of your people [since he administers God’s law].  
Ex2229 “You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. You shall give (consecrate, dedicate) to Me the firstborn of your sons.  
Ex2230 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it [as an offering] to Me.  
Ex2231 “You shall be holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.  
Ex2301 “You shall not give a false report; you shall not join hands with the wicked to be a malicious witness [promoting wrong and violence].  
Ex2302 You shall not follow a crowd to do [something] evil, nor shall you testify at a trial or in a dispute so as to side with a crowd in order to pervert justice;  
Ex2303 nor shall you favor or be partial to a poor man in his dispute [simply because he is poor].  
Ex2304 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering off, you must bring it back to him.  
Ex2305 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave the man to deal with it [alone]; you must help him release the animal [from its burden].  
Ex2306 “You shall not pervert (bend) the justice due to your poor in his dispute.  
Ex2307 Keep far away from a false charge or action, and do not condemn to death the innocent or the righteous, for I will not justify and acquit the guilty.  
Ex2308 “You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the testimony and the cause of the righteous.  
Ex2309 “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul [the feelings, thoughts, and concerns] of a stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt.  
Ex2310 “You shall sow your land six years and harvest its yield,  
Ex2311 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie uncultivated, so that the poor among your people may eat [what the land grows naturally]; whatever they leave the animals of the field may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.  
Ex2312 “Six days [each week] you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall stop [working] so that your ox and your donkey may settle down and rest, and the son of your female servant, as well as your stranger, may be refreshed.  
Ex2313 Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; do not mention the name of other gods [either in a blessing or in a curse]; do not let such speech be heard [coming] from your mouth.  
Ex2314 “Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast [dedicated] to Me.  
Ex2315 You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed [but you shall bring sacrificial offerings].  
Ex2316 Also [you shall observe] the Feast of Harvest (Weeks, Pentecost, or First Fruits), acknowledging the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. And [third] the Feast of Ingathering (Booths or Tabernacles) at the end of the year when you gather in [the fruit of] your labors from the field.  
Ex2317 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.  
Ex2318 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; and the fat of My feast is not to be left overnight until morning.  
Ex2319 “You shall bring the choice first fruits of your ground into the house of the LORD your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.  
Ex2320 “Behold, I am going to send an Angel before you to keep and guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.  
Ex2321 Be on your guard before Him, listen to and obey His voice; do not be rebellious toward Him or provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgression, since My Name (authority) is in Him.  
Ex2322 But if you will indeed listen to and truly obey His voice and do everything that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.  
Ex2323 When My Angel goes before you and brings you to [the land of] the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, I will reject them and completely destroy them.  
Ex2324 You shall not bow down to worship their gods, nor serve them, nor do [anything] in accordance with their practices. You shall completely overthrow them and break down their [sacred] pillars and images [of pagan worship].  
Ex2325 You shall serve [only] the LORD your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you.  
Ex2326 No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.  
Ex2327 I will send My terror ahead of you, and I will throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you [in flight].  
Ex2328 I will send hornets ahead of you which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite before you.  
Ex2329 I will not drive them out before you in a single year, so that the land does not become desolate [due to lack of attention] and the [wild] animals of the field do not become too numerous for you.  
Ex2330 I will drive them out before you little by little, until you have increased and are strong enough to take possession of the land.  
Ex2331 I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines (the Mediterranean), and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will hand over the residents of the land to you, and you shall drive them out before you.  
Ex2332 You shall not make a covenant with them or with their gods.  
Ex2333 They shall not live in your land, because they will make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it is certain to be a trap for you [resulting in judgment].”  
Ex2401 Then God said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (Aaron’s older sons), and seventy of Israel’s elders, and you shall worship at a [safe] distance.  
Ex2402 Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”  
Ex2403 Then Moses came and told the people everything that the LORD had said and all the ordinances. And all the people answered with one voice, “Everything the LORD has said we will do.”  
Ex2404 Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an altar [for worship] at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars (memorial stones) representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  
Ex2405 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.  
Ex2406 Moses took half of the blood and put it in large basins, and [the other] half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.  
Ex2407 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people; and they said, “Everything that the LORD has said we will do, and we will be obedient.”  
Ex2408 So Moses took the blood [which had been placed in the large basins] and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”  
Ex2409 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up [the mountainside],  
Ex2410 and they saw [a manifestation of] the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, just as clear as the sky itself.  
Ex2411 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the Israelites; and they saw [the manifestation of the presence of] God, and ate and drank.  
Ex2412 Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction.”  
Ex2413 So Moses arose with Joshua his attendant, and he went up to the mountain of God.  
Ex2414 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Remember that Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him go to them.”  
Ex2415 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.  
Ex2416 The glory and brilliance of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day God called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.  
Ex2417 In the sight of the Israelites the appearance of the glory and brilliance of the LORD was like consuming fire on the top of the mountain.  
Ex2418 Moses entered the midst of the cloud and went up the mountain; and he was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.  
Ex2501 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex2502 “Tell the children of Israel to take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart moves him [to give willingly] you shall take My offering.  
Ex2503 This is the offering you are to receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,  
Ex2504 blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, fine twisted linen, goats’ hair,  
Ex2505 rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood,  
Ex2506 [olive] oil for lighting, balsam for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,  
Ex2507 onyx stones and setting stones for the [priest’s] ephod and for the breastpiece.  
Ex2508 Have them build a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.  
Ex2509 You shall construct it in accordance with everything that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture.  
Ex2510 “They shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.  
Ex2511 You shall overlay the ark with pure gold, overlay it inside and out, and you shall make a gold border (frame) around its top.  
Ex2512 You shall cast four gold rings for it and attach them to the four feet, two rings on either side.  
Ex2513 You shall make [carrying] poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold,  
Ex2514 and put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry it.  
Ex2515 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it [so that the ark itself need not be touched].  
Ex2516 You shall put into the ark the Testimony (Ten Commandments) which I will give you.  
Ex2517 “You shall make a mercy seat (cover) of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.  
Ex2518 You shall make two cherubim (winged angelic figures) of [solid] hammered gold at the two ends of the mercy seat.  
Ex2519 Make one cherub at each end, making the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.  
Ex2520 The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing each other. The faces of the cherubim are to be looking downward toward the mercy seat.  
Ex2521 You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony which I will give you.  
Ex2522 There I will meet with you; from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, I will speak [intimately] with you regarding every commandment that I will give you for the Israelites.  
Ex2523 “You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high.  
Ex2524 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a border of gold around the top of it.  
Ex2525 You shall make a rim of a hand width around it; you shall make a gold border for the rim around it.  
Ex2526 You shall make four gold rings for it and fasten them at the four corners that are on the table’s four legs.  
Ex2527 The rings shall be close against the rim as holders for the poles to carry the table.  
Ex2528 You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them.  
Ex2529 You shall make its plates [for the showbread] and its cups [for incense] and its pitchers and bowls for sacrificial drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold.  
Ex2530 You shall set the bread of the Presence (showbread) on the table before Me at all times.  
Ex2531 “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand and its base and its shaft shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes and its flowers shall be all of one piece with it.  
Ex2532 Six branches shall come out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand out of the one side and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side [the shaft being the seventh branch].  
Ex2533 Three cups shall be made like almond blossoms, each with a calyx and a flower on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms on the other branch with a calyx and a flower—so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand;  
Ex2534 and in the [center shaft of the] lampstand [you shall make] four cups shaped like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and their flowers.  
Ex2535 A calyx shall be under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a calyx under the second pair of branches coming out of it, and a calyx under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.  
Ex2536 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it; all of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold.  
Ex2537 Then you shall make the lamps [of the lampstand] seven in number [with one lamp at the top of the shaft]. The priests shall set up its seven lamps so that they will light the space in front of it.  
Ex2538 Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold.  
Ex2539 It shall be made from a talent (50-80 lbs.) of pure gold, including all these utensils.  
Ex2540 See that you make them [exactly] after their pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.  
Ex2601 “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle (sacred tent of worship) with ten [interior] curtains of fine twisted linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric; you shall make them with [embroidered] cherubim, the handwork of a skillful craftsman.  
Ex2602 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all of the curtains shall measure the same.  
Ex2603 The five curtains shall be joined to one another, and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another.  
Ex2604 You shall make loops of blue on the outer edge of the last curtain in the first set, and likewise in the second set.  
Ex2605 You shall make fifty loops on the one curtain, and fifty loops on the edge of the last curtain that is in the second set. The loops on one curtain correspond to the loops on the other.  
Ex2606 You shall make fifty gold hooks, and fasten the curtains together with the hooks; and the tabernacle shall be one unit.  
Ex2607 “Then you shall make [exterior] curtains of goats’ hair as a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains in all.  
Ex2608 Each curtain shall be thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. The eleven curtains shall all measure the same.  
Ex2609 You shall join five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent [to make a closed door].  
Ex2610 Make fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set.  
Ex2611 “You shall make fifty bronze hooks and put the hooks into the loops and join the tent together so that it may be one unit.  
Ex2612 The overlapping part that is left over from the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over, shall lap over the back of the tabernacle.  
Ex2613 The cubit on one side and the cubit on the other, of what is left over in the length of the curtains of the tent shall lap over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and the other side, to cover it.  
Ex2614 You shall make a third covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a fourth covering above that of porpoise skins.  
Ex2615 “Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright [as a trellis-like frame].  
Ex2616 The length of each board shall be ten cubits and the width of each board shall be one and a half cubits.  
Ex2617 Make two dovetails in each board for fitting [them] together; you shall do the same for all the tabernacle boards.  
Ex2618 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle [in the following quantities]: twenty boards for the south side.  
Ex2619 You shall make forty silver sockets under the twenty boards, two sockets under each board for its two dovetails, and two sockets under another board for its two dovetails;  
Ex2620 for the north side of the tabernacle there shall be twenty boards,  
Ex2621 and their forty silver sockets, two sockets under each board.  
Ex2622 For the back or west side of the tabernacle you shall make six boards.  
Ex2623 Make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear [on both sides].  
Ex2624 They shall be joined together underneath, and joined together on top with one ring. So shall it be for both of them; they shall form the two [rear] corners.  
Ex2625 There shall be eight boards and sixteen silver sockets; two sockets under each board.  
Ex2626 “Then you shall make [fifteen] bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,  
Ex2627 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the rear end of the tabernacle, for the back wall toward the west.  
Ex2628 And the middle bar in the center of the boards shall pass through [horizontally] from end to end.  
Ex2629 You shall overlay the boards with gold and make their rings of gold to hold the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold.  
Ex2630 You shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan [the direction corresponding to its meaning and purpose] which has been shown to you on the mountain.  
Ex2631 “You shall make a veil [to divide the two rooms] of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen, skillfully worked with cherubim on it.  
Ex2632 You shall hang it on four pillars (support poles) of acacia wood overlaid with gold, with gold hooks, on four silver sockets.  
Ex2633 You shall hang the veil from the hooks [that connect the curtains together], and you shall bring the ark of the Testimony there within the veil. The veil shall separate for you the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.  
Ex2634 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies.  
Ex2635 You shall set the table [for the bread] outside the veil [in the Holy Place] on the north side, and the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle.  
Ex2636 “You shall make a screen [to provide a covering] for the doorway of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and finely woven [embroidered] linen, the work of an embroiderer.  
Ex2637 You shall make five pillars (support poles) of acacia wood to support the hanging curtain and overlay them with gold. Their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five [base] sockets of bronze for them.  
Ex2701 “And you shall make the altar [for burnt offerings] of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.  
Ex2702 Make horns (horn-shaped projections) for it on its four corners; the horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.  
Ex2703 You shall make pots to remove its ashes, and shovels, basins [to catch the blood of the sacrificed animal], meat-forks, and firepans [to store live coals]. You shall make all its utensils of bronze.  
Ex2704 Also make a grate for it, a network of bronze; and on the grid you are to make four bronze rings at its four corners.  
Ex2705 And you shall put it under the ledge of the altar, so that the grid will extend halfway up the altar.  
Ex2706 You shall make [carrying] poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, overlaid with bronze.  
Ex2707 The poles shall be inserted through the rings on the two sides of the altar so that it may be carried.  
Ex2708 You are to make the altar hollow with planks; as you were shown on the mountain [of Sinai], so shall it be made.  
Ex2709 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle. The south side of the court is to have curtains of fine twisted linen, a hundred cubits long for one side;  
Ex2710 it shall have twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver;  
Ex2711 likewise for the north side there shall be curtains, a hundred cubits long, and its twenty pillars and twenty bronze sockets; but the hooks of the pillars and their fasteners shall be silver.  
Ex2712 For the width of the court on the west side there shall be curtains of fifty cubits, with ten pillars (support poles) and ten sockets.  
Ex2713 The width of the court [to the front], on the east side shall be fifty cubits.  
Ex2714 The curtains for one side [of the gate] shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets.  
Ex2715 On the other side [of the gate] the curtains shall be fifteen cubits with three pillars and three sockets.  
Ex2716 For the gate of the court there shall be a screen [to provide a covering] of twenty cubits, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and finely woven [embroidered] linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four pillars and four [base] sockets.  
Ex2717 All the pillars (support poles) around the court shall be joined together with silver rods; their hooks shall be of silver and their sockets of bronze.  
Ex2718 The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the width fifty [cubits] throughout, and the height five cubits of fine twisted linen, and their sockets of bronze.  
Ex2719 All the tabernacle’s utensils and instruments used in all its service, and all its stakes, and all the stakes for the court, shall be of bronze.  
Ex2720 “You shall command the Israelites to provide you with clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually [every night].  
Ex2721 In the Tent of Meeting [of God with His people], outside the veil which is in front of the [ark of the] Testimony [and sets it apart], Aaron [the high priest] and his sons shall keep the lamp burning from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a perpetual statute [to be observed] throughout their generations on behalf of the Israelites.  
Ex2801 “Now bring your brother Aaron near, and his sons with him from among the sons of Israel, so that he may serve as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.  
Ex2802 You are to make sacred garments [official clothing reserved for holy services] for Aaron your brother, for honor and for beauty (ornamentation).  
Ex2803 Tell all the skilled and talented people whom I have endowed with a spirit of wisdom, that they are to make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him and set him apart to serve as a priest for Me.  
Ex2804 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece and an ephod [for the breastpiece] and a robe and a tunic of checkered work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make sacred garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, so that he may serve as a priest to Me.  
Ex2805 They are to use the gold and the blue and the purple and the scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen [from the people],  
Ex2806 and they shall make the ephod of gold and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen, skillfully woven and [beautifully] worked.  
Ex2807 It is to have two shoulder pieces joined to its two [back and front] ends, so that it may be joined together.  
Ex2808 And the skillfully woven sash, which is on the ephod shall be made of the same material: of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and fine twisted linen.  
Ex2809 You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the [twelve] sons of Israel,  
Ex2810 six of their names on one stone and the remaining six names on the other stone, arranged in the order of their births.  
Ex2811 With the work of a jeweler, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel. You shall have them set in filigree [settings] of gold.  
Ex2812 You shall put the two stones on the [two] shoulder pieces of the ephod [of the high priest], as memorial stones for Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.  
Ex2813 You shall make filigree [settings] of gold,  
Ex2814 and you are to make two chains of pure gold like twisted cords, and fasten the corded chains to the settings.  
Ex2815 “You are to make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skilled and talented craftsman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric and of fine twisted linen.  
Ex2816 The breastpiece shall be square and folded double; a span [about nine inches] in length and a span in width.  
Ex2817 You shall mount on it four rows of stones: the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;  
Ex2818 the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;  
Ex2819 the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;  
Ex2820 and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.  
Ex2821 The [engraved] stones shall be twelve, according to the names of [the twelve tribes of] the sons of Israel; they shall be like the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.  
Ex2822 You shall make for the breastpiece chains of pure gold twisted like cords.  
Ex2823 You shall make on the breastpiece two rings of gold, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece.  
Ex2824 You shall put the two twisted cords of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastpiece.  
Ex2825 The other two ends of the two cords you shall fasten in the two filigree settings in front, putting them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod.  
Ex2826 You shall make two gold rings and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.  
Ex2827 You are to make two gold rings and attach them to the lower part of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod in front, close to the place where it is joined, above the skillfully woven sash of the ephod.  
Ex2828 They shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it will be above the skillfully woven sash of the ephod, so that the breastpiece will not come loose from the ephod.  
Ex2829 So Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the Holy Place, to bring them in continual remembrance before the LORD.  
Ex2830 In the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim (Lights) and the Thummim (Perfections) [to be used for determining God’s will in a matter]. They shall be over Aaron’s heart whenever he goes before the LORD, and Aaron shall always carry the judgment (verdict, judicial decisions) of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.  
Ex2831 “And you shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.  
Ex2832 There shall be an opening at its top in the center [for the head], with a binding of woven work around the opening, like the opening in a coat of armor, so that it will not tear or fray.  
Ex2833 You shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric all around its hem, with gold bells between them;  
Ex2834 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the [bottom] hem of the robe.  
Ex2835 Aaron shall wear the robe when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes [alone] into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he will not die there.  
Ex2836 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘Holy to the LORD.’  
Ex2837 You shall fasten it on the front of the turban with a blue cord.  
Ex2838 It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the guilt from the holy things which the sons of Israel dedicate, with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be accepted before the LORD.  
Ex2839 “You shall weave the tunic of checkered work of fine linen, and make a turban of fine linen. You shall make a sash, the work of an embroiderer.  
Ex2840 “For Aaron’s sons you shall make tunics and sashes and [ornamental] caps, for glory and honor and beauty.  
Ex2841 You shall put the various articles of clothing on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain and sanctify them, so that they may serve Me as priests.  
Ex2842 You shall make for them [white] linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, reaching from the waist to the thighs.  
Ex2843 The various articles of clothing shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting, or when they approach the altar [of incense] to minister in the Holy Place, so that they do not incur guilt and die. It shall be a statute forever to Aaron and to his descendants after him.  
Ex2901 “This is what you shall do to consecrate Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests: take one young bull and two rams, without blemish,  
Ex2902 and unleavened bread and unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; you shall make them of fine wheat flour.  
Ex2903 You shall put them in one basket, and present them in the basket along with the bull and the two rams.  
Ex2904 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting [out where the basin is] and wash them with water.  
Ex2905 Then you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod and the ephod and the breastpiece, and wrap him with the skillfully woven sash of the ephod;  
Ex2906 and you shall put the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban.  
Ex2907 Then you shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.  
Ex2908 You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them.  
Ex2909 And you shall wrap them with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and put the [ornamental] caps on them; and the priest’s office shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.  
Ex2910 “Then you shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the bull’s head.  
Ex2911 Then you shall kill the bull before the LORD by the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Ex2912 And you shall take some of the blood of the bull and with your finger put it on the horns of the altar [of burnt offering], and you shall pour out the remainder of the blood at the base of the altar.  
Ex2913 You shall take all the fat that covers the intestines and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and offer them up in smoke on the altar.  
Ex2914 But the meat of the bull, its hide, and the contents of its intestines you shall burn in the fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.  
Ex2915 “And you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram;  
Ex2916 then you shall kill the ram and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it around the altar [of burnt offering].  
Ex2917 Then you shall cut the ram into pieces, and wash its intestines and legs, and place them with its pieces and its head,  
Ex2918 and you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD: it is a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Ex2919 “Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.  
Ex2920 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ears of Aaron and his sons and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the [rest of the] blood around on the altar [of burnt offering].  
Ex2921 Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Now Aaron and his garments and his sons and their garments shall be consecrated (dedicated, made holy, declared sacred for God’s purpose).  
Ex2922 “You shall also take the fat of the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the intestines, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh; (for it is a ram of ordination),  
Ex2923 and one loaf of bread and one cake of oiled bread and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD;  
Ex2924 and you shall put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.  
Ex2925 Then you shall take them from their hands, add them to the burnt offering, and burn them on the altar for a sweet and soothing aroma before the LORD; it is an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Ex2926 “Then you shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination, and wave it as a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be your (Moses) portion.  
Ex2927 You shall consecrate the waved breast offering [of the ram] used in the ordination and the waved thigh offering of the priests’ portion, since it is [a contribution] for Aaron and for his sons.  
Ex2928 It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their due portion from the Israelites forever, for it is a heave offering. It shall be a heave offering to the LORD from the Israelites from the sacrifices of their peace offerings.  
Ex2929 “The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed and ordained in them.  
Ex2930 That son who is [high] priest in his place shall put them on [each day for] seven days when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the Holy Place.  
Ex2931 “You shall take the ram of the ordination and boil its meat in a holy place.  
Ex2932 Aaron and his sons shall eat the meat of the ram and the bread in the basket, at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Ex2933 They shall eat those things by which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration; but a layman shall not eat them, because they are holy [that is, set apart to the worship of God].  
Ex2934 And if any of the meat of ordination or the bread remains until morning, you shall burn it in the fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.  
Ex2935 “So you shall do to Aaron and to his sons in accordance with all I have commanded you; during seven days you are to ordain them.  
Ex2936 You shall offer a bull every day as a sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar from sin when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to consecrate it [for God’s sacred purpose].  
Ex2937 For seven days you shall make atonement for the altar [of burnt offering] and consecrate it; then the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy (set apart for God’s service).  
Ex2938 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs shall be offered each day, continuously.  
Ex2939 One lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb at twilight;  
Ex2940 and with the one lamb there shall be one-tenth of a measure of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten [olive] oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering [to be poured out].  
Ex2941 And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight, and do with it as with the grain offering of the morning and with the drink offering, for a sweet and soothing aroma [to appease God], an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Ex2942 This will be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.  
Ex2943 There I will meet with the Israelites, and the Tent of Meeting shall be sanctified by My glory [the Shekinah, God’s dwelling presence].  
Ex2944 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering]; also I will sanctify Aaron and his sons to serve as priests to Me.  
Ex2945 I will dwell among the sons of Israel and be their God.  
Ex2946 They shall know [from personal experience] and acknowledge that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.  
Ex3001 “You shall make an altar upon which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.  
Ex3002 It shall be a cubit long and a cubit wide. It shall be square and it shall be two cubits high. Its horns of one piece with it.  
Ex3003 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and its sides all around, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding all around it.  
Ex3004 You shall make two gold rings under its molding, make them on the two side walls—on opposite sides—they shall be holders for the poles with which to carry it.  
Ex3005 You shall make the poles of acacia wood overlaid with gold.  
Ex3006 You shall put the altar of incense [in the Holy Place] in front and outside of the veil that screens the ark of the Testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with you.  
Ex3007 Aaron shall burn sweet and fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims and tends the lamps.  
Ex3008 When Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.  
Ex3009 You shall not offer any strange incense on this altar, or burnt offering or meal offering; you shall not pour out a drink offering on it.  
Ex3010 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement [for sin] on its horns. He shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.”  
Ex3011 Then the LORD said to Moses,  
Ex3012 “When you take the census of the Israelites, each one shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD when you count them, so that no plague will come on them when you number them.  
Ex3013 This is what everyone who is counted shall give [as he joins those already counted]: a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs); a half shekel as a contribution to the LORD.  
Ex3014 Everyone who is counted, from twenty years old and over, [as he joins those already counted], shall give this contribution to the LORD.  
Ex3015 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give this contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.  
Ex3016 You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it [exclusively] for the service of the Tent of Meeting, so that it may be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.”  
Ex3017 Then the LORD said to Moses,  
Ex3018 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, with a base of bronze, for washing. You shall put it [outside in the court] between the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering], and you shall put water in it.  
Ex3019 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet.  
Ex3020 When they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister, to burn an offering in the fire to the LORD [they shall do the same].  
Ex3021 They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die; it shall be a perpetual statute for them, for Aaron and his descendants throughout their generations.”  
Ex3022 Moreover, the LORD said to Moses,  
Ex3023 “Take for yourself the best spices: five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much—two hundred and fifty—of sweet-scented cinnamon, and two hundred and fifty of fragrant cane,  
Ex3024 and five hundred shekels of cinnamon blossom according to the sanctuary shekel, and a hin of olive oil.  
Ex3025 You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a sacred anointing oil.  
Ex3026 You shall anoint the Tent of Meeting with it, and the ark of the Testimony,  
Ex3027 and the table [for the bread] and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense,  
Ex3028 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin [for cleansing] and its base.  
Ex3029 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy (set apart for God).  
Ex3030 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve as priests to Me.  
Ex3031 You shall say to the Israelites, ‘This shall be a holy and sacred anointing oil, to Me [alone] throughout your generations.  
Ex3032 It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same composition. It is holy, and it shall be sacred to you.  
Ex3033 Whoever prepares any like it or puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’”  
Ex3034 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take sweet and fragrant spices—stacte, onycha, and galbanum, sweet and fragrant spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal amount of each—  
Ex3035 and make incense with it, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure and sacred.  
Ex3036 You shall crush some of it [into a] very fine [powder], and put some of it before the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.  
Ex3037 The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD.  
Ex3038 Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].”  
Ex3101 Now the LORD said to Moses,  
Ex3102 “See, I have called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.  
Ex3103 I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and skill, in understanding and intelligence, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,  
Ex3104 to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,  
Ex3105 and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship.  
Ex3106 And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; to all who are wise-hearted I have given the skill and ability to make everything that I have commanded you:  
Ex3107 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the mercy seat that is upon it, all the furnishings of the tent—  
Ex3108 the table [for the bread] and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the [golden] altar of incense,  
Ex3109 the [bronze] altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin and its base—  
Ex3110 the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the [high] priest and the garments for his sons to minister as priests,  
Ex3111 and the anointing oil and the sweet and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”  
Ex3112 And the LORD said to Moses,  
Ex3113 “But as for you, say to the Israelites, ‘You shall most certainly observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, so that you may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the LORD who sanctifies you and sets you apart [for Myself].  
Ex3114 Therefore, you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it must be put to death; for whoever does work on the Sabbath, that person (soul) shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Ex3115 For six days work may be done, but the seventh is the Sabbath of complete rest, sacred to the LORD; whoever does work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.  
Ex3116 So the Israelites shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’  
Ex3117 It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and was refreshed.”  
Ex3118 When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.  
Ex3201 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, they gathered together before Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”  
Ex3202 So Aaron replied to them, “Take off the gold rings that are in the ears of your wives, your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”  
Ex3203 So all the people took off the gold rings that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.  
Ex3204 And he took the gold from their hands, and fashioned it with an engraving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”  
Ex3205 Now when Aaron saw the molten calf, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation, and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD!”  
Ex3206 So they got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; then the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play [shamefully—without moral restraint].  
Ex3207 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.  
Ex3208 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’”  
Ex3209 The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked (stubborn, rebellious) people.  
Ex3210 Now therefore, let Me alone and do not interfere, so that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you (your descendants) a great nation.”  
Ex3211 But Moses appeased and entreated the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?  
Ex3212 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil [intent] their God brought them out to kill them in the mountains and destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from Your burning anger and change Your mind about harming Your people.  
Ex3213 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), Your servants to whom You swore [an oath] by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”  
Ex3214 So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He had said He would do to His people.  
Ex3215 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand; tablets that were written on both sides—they were written on one side and on the other.  
Ex3216 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets.  
Ex3217 Now when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of battle in the camp.”  
Ex3218 But Moses said, “It is not the sound of the cry of victory, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But I hear the sound of singing.”  
Ex3219 And as soon as he approached the camp and he saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned; and he threw the tablets from his hands and smashed them at the foot of the mountain.  
Ex3220 Then Moses took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it on the surface of the water and made the Israelites drink it.  
Ex3221 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought so great a sin on them?”  
Ex3222 Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil.  
Ex3223 For they said to me, ‘Make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’  
Ex3224 I said to them, ‘Let whoever has gold [jewelry], take it off.’ So they gave it to me; then I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”  
Ex3225 Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of mockery among their enemies—  
Ex3226 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’S side, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi [the priestly tribe] gathered together to him.  
Ex3227 He said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Every man strap his sword on his thigh and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor [all who continue pagan worship].’”  
Ex3228 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people [of Israel] were killed that day.  
Ex3229 Then Moses said [to the Levites], “Dedicate yourselves today to the LORD—for each man has been against his own son and his own brother [in his attempt to escape execution]—so that He may restore and bestow His blessing on you this day.”  
Ex3230 Then the next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”  
Ex3231 So Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin [against You], and have made themselves a god of gold.  
Ex3232 Yet now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written (kill me)!”  
Ex3233 But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book [not you].  
Ex3234 But now go, lead the people [to the place] where I have told you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you; nevertheless, in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin!”  
Ex3235 So the LORD struck the people with a plague, because of what they had done with the calf which Aaron had made [for them].  
Ex3301 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought from the land of Egypt, to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’  
Ex3302 I will send an Angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.  
Ex3303 Go up to a land [of abundance] flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are a stiff-necked (stubborn, rebellious) people, and I might destroy you on the way.”  
Ex3304 When the people heard this sad word, they mourned, and none of them put on his ornaments.  
Ex3305 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked (stubborn, rebellious) people! If I should come among you for one moment, I would destroy you. Now therefore, [penitently] take off your ornaments, so that I may know what to do with you.’”  
Ex3306 So the Israelites left off all their ornaments [in repentance], from Mount Horeb (Sinai) onward.  
Ex3307 Now Moses used to take his own tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people]. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the [temporary] tent of meeting which was outside the camp.  
Ex3308 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand, each at his tent door, and look at Moses until he entered the tent.  
Ex3309 Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the doorway of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses.  
Ex3310 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent door, all the people would rise and worship, each at his tent door.  
Ex3311 And so the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his attendant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.  
Ex3312 Moses said to the LORD, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’  
Ex3313 Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways so that I may know You [becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, recognizing and understanding Your ways more clearly] and that I may find grace and favor in Your sight. And consider also, that this nation is Your people.”  
Ex3314 And the LORD said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].”  
Ex3315 And Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here.  
Ex3316 For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?”  
Ex3317 The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have asked; for you have found favor (lovingkindness, mercy) in My sight and I have known you [personally] by name.”  
Ex3318 Then Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory!”  
Ex3319 And God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (lovingkindness) on whom I will show compassion.”  
Ex3320 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”  
Ex3321 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;  
Ex3322 and while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by.  
Ex3323 Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”  
Ex3401 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed [when you learned of Israel’s idolatry].  
Ex3402 So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.  
Ex3403 No man is to come up with you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; nor let flocks or herds feed in front of that mountain.”  
Ex3404 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and he got up early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took the two tablets of stone in his hand.  
Ex3405 Then the LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with Moses as he proclaimed the Name of the LORD.  
Ex3406 Then the LORD passed by in front of him, and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (faithfulness);  
Ex3407 keeping mercy and lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; but He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers upon the children and the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers].”  
Ex3408 Moses bowed to the earth immediately and worshiped [the Lord].  
Ex3409 And he said, “If now I have found favor and lovingkindness in Your sight, O Lord, let the Lord, please, go in our midst, though it is a stiff-necked (stubborn, rebellious) people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your possession.”  
Ex3410 Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will do wondrous works (miracles) such as have not been created or produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live shall see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful and awesome thing that I am going to do with you.  
Ex3411 “Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.  
Ex3412 Watch yourself so that you do not make a covenant (solemn agreement, treaty) with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a [dangerous] trap among you.  
Ex3413 But you shall tear down and destroy their [pagan] altars, smash in pieces their [sacred] pillars (obelisks, images) and cut down their Asherim  
Ex3414 —for you shall not worship any other god; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]—  
Ex3415 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the prostitute with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat his sacrifice (meal),  
Ex3416 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters would play the prostitute with their gods and cause your sons also to play the prostitute (commit apostasy) with their gods [that is, abandon the true God for man-made idols].  
Ex3417 You shall make for yourselves no molten gods.  
Ex3418 “You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover). For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I have commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.  
Ex3419 “All the firstborn males among your livestock belong to Me, whether cattle or sheep.  
Ex3420 You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed.  
Ex3421 “You shall work for six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; [even] in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest [on the Sabbath].  
Ex3422 You shall observe and celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Harvest, First Fruits, or Pentecost), the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering (Booths or Tabernacles) at the year’s end.  
Ex3423 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.  
Ex3424 For I will drive out and dispossess nations before you and enlarge your borders; nor shall any man covet (actively seek for himself) your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times a year.  
Ex3425 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread, nor shall the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover (Unleavened Bread) be left over until morning.  
Ex3426 “You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of the LORD your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in his mother’s milk [as some pagans do].”  
Ex3427 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”  
Ex3428 Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he ate no bread and drank no water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.  
Ex3429 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face was shining [with a unique radiance] because he had been speaking with God.  
Ex3430 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.  
Ex3431 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him; and he spoke to them.  
Ex3432 Afterward all the Israelites approached him, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had said to him on Mount Sinai.  
Ex3433 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.  
Ex3434 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out. When he came out and he told the Israelites what he had been commanded [by God],  
Ex3435 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, how his skin shone [with a unique radiance]. So Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God.  
Ex3501 Moses gathered all the congregation of the sons of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the things which the LORD has commanded you to do:  
Ex3502 “For six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any kind of work on that day shall be put to death.  
Ex3503 You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”  
Ex3504 And Moses said to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded:  
Ex3505 ‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’S offering: gold, silver, and bronze,  
Ex3506 blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, fine linen, goats’ hair,  
Ex3507 and rams’ skins dyed red, and skins of porpoises, and acacia wood,  
Ex3508 and [olive] oil for the lighting, and balsam for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense,  
Ex3509 and onyx stones and other stones to be set for the ephod and the breastpiece.  
Ex3510 ‘Let every skilled and talented man among you come, and make everything that the LORD has commanded:  
Ex3511 the tabernacle (sacred dwelling of God), its tent and its covering, its hooks, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;  
Ex3512 the ark [of the covenant] and its carrying poles, with the mercy seat and the veil (partition curtain) of the screen [to hang between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies];  
Ex3513 the table and its carrying poles, and all its utensils, and the bread of the [divine] Presence (showbread);  
Ex3514 the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light;  
Ex3515 and the altar of incense and its carrying poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, the screen (curtain) for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle;  
Ex3516 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its carrying poles, and all its utensils, the wash basin and its base (stand);  
Ex3517 the court’s curtains, its support poles and their sockets, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;  
Ex3518 the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords;  
Ex3519 the finely-woven garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons, to minister as priests.’”  
Ex3520 Then all the congregation of the Israelites left Moses’ presence.  
Ex3521 Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD’S offering to be used for the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.  
Ex3522 Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches, earrings or nose rings, signet rings, and necklaces, all jewels of gold; everyone bringing an offering of gold to the LORD.  
Ex3523 Every man who had in his possession blue or purple or scarlet fabric, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red and porpoise skins, brought them.  
Ex3524 Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD’S offering; every man who had in his possession acacia wood for any work of the service brought it.  
Ex3525 All the skilled and talented women spun thread with their hands, and brought what they had spun, blue and purple and scarlet fabric and fine linen.  
Ex3526 All the women whose heart stirred with a skill spun the goats’ hair.  
Ex3527 The leaders brought onyx stones and other stones to be put in settings for the ephod and for the breastpiece,  
Ex3528 and spice and [olive] oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.  
Ex3529 The Israelites, all the men and women whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work which the LORD had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a freewill (voluntary) offering to the LORD.  
Ex3530 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;  
Ex3531 and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and skill, with intelligence and understanding, and with knowledge in all [areas of] craftsmanship,  
Ex3532 to devise artistic designs to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  
Ex3533 and in the cutting of stones for setting and in the carving of wood, for work in every skilled craft.  
Ex3534 He has also put in Bezalel’s heart [the willingness] to teach [others the same skills], both he and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.  
Ex3535 He has filled them with skill to do the work of an engraver, of a designer, and of an embroiderer, in blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and in fine linen, and of a weaver; makers of every work and embroiderers of [excellent] designs.  
Ex3601 “Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person in whom the LORD has put ability and understanding to know how to do all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall work according to all that the LORD has commanded.”  
Ex3602 So Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom the LORD had put ability, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to do the work.  
Ex3603 They received from Moses all the offerings which the Israelites had brought for the construction of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. And they continued to bring him freewill (voluntary) offerings every morning.  
Ex3604 And all the skilled men who were doing all the work on the sanctuary came, each one from the work which he was doing,  
Ex3605 and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to do.”  
Ex3606 So Moses issued a command, and it was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the sanctuary offering.” So the people were restrained from bringing anything more;  
Ex3607 for the material they had was sufficient and more than enough to do all the work.  
Ex3608 All the skilled men among them who were doing the work on the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, with cherubim [worked into them], the work of an embroiderer, Bezalel made them.  
Ex3609 Each curtain was twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide; all the curtains were one size.  
Ex3610 Bezalel joined five curtains one to another, and [the other] five curtains he joined one to another.  
Ex3611 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; he also did this on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.  
Ex3612 He made fifty loops in the one curtain [of the first set] and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which was in the second set; the loops were opposite one another.  
Ex3613 He made fifty gold hooks and joined the curtains together with the hooks, so that the tabernacle became a unit.  
Ex3614 Then he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains in all.  
Ex3615 Each curtain was thirty cubits long and four cubits wide; the eleven curtains were of equal size.  
Ex3616 Bezalel joined five curtains by themselves and [the other] six curtains by themselves.  
Ex3617 He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.  
Ex3618 He made fifty bronze hooks to join the tent together into a unit.  
Ex3619 He made a [third] covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and above it a [fourth] covering of porpoise skins.  
Ex3620 Bezalel made boards of acacia wood for the upright framework of the tabernacle.  
Ex3621 Each board was ten cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.  
Ex3622 Each board had two tenons (dovetails), fitted to one another; he did this for all the boards of the tabernacle.  
Ex3623 And [this is how] he made the boards [for frames] for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side;  
Ex3624 and he made under the twenty boards forty silver sockets; two sockets under one board for its two tenons (dovetails), and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.  
Ex3625 For the other side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty boards,  
Ex3626 and their forty silver sockets; two sockets under [the end of] each board.  
Ex3627 And for the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six [frame] boards.  
Ex3628 And he made two boards for each corner of the tabernacle in the rear.  
Ex3629 They were separate below, but linked together at the top with one ring; thus he made both of them in both corners.  
Ex3630 There were eight boards with sixteen silver sockets, and under [the end of] each board two sockets.  
Ex3631 Bezalel made bars of acacia wood, five for the [frame] boards of the one side of the tabernacle,  
Ex3632 and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle’s other side, and five bars for the boards at the rear side to the west.  
Ex3633 And he made the middle bar pass through [horizontally] halfway up the boards from one end to the other.  
Ex3634 He overlaid the boards and the bars with gold and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars.  
Ex3635 Further, Bezalel made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of an embroiderer.  
Ex3636 For the veil (partition curtain) he made four support poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were gold, and he cast for them four silver sockets.  
Ex3637 He made a screen (curtain) for the doorway of the tent, of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer;  
Ex3638 and [he made] the five support poles with their hooks, and overlaid their [ornamental] tops and connecting rings with gold; but their five sockets were bronze.  
Ex3701 Bezalel made the ark [of the covenant] of acacia wood—it was two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.  
Ex3702 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and out, and made a molding (border) of gold to go all around [the top of it].  
Ex3703 He cast four rings of gold for it on its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.  
Ex3704 He made carrying poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.  
Ex3705 He put the carrying poles through the rings at the sides of the ark, to carry it.  
Ex3706 Bezalel made the mercy seat of pure gold; it was two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide.  
Ex3707 He made two cherubim of hammered gold; he made them at the two ends of the mercy seat,  
Ex3708 one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; he made the cherubim [of one piece] with the mercy seat at the two ends.  
Ex3709 The cherubim spread out their wings upward, covering and protecting the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward each other; the faces of the cherubim were [looking downward] toward the mercy seat.  
Ex3710 Bezalel made the table [for the bread] of acacia wood; it was two cubits long, a cubit wide, and one and a half cubits high.  
Ex3711 He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a border of gold for it all around [its top].  
Ex3712 He made a rim for it [just under the top] a hand width wide all around, and a border of gold around its rim.  
Ex3713 He cast four rings of gold for it and fastened the rings to the four corners that were at its four legs.  
Ex3714 Close by the rim were the rings, the holders for the poles [to pass through] to carry the table.  
Ex3715 Bezalel made the carrying poles of acacia wood to carry the table and overlaid them with gold.  
Ex3716 He made the utensils which were to be on the table, its dishes and its pans [for bread], its bowls and its jars for pouring drink offerings, of pure gold.  
Ex3717 Then he made the lampstand (menorah) of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its [center] shaft; its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers were all of one piece with it.  
Ex3718 There were six branches coming out of the sides of the lampstand, three branches from one side of the center shaft and three branches from the other side of it;  
Ex3719 three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a calyx and a flower in one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, a calyx and a flower in the opposite branch—so for the six branches coming out of the center shaft of the lampstand.  
Ex3720 On the center shaft of the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, with calyxes and flowers [one at the top];  
Ex3721 and a calyx was under the first pair of branches coming out of it, and a calyx under the second pair of branches, coming out of it, and a calyx under the third pair of branches coming out of it, for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.  
Ex3722 Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it; all of it was a single hammered work of pure gold.  
Ex3723 He made its seven lamps with its snuffers and its trays of pure gold.  
Ex3724 He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold.  
Ex3725 Then Bezalel made the incense altar of acacia wood; its top was a cubit square and it was two cubits high; the horns were of one piece with it.  
Ex3726 He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its sides all around and its horns; he also made a rim of gold around it.  
Ex3727 He made two rings of gold for it under its rim, on its two opposite sides, as holders for the poles [to pass through] to carry it.  
Ex3728 He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.  
Ex3729 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer.  
Ex3801 Then Bezalel made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; its top was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide, and three cubits high.  
Ex3802 And he made its horns (horn-shaped projections) on the four corners of it; the horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.  
Ex3803 He made all the utensils and vessels of the altar [of burnt offering], the pots, shovels, basins [to catch the blood of the sacrificed animal], meat hooks and the firepans [to store live coals]. He made all its utensils of bronze.  
Ex3804 He made for the altar a grating of bronze mesh under its rim, extending halfway up it.  
Ex3805 He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating as holders for the carrying poles.  
Ex3806 And he made the carrying poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.  
Ex3807 He put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it; he made it hollow with planks.  
Ex3808 Bezalel made the basin and its base of bronze from the mirrors of the attending women who served and ministered at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Ex3809 Then he made the court: for the south side the curtains of the court were of fine twisted linen, a hundred cubits;  
Ex3810 their twenty support poles, and their twenty bronze sockets; the hooks of the support poles and their connecting rings were silver.  
Ex3811 And for the north side [of the court the curtains were also] a hundred cubits; their twenty support poles and their twenty bronze sockets; the hooks of the support poles and their connecting rings were silver.  
Ex3812 For the west side [of the court] there were curtains of fifty cubits with their ten support poles and their ten sockets; the hooks of the support poles and their connecting rings were silver.  
Ex3813 For the east side [the front of the courtyard, there were curtains of] fifty cubits.  
Ex3814 The curtains for one side of the court gate were fifteen cubits, with their three support poles and their three sockets;  
Ex3815 and the same for the other side [of the court gate]. Left and right of the court gate there were curtains of fifteen cubits; with their three support poles and their three sockets.  
Ex3816 All the curtains around the court were of fine twisted linen.  
Ex3817 The sockets for the support poles were made of bronze, the hooks of the support poles and their connecting rings were made of silver; and silver overlaid their tops. All the support poles of the court had silver connecting rings.  
Ex3818 The screen (curtain) for the gate of the courtyard [on the east side] was the work of an embroiderer, in blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen; it was twenty cubits long and five cubits high, corresponding to the curtains of the court.  
Ex3819 Their four support poles and their four sockets were bronze; their hooks were silver, and silver overlaid their tops and their connecting rings.  
Ex3820 All the pegs for the tabernacle and the court were bronze.  
Ex3821 This is the sum of the things for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as counted according to the command of Moses, for the work of the Levites, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.  
Ex3822 Now Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex3823 With him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and a skillful craftsman and an embroiderer in blue and in purple and in scarlet fabric, and in fine linen.  
Ex3824 All the gold that was used for the work, in all the building and furnishing of the sanctuary, the gold from the wave offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.  
Ex3825 The silver from those of the congregation who were assembled and counted was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;  
Ex3826 a beka for each man (that is, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary) for everyone who was counted, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.  
Ex3827 The hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil (partition curtain); a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.  
Ex3828 Of the 1,775 shekels, he made hooks for the support poles and overlaid their tops and made connecting rings for them.  
Ex3829 The bronze of the wave offering was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels.  
Ex3830 With it Bezalel made the sockets for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and the bronze altar and its bronze grating, and all the utensils of the altar,  
Ex3831 and the sockets of the court all around and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pegs of the tabernacle and all the pegs around the court.  
Ex3901 Moreover, from the blue and purple and scarlet fabric, they made finely woven garments for serving and ministering in the Holy Place; they made the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Ex3902 Bezalel made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen.  
Ex3903 Then Bezalel and Oholiab hammered the gold [into thin sheets] and cut it into threads to work into the blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and into the fine linen, the work of a skilled craftsman.  
Ex3904 They made attaching shoulder pieces for the ephod; it was attached at its two [upper] edges.  
Ex3905 The skillfully woven sash with which to bind it, which was on the ephod [to hold it in place], was like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold and of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Ex3906 They made the onyx stones, set in settings of gold filigree; they were engraved as signets are engraved, with the names of [the twelve tribes of] the sons of Israel.  
Ex3907 And he put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be memorial stones (a remembrance) for the sons of Israel (Jacob), just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Ex3908 Bezalel made the breastpiece, the work of a skillful craftsman, like the workmanship of the ephod: of gold and of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen.  
Ex3909 It was square; they made the breastpiece folded double, a [hand’s] span long and a [hand’s] span wide when folded double.  
Ex3910 And they mounted four rows of stones on it. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;  
Ex3911 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;  
Ex3912 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;  
Ex3913 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were mounted in settings of gold filigree.  
Ex3914 The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel; they were twelve [in all], corresponding to their names, engraved like a signet, each with its name, for the twelve tribes.  
Ex3915 And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords of pure gold.  
Ex3916 They made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastpiece.  
Ex3917 Then they put the two twisted cords of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastpiece.  
Ex3918 They put the [other] two ends of the two cords on the two filigree settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it.  
Ex3919 They made two rings of gold and put them on the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inner edge which was next to the ephod.  
Ex3920 Furthermore, they made two [other] gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, at the front of it, close to the place where it is joined, above the woven sash of the ephod.  
Ex3921 They bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it would lie on the woven sash of the ephod, and so that the breastpiece would not come loose from the ephod, just as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex3922 Then Bezalel made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue;  
Ex3923 there was an opening [for the head] in the middle of the robe, like the opening in a coat of armor, with a hem around it, so that it would not be frayed or torn.  
Ex3924 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and fine twisted linen.  
Ex3925 They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the hem of the robe;  
Ex3926 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all [the way] around the hem of the robe, for service and ministering, just as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex3927 And they made tunics of finely woven linen for Aaron and his sons,  
Ex3928 and the turban of fine linen, and the ornamental caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen,  
Ex3929 and the sash of fine twisted linen, and blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, the work of an embroiderer, just as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex3930 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet, “Holy to the LORD.”  
Ex3931 They tied a blue cord to it, to fasten it on the turban above, just as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex3932 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished; and the Israelites did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; that is what they did.  
Ex3933 They brought the tabernacle to Moses [for him to inspect]: the tent and all its furnishings, its hooks, its [frame] boards, its bars, its support poles, its sockets or bases;  
Ex3934 and the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, and the covering of porpoise skins, and the veil (partition) of the screen (curtain);  
Ex3935 the ark of the Testimony, its carrying poles and the mercy seat;  
Ex3936 the table and all its utensils and the bread of the Presence (showbread);  
Ex3937 the pure gold lampstand and its lamps, with the lamps placed in order, all its utensils, and the oil for the light;  
Ex3938 the golden altar [of incense], the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the [hanging] veil for the doorway of the tent;  
Ex3939 the bronze altar [of burnt offering] and its grating of bronze, its poles and all its utensils, the basin and its base;  
Ex3940 the curtains of the courtyard, its support poles and sockets, and the screen (curtain) for the courtyard gate, its cords and pegs, and all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting [of God with His people];  
Ex3941 the [finely] woven garments for serving and ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to minister as priests.  
Ex3942 So the Israelites did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Ex3943 And Moses [carefully] inspected all the work, and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. So Moses blessed them.  
Ex4001 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Ex4002 “On the first day of the first month (Abib) you shall set up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting [of God with you].  
Ex4003 You shall place the ark of the Testimony there, and you shall screen off the ark [from the Holy Place of God’s Presence] with the veil (partition curtain).  
Ex4004 You shall bring in the table [for the bread] and arrange its setting; you shall bring in the lampstand and mount and light its lamps.  
Ex4005 You shall set the golden altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony [outside the veil], and put the [hanging] veil at the doorway of the tabernacle.  
Ex4006 You shall set the [bronze] altar of burnt offering in front of the doorway of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.  
Ex4007 You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering], and put water in it.  
Ex4008 You shall set up the courtyard [curtains] all around and hang up the screen (curtain) for the gateway of the courtyard.  
Ex4009 Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture; and it shall be holy (declared sacred, separated from secular use).  
Ex4010 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy.  
Ex4011 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and consecrate it.  
Ex4012 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water.  
Ex4013 You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve as a priest to Me.  
Ex4014 You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them;  
Ex4015 you shall anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may serve as priests to Me; and their anointing shall qualify them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”  
Ex4016 Thus Moses did; in accordance with all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.  
Ex4017 Now it happened on the first day of the first month (Abib) in the second year [after the exodus from Egypt], that the tabernacle was erected.  
Ex4018 Moses erected the tabernacle, laid its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars and erected its support poles.  
Ex4019 He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, just as the LORD had commanded him.  
Ex4020 He took the Testimony [the stones inscribed with the Ten Commandments] and put it into the ark [of the covenant], and placed the poles [through the rings] on the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark.  
Ex4021 Moses brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up a veil (partition) for the screen (curtain), and screened off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.  
Ex4022 Then he put the table in the Tent of Meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil.  
Ex4023 He set the bread [of the Presence] in order on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.  
Ex4024 Then he put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.  
Ex4025 Moses mounted and lighted the lamps [on the lampstand] before the LORD, just as the LORD commanded him.  
Ex4026 He put the golden altar [of incense] in the Tent of Meeting in front of the veil;  
Ex4027 he burned fragrant incense [as a symbol of prayer] on it, just as the LORD commanded him.  
Ex4028 Then he set up the screen (curtain) at the doorway of the tabernacle.  
Ex4029 He set the altar of burnt offering before the doorway of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, just as the LORD commanded him.  
Ex4030 He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar [of burnt offering], and put water in it for washing.  
Ex4031 Then from it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet.  
Ex4032 When they entered the Tent of Meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Ex4033 And he erected the courtyard all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung the screen (curtain) at the gateway of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.  
Ex4034 Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God’s visible, dwelling presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  
Ex4035 Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained on it, and the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  
Ex4036 In all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out;  
Ex4037 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey on until the day when it was taken up.  
Ex4038 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.  
Lv0101 The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,  
Lv0102 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of [domestic] animals from the herd (cattle, oxen) or from the flock (sheep, goats).  
Lv0103 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting so that he may be accepted before the LORD.  
Lv0104 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice], that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.  
Lv0105 He shall kill the young bull before the LORD; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0106 Then he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.  
Lv0107 The sons of Aaron the [high] priest shall put fire on the altar [of burnt offering] and arrange wood on the fire.  
Lv0108 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head and the fat, on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.  
Lv0109 But he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. The priest shall offer all of it up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0110 ‘But if his offering is from the flock, of the sheep or of the goats, as a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without blemish.  
Lv0111 He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.  
Lv0112 He shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar.  
Lv0113 But he shall wash the entrails and legs with water. The priest shall offer all of it, and offer it up in smoke on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0114 ‘But if his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring turtledoves or young pigeons as his offering.  
Lv0115 The priest shall bring it to the altar, and wring off its head, and offer it up in smoke on the altar; and its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar.  
Lv0116 He shall remove its crop with its feathers and throw it next to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes.  
Lv0117 Then he shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it. And the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0201 ‘When anyone presents a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour, and he shall pour [olive] oil over it and put frankincense on it.  
Lv0202 He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. Out of it he shall take a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall offer this up in smoke on the altar [of burnt offering] as the memorial portion of it. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0203 What is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings to the LORD by fire.  
Lv0204 ‘When you bring an offering of grain baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil.  
Lv0205 If your offering is grain baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine unleavened flour, mixed with oil.  
Lv0206 You are to break it into pieces, and you shall pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.  
Lv0207 Now if your offering is grain cooked in a lidded pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.  
Lv0208 When you bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, it shall be presented to the priest, and he shall bring it to the altar [of burnt offering].  
Lv0209 The priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0210 What is left of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings to the LORD by fire.  
Lv0211 ‘No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall not offer up in smoke any leaven [which symbolizes the spread of sin] or any honey [which, like leaven, is subject to fermentation] in any offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv0212 As an offering of first fruits you may offer them [leaven and honey] to the LORD, but they shall not go up [in smoke] on the altar as a sweet and soothing aroma.  
Lv0213 You shall season every grain offering with salt so that the salt (preservation) of the covenant of your God will not be missing from your grain offering. You shall offer salt with all your offerings.  
Lv0214 ‘If you bring a grain offering of early ripened things to the LORD, you shall bring fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, crushed grain of new growth, for the grain offering of your early ripened things.  
Lv0215 You shall put oil on it and lay incense on it; it is a grain offering.  
Lv0216 The priest shall offer up in smoke its memorial portion, part of the crushed grain and part of its oil with all its incense; it is an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv0301 ‘If a man’s offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.  
Lv0302 He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice] and kill it at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.  
Lv0303 From the sacrifice of the peace offerings, an offering by fire to the LORD, he shall present the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails,  
Lv0304 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall remove with the kidneys.  
Lv0305 Aaron’s sons shall offer it up in smoke on the altar [placing it] on the burnt offering which is on the wood that is on the fire. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0306 If his peace offering to the LORD is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer the animal without blemish.  
Lv0307 If he offers a lamb as his offering, then he shall present it before the LORD,  
Lv0308 and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.  
Lv0309 From the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall bring as an offering by fire to the LORD, its fat, the entire fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails,  
Lv0310 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.  
Lv0311 The priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv0312 ‘If his offering is a goat, he shall present it before the LORD,  
Lv0313 and he shall lay his hand on its head [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice], and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.  
Lv0314 Then he shall present from it as his offering, an offering by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is on the entrails,  
Lv0315 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver which he shall remove with the kidneys.  
Lv0316 The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as food. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma; all the fat is the LORD’S.  
Lv0317 It is a permanent statute for your generations wherever you may be, that you shall not eat any fat or any blood.’”  
Lv0401 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0402 “Speak to the children of Israel, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them—  
Lv0403 if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer to the LORD a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.  
Lv0404 He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, and shall lay his hand on the bull’s head [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice] and kill the bull before the LORD.  
Lv0405 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting;  
Lv0406 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil (curtain) of the sanctuary.  
Lv0407 The priest shall also put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense which is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. All the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of the burnt offering which is at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0408 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails,  
Lv0409 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys  
Lv0410 (just as these are removed from the ox of the sacrifice of peace offerings), and the priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering.  
Lv0411 But the hide of the bull and all its meat, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its refuse,  
Lv0412 that is, all the rest of the bull, he is to bring outside the camp to a clean place where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on a fire of wood. Where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.  
Lv0413 ‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they have done any one of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty;  
Lv0414 when the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the congregation shall offer a young bull of the herd as a sin offering and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0415 Then the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD [to transfer symbolically the congregation’s guilt to the sacrifice], and they shall kill the bull before the LORD.  
Lv0416 The anointed priest is to bring some of the bull’s blood to the Tent of Meeting,  
Lv0417 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil [which screens off the Holy of Holies and the ark of the covenant].  
Lv0418 He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar [of incense] which is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting; and he shall pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0419 He shall remove all its fat from the bull and offer it up in smoke on the altar.  
Lv0420 He shall also do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; that is what he shall do with this. So the priest shall make atonement for [the sin of] the people, and they will be forgiven.  
Lv0421 Then the priest is to bring the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the congregation.  
Lv0422 ‘When a ruler or leader sins and unintentionally does any one of the things the LORD his God has commanded not to be done, and he becomes guilty,  
Lv0423 if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring a goat, a male without blemish as his offering.  
Lv0424 He shall lay his hand on the head of the male goat [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice], and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD; it is a sin offering.  
Lv0425 Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.  
Lv0426 And he shall offer all its fat up in smoke on the altar like the fat from the sacrifice of peace offerings; so the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he will be forgiven.  
Lv0427 ‘If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing any of the things the LORD has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty,  
Lv0428 if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring a goat, a female without blemish as his offering for the sin which he has committed.  
Lv0429 He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice], and kill it at the place of the burnt offering.  
Lv0430 The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and shall pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.  
Lv0431 Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat was removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest shall make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.  
Lv0432 ‘If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish.  
Lv0433 He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering [transferring symbolically his guilt to the sacrifice], and kill it as a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.  
Lv0434 The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and all the rest of the blood of the lamb he shall pour out at the base of the altar.  
Lv0435 Then he shall remove all its fat, just as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offerings, and the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the offerings by fire to the LORD. In this way the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to the sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.  
Lv0501 ‘If anyone sins after he hears a public adjuration (solemn command to testify) when he is a witness, whether he has seen or [otherwise] known [something]—if he fails to report it, then he will bear his guilt and be held responsible.  
Lv0502 Or if someone touches any [ceremonially] unclean thing—whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal or the carcass of an unclean domestic animal or the carcass of unclean creeping things—even if he is unaware of it, he has become unclean, and he will be guilty.  
Lv0503 Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever kind it may be—and he becomes unclean, but he is unaware of it, when he recognizes it, he will be guilty.  
Lv0504 Or if anyone swears [an oath] thoughtlessly or impulsively aloud that he will do either evil or good, in whatever manner a person may speak thoughtlessly or impulsively with an oath, but he is unaware of it, when he recognizes it, he will be guilty in one of these.  
Lv0505 So it shall be when a person is guilty in one of these, that he shall confess the sin he has committed.  
Lv0506 He shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin.  
Lv0507 ‘But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons as his guilt offering for his sin to the LORD, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.  
Lv0508 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering, and shall nip its head at the front of its neck, but shall not sever it [completely].  
Lv0509 He shall also sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.  
Lv0510 The second [bird] he shall prepare as a burnt offering, according to the ordinance. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for the sin which he has committed, and it will be forgiven him.  
Lv0511 ‘But if he cannot afford to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for his sin the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering; he shall not put [olive] oil or incense on it, for it is a sin offering.  
Lv0512 He shall bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, with the offerings by fire to the LORD; it is a sin offering.  
Lv0513 In this way the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in one of these things, and it will be forgiven him; then the rest shall be for the priest, like the grain offering.’”  
Lv0514 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0515 “If a person commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally against the holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock, valued by you in shekels of silver, that is, the shekel of the sanctuary, as a guilt offering.  
Lv0516 He shall make restitution for the sin which he has committed against the holy thing, and shall add a fifth [of the ram’s value] to it, and give it to the priest. The priest shall then make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.  
Lv0517 “Now if anyone sins and does any of the things which the LORD has forbidden, though he was not aware of it, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.  
Lv0518 He is then to bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. In this way the priest shall make atonement for him regarding the error which he committed unintentionally and did not know it, and he shall be forgiven.  
Lv0519 It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.”  
Lv0601 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0602 “When anyone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor (companion, associate) in regard to a deposit or a security entrusted to him, or through robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor,  
Lv0603 or has found what was lost and lied about it and sworn falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of the things a man may do—  
Lv0604 then if he has sinned and is guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by extortion, or the deposit which was entrusted to him, or the lost thing which he found,  
Lv0605 or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall not only restore it in full, but shall add to it one-fifth more. He shall give it to the one to whom it belongs on the day of his guilt offering.  
Lv0606 Then he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock, as valued by you, as a guilt offering.  
Lv0607 The priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt.”  
Lv0608 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0609 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall remain on the hearth that is on the altar all night until morning and the fire is to be kept burning on the altar.  
Lv0610 The priest is to put on his linen robe, with his linen undergarments next to his body. Then he shall take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar and put them beside the altar.  
Lv0611 Then he shall take off his garments and put on something else, and take the ashes outside the camp to a (ceremonially) clean place.  
Lv0612 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not [be allowed to] go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat portions of the peace offerings up in smoke on it.  
Lv0613 The fire shall be burning continually on the altar; it shall not [be allowed to] go out.  
Lv0614 ‘Now this is the law of the grain offering: the sons of Aaron shall present it before the LORD in front of the altar.  
Lv0615 One of them shall take up from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering with its oil and all the incense that is on the grain offering, and he shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, a sweet and soothing aroma, as the memorial offering to the LORD.  
Lv0616 What is left of it Aaron and his sons are to eat. It shall be eaten as unleavened bread in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0617 It shall not be baked with leaven [which represents corruption or sin]. I have given it as their share of My offerings by fire; it is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.  
Lv0618 Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it [as his share]; it is a permanent ordinance throughout your generations, from offerings by fire to the LORD. Whatever touches them will become consecrated (ceremonially clean).’”  
Lv0619 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0620 “This is the offering which Aaron and his sons are to present to the LORD on the day when he is anointed: the tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening.  
Lv0621 It shall be prepared with oil on a griddle. When it is well stirred, you shall bring it. You shall present the grain offering in baked pieces as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv0622 The priest from among the sons of Aaron who is anointed in his place shall offer it. By a permanent statute it shall be entirely offered up in smoke to the LORD.  
Lv0623 So every grain offering of the priest shall be burned entirely. It shall not be eaten.”  
Lv0624 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0625 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: the sin offering shall be killed before the LORD in the [same] place where the burnt offering is killed; it is most holy.  
Lv0626 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0627 Whatever touches its meat will become consecrated (ceremonially clean). When any of its blood splashes on a garment, you shall wash what was splashed on in a holy place.  
Lv0628 Also the earthenware vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; and if it was boiled in a bronze vessel, then that vessel shall be scoured and rinsed in water.  
Lv0629 Every male among the priests may eat this offering; it is most holy.  
Lv0630 But no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place shall be eaten; it shall be [completely] burned in the fire.  
Lv0701 ‘This is the law of the guilt offering; it is most holy.  
Lv0702 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they are to kill the guilt offering, and he shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.  
Lv0703 Then he shall offer all its fat, the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails,  
Lv0704 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.  
Lv0705 The priest shall offer them up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering.  
Lv0706 Every male among the priests may eat it; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.  
Lv0707 The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one law for [both of] them: the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it for himself.  
Lv0708 The priest who presents any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the hide of the burnt offering which he has presented.  
Lv0709 Likewise, every grain offering that is baked in the oven and everything that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who presents it.  
Lv0710 Every grain offering, mixed with [olive] oil or dry, all the sons of Aaron may have, one as well as another.  
Lv0711 ‘Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which shall be presented to the LORD:  
Lv0712 If one offers it as a sacrificial meal of thanksgiving, then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour mixed with oil.  
Lv0713 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall present his offering with cakes of leavened bread.  
Lv0714 Of this he shall present one [cake] from each offering as a contribution to the LORD; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings.  
Lv0715 ‘The meat of the sacrifice of thanksgiving presented as a peace offering shall be eaten on the day that it is offered; none of it shall be left until morning.  
Lv0716 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day that which remains of it may be eaten;  
Lv0717 but what is left over from the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be [completely] burned in the fire.  
Lv0718 If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is ever eaten on the third day, then it will not be accepted, and the one who brought it will not be credited with it. It shall be an abhorred (offensive) thing; the one who eats it shall bear his own guilt.  
Lv0719 ‘The meat that comes in contact with anything that is unclean shall not be eaten; it shall be burned in the fire. As for other meat, everyone who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it.  
Lv0720 But the one who eats meat from the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the LORD, in his uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv0721 When anyone touches any unclean thing—human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing—and then eats the meat of the sacrifice of the LORD’S peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’”  
Lv0722 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0723 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a sheep, or a goat.  
Lv0724 The fat of an animal which dies [of natural causes] and the fat of one which is torn [to pieces by a predator] may be put to any other use, but under no circumstances are you to eat it.  
Lv0725 For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is presented to the LORD, that person who eats shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv0726 Moreover, you are not to eat any blood [of any kind], whether of bird or animal, in any of your dwelling places.  
Lv0727 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”  
Lv0728 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0729 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace offerings.  
Lv0730 With his own hands he is to bring offerings by fire to the LORD; he shall bring the fat with the breast, so that the breast may be presented as a wave offering before the LORD.  
Lv0731 The priest shall offer up the fat in smoke on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.  
Lv0732 You shall give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifices of your peace offerings.  
Lv0733 The son of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh as his portion.  
Lv0734 For I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering from the Israelites, from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their perpetual portion from the Israelites.  
Lv0735 ‘This is the consecrated portion from the offerings by fire to the LORD that was designated for Aaron and his sons on the day he presented them to serve as priests to the LORD.  
Lv0736 The LORD commanded this to be given to the priests by the Israelites on the day that He anointed them. It is their portion perpetually throughout their generations.’”  
Lv0737 This is the law of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the consecration (ordination) offering, and the sacrifice of peace offerings,  
Lv0738 which the LORD commanded Moses at Mount Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the LORD, in the Wilderness of Sinai.  
Lv0801 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv0802 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments [which are symbols of their office], and the anointing oil, and the bull for the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;  
Lv0803 and assemble the entire congregation at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.”  
Lv0804 Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv0805 Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the LORD has commanded us to do.”  
Lv0806 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.  
Lv0807 He put the undertunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him in the robe, and put the ephod (an upper vestment) on him. He tied the [skillfully woven] band of the ephod around him, with which he secured it to Aaron.  
Lv0808 Moses then put the breastpiece on Aaron, and he put in the breastpiece the Urim and the Thummim [the sacred articles the high priest used when seeking God’s will concerning the nation].  
Lv0809 He also put the turban on Aaron’s head, and on it, in the front, Moses placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the LORD had commanded him.  
Lv0810 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.  
Lv0811 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.  
Lv0812 Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.  
Lv0813 Next Moses brought Aaron’s sons forward, put undertunics on them, belted them with sashes, and bound caps on them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv0814 Then he brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull.  
Lv0815 Next Moses killed it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar and purified it [from sin]. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it.  
Lv0816 He took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Moses offered them up in smoke on the altar.  
Lv0817 But the bull (the sin offering) and its hide, its meat, and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv0818 He brought the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.  
Lv0819 Moses killed it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar.  
Lv0820 When he had cut the ram into pieces, Moses offered up the head, the pieces, and the fat in smoke.  
Lv0821 After he had washed the entrails and the legs in water, Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv0822 Then he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration (ordination), and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.  
Lv0823 Moses killed it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.  
Lv0824 He also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, and the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet; and Moses sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar.  
Lv0825 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the entrails, the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh;  
Lv0826 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer and put them on the fat and on the right thigh;  
Lv0827 and he put all these things in Aaron’s hands and his sons’ hands and presented them as a wave offering before the LORD.  
Lv0828 Then Moses took these things from their hands and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. They were a consecration (ordination) offering for a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv0829 Moses also took the breast and presented it as a wave offering before the LORD; it was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration (ordination), just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv0830 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and also on his sons and their garments with him; so Moses consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him.  
Lv0831 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting and eat it there together with the bread that is in the basket of the consecration (ordination) offering, just as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’  
Lv0832 And what remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn in the fire.  
Lv0833 You shall not go outside the doorway of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration (ordination) are ended; for it will take seven days to consecrate you.  
Lv0834 As has been done this day, so the LORD has commanded to do for your atonement.  
Lv0835 You shall remain day and night for seven days at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, doing what the Lord has required you to do, so that you will not die; for so I (Moses) have been commanded.”  
Lv0836 So Aaron and his sons did all the things which the LORD had commanded through Moses.  
Lv0901 And it happened on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel;  
Lv0902 and he said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, [each] without blemish, and offer both before the LORD.  
Lv0903 Then say to the Israelites, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both one year old, without blemish, as a burnt offering,  
Lv0904 and a bull and a ram as peace offerings to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with [olive] oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.’”  
Lv0905 So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and all the congregation approached and stood before the LORD.  
Lv0906 Moses said, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.”  
Lv0907 Moses said to Aaron, “Approach the altar and present your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and present the offering of the people and make atonement for them, just as the LORD has commanded.”  
Lv0908 So Aaron approached the altar and killed the calf as the sin offering, which was designated for himself.  
Lv0909 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; he dipped his finger in the blood and put some of it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the rest of the blood at the altar’s base;  
Lv0910 but the fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver from the sin offering he offered up in smoke on the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv0911 And Aaron burned the meat and the hide in the fire outside the camp.  
Lv0912 Then he killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar.  
Lv0913 They brought the burnt offering to him piece by piece, with the head, and Aaron offered them up in smoke on the altar.  
Lv0914 He also washed the entrails and the legs, and offered them up in smoke with the burnt offering on the altar.  
Lv0915 Then Aaron presented the people’s offering. He took the goat for the sin offering of the people, and killed it and offered it for sin, as he did the first.  
Lv0916 He also presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance.  
Lv0917 Next Aaron presented the grain offering and took a handful of it and offered it up in smoke on the altar in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.  
Lv0918 He also killed the bull and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him and he sprinkled it around on the altar,  
Lv0919 As for the portions of fat from the bull and from the ram—the fat tail, and the fat covering the internal organs, and the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver—  
Lv0920 they now put the portions of fat on the breasts; and Aaron offered the fat up in smoke on the altar.  
Lv0921 But the breasts and the right thigh Aaron presented as a wave offering before the LORD, just as Moses had commanded.  
Lv0922 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them, and came down [from the altar of burnt offering] after presenting the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.  
Lv0923 Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory and brilliance of the LORD [the Shekinah cloud] appeared to all the people [as promised].  
Lv0924 Then fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell face downward [in awe and worship].  
Lv1001 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective [ceremonial] censers, put fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange (unauthorized, unacceptable) fire before the LORD, [an act] which He had not commanded them to do.  
Lv1002 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.  
Lv1003 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD said: ‘I will be treated as holy by those who approach Me, And before all the people I will be honored.’” So Aaron, therefore, said nothing.  
Lv1004 Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel who was Aaron’s uncle, and said to them, “Come here, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary and take them outside the camp.”  
Lv1005 So they came forward and carried them, still in their undertunics, outside the camp, as Moses had said.  
Lv1006 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his [younger] sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not uncover your heads nor let your hair hang loose nor tear your clothes [as expressions of mourning], so that you will not die [also] and so that He will not express His wrath and anger toward all the congregation. But your relatives, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning which the LORD has brought about.  
Lv1007 You shall not even go out of the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, or you will die; for the LORD’S anointing oil is upon you.” So they did [everything] according to the word of Moses.  
Lv1008 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying,  
Lv1009 “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the Tent of Meeting, so that you will not die—it is a permanent statute throughout your generations—  
Lv1010 and to make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy (sacred) and the common (profane), and between the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean;  
Lv1011 and you are to teach the Israelites all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.”  
Lv1012 Then Moses said to Aaron, and to his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the offerings by fire to the LORD, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.  
Lv1013 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion and your sons’ portion, from the offerings by fire to the LORD; for so I have been commanded.  
Lv1014 But the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you may eat in a clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you; for the breast and the thigh are your portion and your sons’ portion, given out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the Israelites.  
Lv1015 They shall bring the thigh presented by lifting up and the breast presented by waving, along with the offerings by fire of the fat, to present as a wave offering before the LORD. This shall be yours and your sons’ with you, as your perpetual portion, just as the LORD has commanded.”  
Lv1016 But Moses diligently tried to find the goat [that had been offered] as the sin offering, and discovered that it had been burned up [as waste, not eaten]! So he was angry with Aaron’s surviving sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying,  
Lv1017 “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy; and God gave it to you to remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD.  
Lv1018 Behold, its blood was not brought into the Holy Place; you certainly should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary, just as I commanded.”  
Lv1019 Then Aaron said to Moses, “This very day they have [obediently] presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but [such terrible things] as these have happened to me [and to them]; if I [and my sons] had eaten a sin offering today would it have been acceptable and pleasing in the sight of the LORD?”  
Lv1020 When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.  
Lv1101 The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,  
Lv1102 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Among all the animals which are on the earth, these are the animals which you may eat.  
Lv1103 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof [that is, a hoof split into two parts especially at its distal extremity] and chews the cud.  
Lv1104 Nevertheless, you are not to eat these, among those which chew the cud or divide the hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is [ceremonially] unclean to you.  
Lv1105 And the shaphan, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you.  
Lv1106 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you.  
Lv1107 And the swine, because it divides the hoof and makes a split hoof, but does not chew the cud; it is unclean to you.  
Lv1108 You shall not eat their meat nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.  
Lv1109 ‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, these you may eat;  
Lv1110 but whatever does not have fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all the teeming life in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are [to be considered] detestable to you.  
Lv1111 They shall be hated things to you. You may not eat their meat; you shall detest their carcasses.  
Lv1112 Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.  
Lv1113 ‘These you shall detest among the birds; they are not to be eaten, for they are hated things: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard,  
Lv1114 the kite, every kind of falcon,  
Lv1115 every kind of raven,  
Lv1116 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, every species of hawk,  
Lv1117 the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl,  
Lv1118 the white owl, the pelican, the carrion vulture,  
Lv1119 the stork, all kinds of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.  
Lv1120 ‘All winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you;  
Lv1121 yet of all winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those which have legs above their feet with which to leap on the ground.  
Lv1122 Of these you may eat: the whole species of migratory locust, of bald locust, of cricket, and of grasshopper.  
Lv1123 But all other winged insects which are four footed are detestable to you.  
Lv1124 ‘By [contact with] these you will become unclean; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until the evening (dusk),  
Lv1125 and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.  
Lv1126 Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof, but do not have a split hoof, or which do not chew the cud, they are unclean to you; whoever touches them becomes unclean.  
Lv1127 Also all animals that walk on their paws, among all kinds of animals that walk on four legs, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until the evening,  
Lv1128 and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.  
Lv1129 ‘These also are unclean to you among the swarming things that crawl around on the ground [and multiply profusely]: the mole, the mouse, and any kind of great lizard,  
Lv1130 the gecko, the crocodile, the lizard, the sand reptile, and the chameleon.  
Lv1131 These [creatures] are unclean to you among all that swarm; whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening.  
Lv1132 Also anything on which one of them falls after dying becomes unclean, whether it is an article of wood or clothing, or a skin, or a sack—any article that is used—it must be put in water, and will be unclean until the evening; then it becomes clean.  
Lv1133 As for any earthenware container into which any of these [crawling things] falls, whatever is in it becomes unclean, and you shall break the container.  
Lv1134 Any of the food which may be eaten, but on which [unclean] water falls, shall become unclean, and any liquid that may be drunk in every container shall become unclean.  
Lv1135 Everything that part of their carcass falls on becomes unclean; an oven, or a small stove shall be smashed; they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.  
Lv1136 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern (reservoir) collecting water shall be clean; but whoever touches one of these carcasses shall be unclean.  
Lv1137 If a part of their carcass falls on any seed for sowing which is to be sown, it is clean;  
Lv1138 but if water is put on the seed and a part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.  
Lv1139 ‘If one of the animals that you may eat dies [of natural causes], whoever touches its carcass becomes unclean until the evening.  
Lv1140 And whoever eats some of its meat shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening; also whoever picks up its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.  
Lv1141 ‘Now everything that swarms on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten.  
Lv1142 Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, and whatever has many feet among all things that swarm on the ground, you shall not eat; for they are detestable.  
Lv1143 Do not make yourselves loathsome (impure, repulsive) by [eating] any swarming thing; you shall not make yourselves unclean by them so as to defile yourselves.  
Lv1144 For I am the LORD your God; so consecrate yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm or crawls on the ground.  
Lv1145 For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; therefore you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”  
Lv1146 This is the law regarding the animal and the bird and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth,  
Lv1147 to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] unclean and the [ceremonially] clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.  
Lv1201 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv1202 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, she shall be [ceremonially] unclean for seven days, unclean as during her monthly period.  
Lv1203 On the eighth day the flesh of the male child’s foreskin shall be circumcised.  
Lv1204 Then she shall remain [intimately separated] thirty-three days to be purified from the blood; she shall not touch any consecrated thing nor enter the [courtyard of the] sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.  
Lv1205 But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as during her monthly period, and she shall remain [intimately separated] sixty-six days to be purified from the blood.  
Lv1206 ‘When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting a one year old lamb as a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering;  
Lv1207 and he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who gives birth to a child, whether a male or a female child.  
Lv1208 If she cannot afford a lamb then she shall take two turtledoves or young pigeons, one as a burnt offering, the other as a sin offering; the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”  
Lv1301 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,  
Lv1302 “When a man has a swelling on the skin of his body, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes the infection of leprosy on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests.  
Lv1303 The priest shall look at the diseased spot on the skin of his body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears deeper than the skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him [ceremonially] unclean.  
Lv1304 If the bright spot is white on the skin of his body and does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair on it has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the person who has the infection for seven days.  
Lv1305 The priest shall examine it on the seventh day, and if in his estimation the infection has not changed and has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days.  
Lv1306 The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the infection has a more normal color and the spot has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scab; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.  
Lv1307 “But if the scab spreads farther on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his [ceremonial] cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again.  
Lv1308 The priest shall look, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then he shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy.  
Lv1309 “When a leprous infection is on a person, he shall be brought to the priest.  
Lv1310 The priest shall examine him, and if there is a white swelling on the skin and it has turned the hair white and there is new raw flesh in the swelling,  
Lv1311 it is a chronic leprosy on the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not isolate him because he is [clearly] unclean.  
Lv1312 But if the [suspected] leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and it covers all of the skin of the one who has the outbreak—from his head to his foot—wherever the priest looks,  
Lv1313 the priest shall examine him. If the [suspected] leprosy has covered his entire body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean.  
Lv1314 But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean.  
Lv1315 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and he shall pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean, it is leprosy.  
Lv1316 But if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest,  
Lv1317 and the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased part is changed to white, then the priest shall pronounce him who had the disease to be clean; he is clean.  
Lv1318 “And when there is on the skin of the body [the scar of] a boil that is healed,  
Lv1319 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a bright spot, reddish white, then it shall be shown to the priest;  
Lv1320 and the priest shall look, and if it looks deeper than the skin and the hair on it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is the disease of leprosy; it has broken out in the boil.  
Lv1321 But if the priest examines it and finds no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin and is dull in color, then the priest shall isolate him for seven days.  
Lv1322 If it spreads farther on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease.  
Lv1323 But if the bright spot remains where it is and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.  
Lv1324 “Or if the body has on its skin a burn from fire and the new flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish white or white,  
Lv1325 then the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, then leprosy has broken out in the burn. So the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is the disease of leprosy.  
Lv1326 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is not deeper than [the rest of] the skin but is dull in color, then the priest shall isolate him for seven days.  
Lv1327 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; if it is spreading farther on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is leprosy.  
Lv1328 But if the bright spot remains in its place and has not spread in the skin, but is dull in color, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burn.  
Lv1329 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or in the beard (face),  
Lv1330 the priest shall examine the diseased place; if it appears to be deeper than the skin, with yellow, thin hair in it, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a scale, it is leprosy of the head or beard.  
Lv1331 But if the priest examines the spot infected by the scale, and it does not appear deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days.  
Lv1332 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the diseased spot; if the scale has not spread and has no yellow hair in it, and the scale does not look deeper than the skin,  
Lv1333 then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale for seven more days.  
Lv1334 Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale; if the scale has not spread on the skin and appears to be no deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; he shall wash his clothes and be clean.  
Lv1335 But if the scale spreads farther on the skin after his cleansing,  
Lv1336 then the priest shall examine him, and if the scale has spread on the skin, the priest need not look for the yellowish hair; he is unclean.  
Lv1337 If, in the priest’s estimation, the scale has remained [without spreading], and black hair has grown in it, the scale is healed; he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean.  
Lv1338 “When a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, even white bright spots,  
Lv1339 then the priest shall look, and if the bright spots on the skin of their bodies is a dull white, it is [only] a rash that has broken out on the skin; he is clean.  
Lv1340 “If a man loses the hair on his head, he is bald, but he is clean.  
Lv1341 And if he loses the hair on front of his head, he is bald on the forehead, but he is clean.  
Lv1342 But if there is a reddish-white infection on the bald head or forehead, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or forehead.  
Lv1343 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or forehead like the appearance of leprosy on the skin of the body,  
Lv1344 he is a leprous man; he is unclean; the priest shall most certainly pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head.  
Lv1345 “As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered (disheveled), and he shall cover his mustache and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’  
Lv1346 He shall remain [ceremonially] unclean as long as the disease is on him; he is unclean. He shall live alone; he shall live outside the camp.  
Lv1347 “When a garment has a mark of leprosy in it, whether it is a wool garment or a linen garment,  
Lv1348 whether in woven or knitted material or in the warp (lengthwise strands) or woof (crosswise strands) of linen or of wool, or in a skin or on anything made of leather,  
Lv1349 if the mark is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather or in the warp or woof or in any article made of leather, it is an infestation of leprosy and shall be shown to the priest.  
Lv1350 The priest shall examine the mark and shall quarantine the article with the mark for seven days.  
Lv1351 He shall examine the mark on the seventh day; if it has spread in the garment, whether in the warp or the woof, or in the leather, whatever the leather’s purpose, the mark is a malignant leprosy; it is unclean.  
Lv1352 So he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or woof, in wool or linen, or on anything made of leather in which the mark occurs; for it is a malignant leprosy; it shall be burned in the fire.  
Lv1353 “But if the priest sees that the mark has not spread in the garment, either in the warp or the woof, or on anything made of leather,  
Lv1354 then the priest shall order that they wash the thing in which the mark occurs, and he shall quarantine it for seven more days.  
Lv1355 The priest shall examine the article with the mark after it has been washed, and if the mark has not changed color, even though the mark has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire; it is a corroding mildew, whether on the top or on the front of it.  
Lv1356 “If the priest looks and the mark has faded after it is washed, he shall tear it out of the garment, or the leather, or out of the warp or woof.  
Lv1357 If it still appears in the garment, either in the warp or in the woof, or on anything made of leather, it is an outbreak; you shall burn the marked part in the fire.  
Lv1358 The garment, whether the warp or the woof, or anything made of leather from which the mildew has departed after washing, shall then be washed a second time and it will be [ceremonially] clean.”  
Lv1359 This is the law for a leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or woof, or on anything made of leather, to pronounce it clean or unclean.  
Lv1401 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv1402 “This shall be the law of the leper on the day of his [ceremonial] cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest [at a meeting place outside the camp];  
Lv1403 the priest shall go out of the camp [to meet him]; and the priest shall examine him, and if the leper has been healed of the infection of leprosy,  
Lv1404 then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and scarlet string and hyssop for the one to be cleansed.  
Lv1405 Next the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed [as a sacrifice] in an earthenware container over [fresh] running water.  
Lv1406 As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird sacrificed over the running water.  
Lv1407 He shall sprinkle [the blood] seven times on the one to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him [ceremonially] clean. Then he shall let the live bird go free over the open field.  
Lv1408 The one to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe in water; and he shall be clean. After that he may come into the camp, but he shall stay outside of his tent for seven days.  
Lv1409 On the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair [on his body]. Then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and be clean.  
Lv1410 “Now on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and a yearling ewe lamb without blemish, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with [olive] oil as a grain offering, and one log (about a pint) of oil;  
Lv1411 and the priest who cleanses him shall present the man to be cleansed and his offerings before the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv1412 Then the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, with the log of oil, and present them as a wave offering before the LORD.  
Lv1413 He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the sacred place [the courtyard of the tabernacle]; for the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy.  
Lv1414 The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.  
Lv1415 The priest shall also take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand;  
Lv1416 and the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times before the LORD.  
Lv1417 Of the rest of the oil which is in his palm, the priest shall put some on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.  
Lv1418 The remaining oil that is in the priest’s palm shall be put on the head of the one to be cleansed. The priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD.  
Lv1419 Next the priest shall offer the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness, and afterward kill the burnt offering.  
Lv1420 The priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.  
Lv1421 “But if the cleansed leper is poor and his means are insufficient, then he is to take one lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a log of oil,  
Lv1422 and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he can afford, one shall be a sin offering, the other a burnt offering.  
Lv1423 He shall bring them on the eighth day for his [ceremonial] cleansing to the priest at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD.  
Lv1424 The priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering, and the log of oil, and shall present them as a wave offering before the LORD.  
Lv1425 Next he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering; and the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.  
Lv1426 The priest shall pour some of the oil into his left palm,  
Lv1427 and with his right finger the priest shall sprinkle some of the oil that is in his left palm seven times before the LORD.  
Lv1428 The priest shall put some of the oil in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the places where he has put the blood of the guilt offering.  
Lv1429 The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s palm shall be put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD.  
Lv1430 Then he shall offer one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means.  
Lv1431 He shall offer what he can afford, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. The priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one to be cleansed.  
Lv1432 This is the law for the one in whom there is an infection of leprosy, whose means are limited for his [ceremonial] cleansing.”  
Lv1433 The LORD further spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Lv1434 “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as a possession, and I put a mark of leprosy on a house in your land,  
Lv1435 then the one who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a mark of leprosy in my house.’  
Lv1436 The priest shall order that they empty the house before he goes in to examine the mark, so that everything in the house will not have to be declared unclean; afterward he shall go in to see the house.  
Lv1437 He shall examine the mark, and if the mark on the walls of the house has greenish or reddish depressions and appears deeper than the surface,  
Lv1438 the priest shall go out of the house, to the doorway, and quarantine the house for seven days.  
Lv1439 The priest shall return on the seventh day and look; and if the mark has spread on the walls of the house,  
Lv1440 he shall order them to tear out the contaminated stones and throw them into an unclean place outside the city.  
Lv1441 He shall have the entire inside area of the house scraped, and the plaster that is scraped off shall be dumped in an unclean place outside the city.  
Lv1442 Then they shall take new stones and replace the [contaminated] stones, and he shall take plaster and replaster the house.  
Lv1443 “If, however, the mark breaks out again in the house after he has removed the stones and has scraped and replastered the house,  
Lv1444 then the priest shall come and look again, and if the mark has spread in the house, it is a malignant leprosy in the house; it is [ceremonially] unclean.  
Lv1445 He shall tear down the house—its stones and its timber and all the plaster of the house—and shall take everything outside the city to an unclean place.  
Lv1446 Moreover, whoever goes into the house during the time that it is quarantined becomes unclean until evening.  
Lv1447 And whoever lies down in the house [to rest] shall wash his clothes, and whoever eats in the house shall wash his clothes.  
Lv1448 “But if the priest comes in and inspects it and the mark has not spread in the house after the house has been replastered, he shall pronounce the house clean because the mark has not reappeared.  
Lv1449 To cleanse the house then, he shall take two birds and cedar wood and scarlet string and hyssop;  
Lv1450 and he shall kill one of the birds in an earthenware container over running water,  
Lv1451 and he shall take the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet string, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird as well as in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times.  
Lv1452 So he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the running water, along with the live bird and the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet string.  
Lv1453 But he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.”  
Lv1454 This is the law for any mark of leprosy—even for a scale,  
Lv1455 and for the leprous garment or house,  
Lv1456 and for a swelling, and for a scab, and for a bright spot on the skin—  
Lv1457 to teach when they are unclean and when they are clean. This is the law of leprosy [in regard to both persons and property].  
Lv1501 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Lv1502 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When any man has a bodily discharge, his discharge is unclean.  
Lv1503 This shall be [the law concerning] his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body allows its discharge to flow or obstructs its flow; it is uncleanness in him.  
Lv1504 Every bed on which the one who has the discharge lies becomes unclean, and everything on which he sits becomes unclean.  
Lv1505 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening;  
Lv1506 and whoever sits on anything on which the man with the discharge has been sitting shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1507 Also whoever touches the man with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1508 And if he who has the discharge spits on one who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1509 Any saddle on which the man with the discharge rides becomes unclean.  
Lv1510 Whoever touches anything that has been under him shall be unclean until evening; and whoever carries those things shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1511 Whomever the one with the discharge touches without rinsing his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1512 An earthenware container that the one with the discharge touches shall be broken, and every wooden container shall be rinsed in water.  
Lv1513 ‘When the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, he shall count off seven days for his purification; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and will become clean.  
Lv1514 On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and come before the LORD to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest;  
Lv1515 and the priest shall offer them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his discharge.  
Lv1516 ‘Now if any man has a seminal emission, he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1517 Every garment and every leather on which there is semen shall be washed with water, and shall be unclean until evening.  
Lv1518 If a man lies with a woman so that there is a seminal emission, they shall both bathe in water and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1519 ‘When a woman has a discharge, if her bodily discharge is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.  
Lv1520 Everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean; and everything on which she sits shall be unclean.  
Lv1521 Anyone who touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1522 Whoever touches anything on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1523 And if it is on her bed or on the thing on which she is sitting, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until evening.  
Lv1524 If a man actually lies with her so that her menstrual impurity is on him, he shall be unclean for seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.  
Lv1525 ‘Now if a woman has a flow of blood for many days, not during the time of her menstruation, or if she has a discharge beyond that period, as long as the impure discharge continues she shall be as she is in the days of her [normal] menstrual impurity; she is unclean.  
Lv1526 Every bed on which she lies during the time of her discharge shall be to her like the bed of her menstrual impurity, and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, like the uncleanness of her monthly period.  
Lv1527 And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.  
Lv1528 When she is cleansed from her discharge, then she shall count off for herself seven days, and after that she will be clean.  
Lv1529 Then on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting;  
Lv1530 and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering; and he shall make atonement for her before the LORD for her unclean discharge.’  
Lv1531 “Thus you shall separate the Israelites from their uncleanness, so that they do not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them.”  
Lv1532 This is the law for the one who has a discharge and for the one who has a seminal emission, so that he is unclean by it;  
Lv1533 and for the woman who is ill because of her monthly period, and for the one who has a discharge, whether man or woman, or for a man who lies with a woman who is [ceremonially] unclean.  
Lv1601 Then the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who had died when they [irreverently] approached the presence of the LORD.  
Lv1602 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil (the Holy of Holies), before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die, for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.  
Lv1603 Aaron [as high priest] shall enter the Holy Place in this way: with [the blood of] a young bull as a sin offering and [the blood of] a ram as a burnt offering.  
Lv1604 He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be belted with the linen sash, and dressed with the linen turban (these are the holy garments). He shall bathe his body in water and put them on.  
Lv1605 He shall take from the congregation of the Israelites [at their expense] two male goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.  
Lv1606 Then Aaron shall present the bull as the sin offering for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.  
Lv1607 He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting.  
Lv1608 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD, the other lot for the scapegoat.  
Lv1609 Then Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’S lot fell and offer it as a sin offering.  
Lv1610 But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement on it; it shall be sent into the wilderness as the scapegoat.  
Lv1611 “Aaron shall present the bull as the sin offering for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household (the other priests), and he shall kill the bull as the sin offering for himself.  
Lv1612 He shall take a censer full of burning coals from the [bronze] altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground sweet incense, and bring it inside the veil [into the Most Holy Place],  
Lv1613 and put the incense on the fire [in the censer] before the LORD, so that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on [the ark of] the Testimony, otherwise he will die.  
Lv1614 He shall take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; also in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.  
Lv1615 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for [the sins of] the people and bring its blood within the veil [into the Most Holy Place] and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.  
Lv1616 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place (Holy of Holies) because of the uncleanness and transgressions of the Israelites, for all their sins. He shall also do this for the Tent of Meeting which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness (impurities).  
Lv1617 There shall be no person in the Tent of Meeting when the high priest goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place [within the veil] until he comes out, so that he may make atonement for himself (his own sins) and for his household and for all the congregation of Israel.  
Lv1618 Then he shall go out to the altar [of burnt offering in the court] which is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the goat and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides.  
Lv1619 With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on the altar of burnt offering seven times and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.  
Lv1620 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place and the Tent of Meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.  
Lv1621 Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the wickedness of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat [the scapegoat, the sin-bearer], and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is prepared [for the task].  
Lv1622 The goat shall carry on itself all their (the Israelites) wickedness, carrying them to a solitary (infertile) land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.  
Lv1623 “Then Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting and take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place (Holy of Holies), and shall leave them there.  
Lv1624 He shall bathe his body with water in a holy place and put on his clothes, and come out and offer his burnt offering and that of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.  
Lv1625 And he shall offer up in smoke the fat of the sin offering on the altar.  
Lv1626 The man who released the goat as the [sin-bearing] scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.  
Lv1627 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place (Holy of Holies), shall be taken outside the camp; their skins, their meat, and their waste shall be burned in the fire.  
Lv1628 Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body with water, and afterward he may come into the camp.  
Lv1629 “This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month (nearly October) on the tenth day of the month you shall humble yourselves [by fasting] and not do any work, whether the native-born or the stranger who lives temporarily among you;  
Lv1630 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD.  
Lv1631 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves; it is a permanent statute.  
Lv1632 So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve and minister as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall wear the holy linen garments,  
Lv1633 and make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting, and for the altar [of burnt offering in the court]. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.  
Lv1634 This shall be a permanent statute for you, so that atonement may be made for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.” So he did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv1701 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv1702 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded, saying,  
Lv1703 “Any man from the house of Israel who kills an ox or lamb or goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp  
Lv1704 and has not brought it to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, that man shall be guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood and shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv1705 This is so that the sons of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing [to idols] in the open field [where they killed them], that they may bring them in to the LORD, at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the LORD.  
Lv1706 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting and offer the fat up in smoke as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv1707 So they shall no longer offer their sacrifices to goat-idols or demons or field spirits with which they have played the prostitute. This shall be a permanent statute for them throughout their generations.”’  
Lv1708 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Any man from the house of Israel or any of the strangers living temporarily among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice  
Lv1709 and does not bring it to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting to offer it to the LORD shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv1710 ‘Any man from the house of Israel, or any stranger living temporarily among you, who eats any blood, against that person I shall set My face and I will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv1711 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents].’  
Lv1712 Therefore I have said to the sons of Israel, ‘No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger living temporarily among you eat blood.’  
Lv1713 So when any Israelite or any stranger living temporarily among them, catches any ceremonially clean animal or bird when hunting, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.  
Lv1714 “For in regard to the life of all flesh, its blood is [the same] as its life; therefore I said to the Israelites, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’  
Lv1715 Every person who eats an animal which dies [of natural causes] or was torn by a predator, whether he is native-born or a stranger, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be [ceremonially] unclean until evening; then he will become clean.  
Lv1716 But if he does not wash his clothes or bathe his body, he shall bear his guilt [for it will not be borne by the sacrifice of atonement].”  
Lv1801 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv1802 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1803 You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, and you shall not do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes (practices, customs).  
Lv1804 You are to follow My judgments (precepts, ordinances) and keep My statutes and live by them. I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1805 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which, if a person keeps them, he shall live; I am the LORD.  
Lv1806 ‘No one shall approach any blood relative of his to uncover nakedness (have intimate relations). I am the LORD.  
Lv1807 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, that is, the nakedness of your mother. She is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.  
Lv1808 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.  
Lv1809 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, either the daughter of your father or of your mother, whether born at home or born elsewhere.  
Lv1810 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter; their nakedness you shall not uncover, for they are your own nakedness [that is, your own descendants].  
Lv1811 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter; born to your father, she is your sister.  
Lv1812 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s blood relative.  
Lv1813 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s blood relative.  
Lv1814 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother’s wife; you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.  
Lv1815 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.  
Lv1816 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.  
Lv1817 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover their nakedness (have intimate relations with them); they are [her] blood relatives; it is an outrageous offense.  
Lv1818 You shall not marry a woman in addition to her sister as a rival while she is alive, to uncover her nakedness.  
Lv1819 ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during her menstrual impurity and ceremonial uncleanness.  
Lv1820 You shall not have intimate relations with your neighbor’s wife, to be defiled with her.  
Lv1821 You shall not give any of your children to offer them [by fire as a sacrifice] to Molech [the god of the Ammonites], nor shall you profane the name of your God [by honoring idols as gods]. I am the LORD.  
Lv1822 You shall not lie [intimately] with a male as one lies with a female; it is repulsive.  
Lv1823 You shall not have intimate relations with any animal to be defiled with it; nor shall a woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.  
Lv1824 ‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled.  
Lv1825 For the land has become defiled; therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.  
Lv1826 But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments (precepts) and shall not commit any of these repulsive acts, neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives temporarily among you  
Lv1827 (for all these repulsive acts have been done by the men who lived in the land before you, and the land has become defiled);  
Lv1828 [do none of these things] so that the land will not vomit you out, should you defile it, as it has vomited out the nation which has been before you.  
Lv1829 For whoever commits any of these repulsive acts, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people [excluding them from the atonement made for them].  
Lv1830 So keep My command: do not practice any of the repulsive customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves by them; I am the LORD your God.’”  
Lv1901 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv1902 “Say to all the congregation of the children of Israel, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.  
Lv1903 Each of you shall respect his mother and his father, and you shall keep My Sabbaths; I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1904 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods (images cast in metal); I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1905 ‘Now when you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.  
Lv1906 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it and on the day following; and if anything remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.  
Lv1907 But if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is repulsive; it will not be accepted [by God as an offering].  
Lv1908 Everyone who eats it will bear [the responsibility for] his wickedness, for he has profaned a holy thing of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv1909 ‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings (grain left after reaping) of your harvest.  
Lv1910 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather its fallen grapes; you shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1911 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal deceptively, nor lie to one another.  
Lv1912 You shall not swear [an oath] falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.  
Lv1913 ‘You shall not oppress or exploit your neighbor, nor rob him. You shall not withhold the wages of a hired man overnight until morning.  
Lv1914 You shall not curse a deaf man nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God [with profound reverence]; I am the LORD.  
Lv1915 ‘You shall not do injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor show a preference for the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.  
Lv1916 You shall not go around as a gossip among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor [with slander or false testimony]; I am the LORD.  
Lv1917 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you may most certainly rebuke your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.  
Lv1918 You shall not take revenge nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor (acquaintance, associate, companion) as yourself; I am the LORD.  
Lv1919 ‘You are to keep My statutes. You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear clothing of two kinds of material mixed together.  
Lv1920 ‘Now if a man has intimate relations with a woman who is a slave acquired for [marriage to] another man, but who has not been redeemed nor given her freedom, there shall be punishment [after an investigation]; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free;  
Lv1921 but he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting, a ram as a guilt offering.  
Lv1922 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for his sin which he has committed; and he shall be forgiven for his sin.  
Lv1923 ‘When you enter the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall consider their fruit forbidden. For three years the fruit shall be forbidden to you; it shall not be eaten.  
Lv1924 In the fourth year all the fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.  
Lv1925 In the fifth year you may eat the fruit [of the trees], this is so that their yield may increase for you; I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1926 ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination [using omens or witchcraft] or soothsaying.  
Lv1927 You shall not trim and round off the side-growth of [the hair on] your heads, nor mar the edges of your beard.  
Lv1928 You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the LORD.  
Lv1929 ‘Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, so that the land will not fall to prostitution and become full of wickedness.  
Lv1930 You shall keep My Sabbaths and revere My sanctuary. I am the LORD.  
Lv1931 ‘Do not turn to mediums [who pretend to consult the dead] or to spiritists [who have spirits of divination]; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1932 ‘You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the aged, and you shall fear your God [with profound reverence]; I am the LORD.  
Lv1933 ‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress or mistreat him.  
Lv1934 But the stranger who resides with you shall be to you like someone native-born among you; and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.  
Lv1935 ‘You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight or quantity.  
Lv1936 You shall have just and accurate balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.  
Lv1937 You shall observe and keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them. I am the LORD.’”  
Lv2001 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2002 “Moreover, you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘Any Israelite or any stranger residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech (the god of the Ammonites) [as a human sacrifice] shall most certainly be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones.  
Lv2003 I will also set My face against that man [opposing him, withdrawing My protection from him] and will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them], because he has given some of his children to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name.  
Lv2004 If the people of the land should ever tolerate that man when he gives any of his children [as a burnt offering] to Molech, and fail to put him to death [as My law requires],  
Lv2005 then I shall set My face against that man and against his [extended] family, and I will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in playing the prostitute (commit apostasy) with Molech.  
Lv2006 ‘As for the person who turns to mediums [who consult the dead] or to spiritists, to play the prostitute after them, I shall set My face against that person and will cut him off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv2007 You shall consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your God.  
Lv2008 You shall keep My statutes and do them. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.  
Lv2009 ‘If anyone curses his father or mother, he shall most certainly be put to death; he has cursed his father or mother; his blood is on him [that is, he bears full responsibility for the consequences].  
Lv2010 ‘The man who commits adultery with another’s wife, even his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall most certainly be put to death.  
Lv2011 The man who lies [intimately] with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness; both of them shall most certainly be put to death; their blood is on them.  
Lv2012 If a man lies [intimately] with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall most certainly be put to death; they have committed incest; their blood is on them.  
Lv2013 If a man lies [intimately] with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed a detestable (perverse, unnatural) act; they shall most certainly be put to death; their blood is on them.  
Lv2014 It is immoral and shameful if a man marries a woman and her mother; all three shall be burned in fire, so that there will be no immorality among you.  
Lv2015 If a man has intimate relations with an animal, he shall most certainly be put to death; you shall kill the animal also.  
Lv2016 If a woman approaches any animal to mate with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall most certainly be put to death; their blood is on them.  
Lv2017 ‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the sons of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he bears [responsibility for] his guilt.  
Lv2018 If a man lies [intimately] with a woman during her menstrual cycle and uncovers her nakedness, he has exposed her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood; both of them shall be cut off from their people [excluding them from the atonement made for them].  
Lv2019 You shall not uncover the nakedness of (have intimate relations with) your mother’s sister or your father’s sister, for such a one has uncovered his blood relative; they will bear their guilt.  
Lv2020 If there is a man who lies [intimately] with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness; they will bear their sin. They will die childless.  
Lv2021 If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is a hated and unclean thing; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They will be childless.  
Lv2022 ‘Therefore keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out [as it did those before you].  
Lv2023 You shall not follow the statutes (laws, practices, customs) of the nation which I am driving out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I have loathed them.  
Lv2024 But I have said to you, “You are to inherit and take possession of their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.” I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples (pagan nations).  
Lv2025 You are therefore to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that crawls on the ground, which I have set apart from you as unclean.  
Lv2026 You are to be holy to Me; for I the LORD am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples (nations) to be Mine.  
Lv2027 ‘A man or woman who is a medium [who pretends to consult the dead] or who is a spiritist shall most certainly be put to death, and be stoned with stones; their blood is on them.’”  
Lv2101 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘No one shall defile himself [that is, become ceremonially unclean] for the dead among his people [by touching a corpse or assisting in preparing it for burial],  
Lv2102 except for his relatives who are nearest to him, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother,  
Lv2103 also his virgin sister, who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may become unclean.  
Lv2104 He shall not become unclean as a relative by marriage among his people, and so profane himself.  
Lv2105 The priests shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their body.  
Lv2106 They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God; for they present the offerings by fire to the LORD, the food of their God; so they shall be holy.  
Lv2107 They shall not take [as a wife] a woman who is a prostitute, nor a woman who is divorced from her husband; for the priest is holy to his God.  
Lv2108 You shall consecrate him, therefore, for he offers the food of your God; he shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.  
Lv2109 The daughter of any priest who profanes herself by prostitution profanes her father; she shall be burned in fire.  
Lv2110 ‘But he who is the high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been consecrated to wear the [sacred] garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes [in mourning],  
Lv2111 nor shall he approach any dead person, nor defile himself [by doing so, even] for his father or for his mother;  
Lv2112 nor shall he go out of the sanctuary nor profane (make ceremonially unclean) the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him; I am the LORD.  
Lv2113 He shall take a wife in her virginity.  
Lv2114 He may not marry a widow or a divorced woman or one who is profaned by prostitution, but he is to marry a virgin from his own people,  
Lv2115 so that he will not profane or dishonor his children among his people; for I am the LORD who sanctifies the high priest.’”  
Lv2116 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2117 “Say to Aaron, ‘Throughout their generations none of your descendants who has any [physical] defect shall approach [the altar] to present the food of his God.  
Lv2118 For no man who has a defect shall approach [God’s altar as a priest]: no man who is blind or lame, or who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb,  
Lv2119 or a man who has a broken foot or a broken hand,  
Lv2120 or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles.  
Lv2121 No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a [physical] defect and is disfigured or deformed is to approach [the altar] to present the offerings of the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he shall not approach [the altar] to present the food of his God.  
Lv2122 He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things,  
Lv2123 but he shall not go within the veil or approach the altar [of incense], because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”  
Lv2124 So Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons, and to all the Israelites.  
Lv2201 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2202 “Tell Aaron and his sons to be careful with the holy things (offerings, gifts) which the children of Israel dedicate to Me, so that they do not profane My holy name; I am the LORD.  
Lv2203 Say to them, ‘Any one of your descendants throughout your generations who approaches the holy things which the Israelites dedicate to the LORD, while he is [ceremonially] unclean, that person shall be cut off from My presence and excluded from the sanctuary; I am the LORD.  
Lv2204 No man of the descendants of Aaron who is a leper or has a discharge may eat the holy things [the offerings and the showbread] until he is clean. And whoever touches any person or thing made unclean by contact with a corpse or a man who has had a seminal emission,  
Lv2205 or whoever touches any crawling thing by which he is made unclean, or any person by whom he is made unclean, whatever it may be,  
Lv2206 the person who touches any such thing shall be unclean until evening and shall not eat the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.  
Lv2207 When the sun sets, he will be clean, and afterward he may eat the holy things, for it is his food.  
Lv2208 He shall not eat that which dies [of natural causes] or is torn by a predator, becoming unclean by it; I am the LORD.  
Lv2209 Therefore the priests shall observe My ordinance, so that they will not bear sin because of it and die if they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them.  
Lv2210 ‘No layman [that is, someone outside of Aaron’s family] is to eat the holy gift [which has been offered to God]; a foreigner residing with the priest or a hired man shall not eat the holy thing.  
Lv2211 But if a priest buys a slave as his property with his money, the slave may eat the holy thing, and those who are born in the priest’s house; they may eat his food.  
Lv2212 If a priest’s daughter is married to a layman [one not part of the priestly tribe], she shall not eat the offering of the holy things.  
Lv2213 But if a priest’s daughter is a widow or divorced, and has no child, and returns to her father’s house as in her youth, she shall eat her father’s food; but no layman shall eat it.  
Lv2214 But if a person unknowingly eats a holy gift [which has been offered to God], then he shall add one-fifth of its value to it and give the holy gift to the priest.  
Lv2215 The priests shall not profane the holy things the Israelites offer to the LORD,  
Lv2216 and so cause them [by neglect of any essential observance] to bear the punishment of guilt when they eat their holy things; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”  
Lv2217 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2218 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them, ‘Any man of the house of Israel or any stranger in Israel who presents his offering, whether to fulfill any of their vows or as any of their freewill (voluntary) offerings which they presented to the LORD as a burnt offering—  
Lv2219 so that you may be accepted—it must be a male without blemish from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats.  
Lv2220 You shall not offer anything which has a blemish, because it will not be accepted for you.  
Lv2221 Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a special vow to the LORD or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish in it.  
Lv2222 Animals that are blind or fractured or mutilated, or have a sore or a running wound or an itch or scabs, you shall not offer to the LORD nor make an offering of them by fire on the altar to the LORD.  
Lv2223 For a freewill offering you may offer either a bull or a lamb which has an overgrown or stunted member (deformity), but for [the payment of] a vow it will not be accepted.  
Lv2224 You shall not offer to the LORD any animal which has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut off, or sacrifice it in your land.  
Lv2225 Nor shall you offer as the food of your God any such [animals obtained] from a foreigner, because their corruption and blemish makes them unfit; there is a defect in them, they shall not be accepted for you.’”  
Lv2226 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2227 “When a bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain for seven days with its mother; and after the eighth day it shall be accepted as an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv2228 And whether [the mother] is a cow or a sheep, you shall not kill both it and its young in one day.  
Lv2229 When you sacrifice an offering of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.  
Lv2230 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until the next morning; I am the LORD.  
Lv2231 So you shall keep My commandments and do them; I am the LORD.  
Lv2232 “You shall not profane My holy name [using it to honor an idol, or treating it with irreverence or contempt or as a byword]; but I will be sanctified (set apart as holy) among the Israelites. I am the LORD, who sanctifies and declares you holy,  
Lv2233 who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD.”  
Lv2301 The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying,  
Lv2302 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The appointed times (established feasts) of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:  
Lv2303 ‘For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation (calling together). You shall not do any work [on that day]; it is the Sabbath of the LORD wherever you may be.  
Lv2304 ‘These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times:  
Lv2305 The LORD’S Passover is on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight.  
Lv2306 The Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD is on the fifteenth day of the same month; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.  
Lv2307 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation (calling together); you shall not do any laborious work [on that day].  
Lv2308 But you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD for seven days; on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work [on that day].’”  
Lv2309 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2310 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am giving you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.  
Lv2311 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD so that you may be accepted; the priest shall wave it on the day after the Sabbath.  
Lv2312 Now on the day when you wave the sheaf you shall offer a male lamb one year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD.  
Lv2313 Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with [olive] oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a sweet and soothing aroma, with its drink offering [to be poured out], a fourth of a hin of wine.  
Lv2314 You shall not eat any bread or roasted grain or new growth, until this same day when you bring in the offering to your God; it is a permanent statute throughout your generations wherever you may be.  
Lv2315 ‘You shall count from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf (tied bundle of grain) of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete Sabbaths (seven full weeks).  
Lv2316 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.  
Lv2317 You shall bring in from your places two loaves of bread as a wave offering, made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD.  
Lv2318 And you shall offer with the bread seven unblemished lambs, one year old, and one young bull and two rams. They are to be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings. It is an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Lv2319 And you shall sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering and two male lambs, one year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings.  
Lv2320 The priest shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering, together with the bread of the first fruits and the two lambs. They are to be holy to the LORD for the priest.  
Lv2321 On this same day you shall make a proclamation, you are to have a holy convocation (calling together); you shall not do any laborious work [on that day]. It is to be a permanent statute throughout your generations wherever you may be.  
Lv2322 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the edges of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.’”  
Lv2323 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2324 “Say to the children of Israel, ‘On the first day of the seventh month (almost October), you shall observe a day of solemn sabbatical rest, a memorial day announced by the blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.  
Lv2325 You shall not do any laborious work [on that day], but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD.’”  
Lv2326 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2327 “Also the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble yourselves [by fasting] and present an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv2328 You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God.  
Lv2329 If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Lv2330 If there is any person who does any work on this same day, I will destroy that person from among his people.  
Lv2331 You shall do no work at all [on that day]. It is a permanent statute throughout your generations wherever you may be.  
Lv2332 It is to be to you a Sabbath of complete rest, and you shall humble yourselves. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your Sabbath.”  
Lv2333 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2334 “Say to the children of Israel, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, and for seven days, is the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) to the LORD.  
Lv2335 The first day is a holy convocation (calling together); you shall not do any laborious work [on that day].  
Lv2336 For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD. It is a festive assembly; you shall not do any laborious work [on that day].  
Lv2337 ‘These are the appointed times (established feasts) of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to present an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its own day.  
Lv2338 This is in addition to the [weekly] Sabbaths of the LORD, and in addition to your gifts and all your vowed offerings and all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.  
Lv2339 ‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month (nearly October), when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a Sabbath rest on the first day and a Sabbath rest on the eighth day.  
Lv2340 Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick (leafy) trees, and willows of the brook [and make booths of them]; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.  
Lv2341 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a permanent statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.  
Lv2342 You shall live in booths (temporary shelters) for seven days; all native-born in Israel shall live in booths,  
Lv2343 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”  
Lv2344 So Moses declared to the Israelites the appointed feasts of the LORD.  
Lv2401 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2402 “Command the children of Israel to bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light [of the golden lampstand], to make a lamp burn continually.  
Lv2403 Outside the veil of the Testimony [between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place] in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall always keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening until morning; it shall be a permanent statute throughout your generations.  
Lv2404 He shall keep the lamps burning on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD continually.  
Lv2405 “Then you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes (bread of the Presence, showbread) with it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake (loaf).  
Lv2406 You shall set the bread of the Presence (showbread) in two rows, six in a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD.  
Lv2407 You shall put pure frankincense [in two censers, one] beside each row, so that it may be with the bread as a memorial portion, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Lv2408 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange the showbread before the LORD continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the Israelites.  
Lv2409 The bread of the Presence shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a sacred place, for it is for Aaron a most holy portion of the offerings by fire to the LORD, his portion forever.”  
Lv2410 Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the Israelites, and he and a man of Israel quarreled and struggled with each other in the camp.  
Lv2411 The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name [of the LORD] and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)  
Lv2412 They put him in custody until the will and command of the LORD might be made clear to them.  
Lv2413 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2414 “Bring the one who has cursed [the LORD] outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head [as witnesses to his guilt]; then let all the congregation stone him.  
Lv2415 You shall speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘Whoever curses his God will bear his sin [through his own death].  
Lv2416 Further, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall most certainly be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him. The stranger as well as the native-born shall be put to death when he blasphemes the Name [of the LORD].  
Lv2417 ‘If a man takes the life of any human being [unlawfully], he shall most certainly be put to death.  
Lv2418 The one who kills an animal shall replace it, animal for animal.  
Lv2419 If a man injures his neighbor (fellow citizen), whatever he has done shall be done to him:  
Lv2420 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so shall the same be done to him.  
Lv2421 The one who kills an animal shall replace it; but he who kills a human being [unlawfully] shall be put to death.  
Lv2422 You shall have one standard of law for the stranger among you as well as for the native, for I am the LORD your God.’”  
Lv2423 Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they brought the one who had cursed [the LORD] outside the camp and stoned him with stones. Thus the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Lv2501 The LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying,  
Lv2502 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I am giving you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.  
Lv2503 For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop.  
Lv2504 But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD; you shall not sow [seed in] your field nor prune your vineyard.  
Lv2505 Whatever reseeds itself (uncultivated) in your harvest you shall not reap, nor shall you gather the grapes from your uncultivated vine, it shall be a year of sabbatical rest for the land.  
Lv2506 And all of you shall have for food whatever the [untilled] land produces during its Sabbath year; yourself, and your male and female slaves, your hired servant, and the foreigners who reside among you,  
Lv2507 even your domestic animals and the [wild] animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.  
Lv2508 ‘You are also to count off seven Sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years, so that you have the time of the seven Sabbaths of years, namely, forty-nine years.  
Lv2509 Then you shall sound the ram’s horn everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month (almost October); on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout your land.  
Lv2510 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom [for the slaves] throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee (year of remission) for you, and each of you shall return to his own [ancestral] property [that was sold to another because of poverty], and each of you shall return to his family [from whom he was separated by bondage].  
Lv2511 That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you; you shall not sow [seed], nor reap what reseeds itself, nor gather the grapes of the uncultivated vines.  
Lv2512 For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its crops out of the field.  
Lv2513 ‘In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his own [ancestral] property.  
Lv2514 If you sell anything to your friend or buy from your friend, you shall not wrong one another.  
Lv2515 According to the number of years after the Jubilee, you shall buy from your friend. And he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops [which may be harvested before you must restore the property to him].  
Lv2516 If the years [until the next Jubilee] are many, you shall increase the price, but if the years remaining are few, you shall reduce the price, because it is the number of crops that he is selling to you.  
Lv2517 You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God [with profound reverence]; for I am the LORD your God.  
Lv2518 ‘Therefore you shall carry out My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them, so that you may live securely on the land.  
Lv2519 Then the land will yield its produce, so that you can eat your fill and live securely on it.  
Lv2520 And if you say, “What are we going to eat in the seventh year if we do not sow [seed] or gather in our crops?”  
Lv2521 then [this is My answer:] I will order My [special] blessing for you in the sixth year, so that it will produce [sufficient] crops for three years.  
Lv2522 When you are sowing the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the crops, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in.  
Lv2523 ‘The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; you are [only] foreigners and temporary residents with Me.  
Lv2524 So in all the country that you possess, you are to provide for the redemption of the land [in the Year of Jubilee].  
Lv2525 ‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell some of his property, then his nearest relative is to come and buy back (redeem) what his relative has sold.  
Lv2526 Or in case a man has no relative [to redeem his property], but he has become more prosperous and has enough to buy it back,  
Lv2527 then he shall calculate the years since its sale and refund the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and so return to his [ancestral] property.  
Lv2528 But if he is unable to redeem it, then what he has sold shall remain in the hands of the purchaser until the Year of Jubilee; but at the Jubilee it shall revert, and he may return to his property.  
Lv2529 ‘If a man sells a house in a walled city, then his right of redemption remains valid for a full year after its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year.  
Lv2530 But if it is not redeemed for him within a full year, then the house that is in the walled city passes permanently and irrevocably to the purchaser throughout his generations. It does not revert back in the Year of Jubilee.  
Lv2531 The houses of the villages that have no surrounding walls, however, shall be considered as open fields. They may be redeemed, and revert in the Year of Jubilee.  
Lv2532 As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites have a permanent right of redemption for the houses in the cities which they possess.  
Lv2533 Therefore, what is [purchased] from the Levites may be redeemed [by a Levite], and the house that was sold in the city they possess reverts in the Year of Jubilee, for the houses in the Levite cities are their [ancestral] property among the Israelites.  
Lv2534 But the pasture lands of their cities may not be sold, for that is their permanent possession.  
Lv2535 ‘Now if your fellow countryman becomes poor and his hand falters with you [that is, he has trouble repaying you for something], then you are to help and sustain him, [with courtesy and consideration] like [you would] a stranger or a temporary resident [without property], so that he may live among you.  
Lv2536 Do not charge him usurious interest, but fear your God [with profound reverence], so your countryman may [continue to] live among you.  
Lv2537 You shall not give him your money at interest, nor your food at a profit.  
Lv2538 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.  
Lv2539 ‘And if your fellow countryman becomes so poor [in his dealings] with you that he sells himself to you [as payment for a debt], you shall not let him do the work of a slave [who is ineligible for redemption],  
Lv2540 but he is to be with you as a hired man, as if he were a temporary resident; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee,  
Lv2541 and then he shall leave you, he and his children with him, and shall go back to his own family and return to the property of his fathers.  
Lv2542 For the Israelites are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold in a slave sale.  
Lv2543 You shall not rule over him with harshness (severity, oppression), but you are to fear your God [with profound reverence].  
Lv2544 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.  
Lv2545 Moreover, from the children of the strangers who live as aliens among you, from them you may buy slaves and from their families who are with you, whom they have produced in your land; they may become your possession.  
Lv2546 You may even bequeath them as an inheritance to your children after you, to receive as a possession; you can use them as permanent slaves. But in respect to your fellow countrymen, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with harshness (severity, oppression).  
Lv2547 ‘Now if the financial means of a stranger or temporary resident among you become sufficient, and your fellow countryman becomes poor in comparison to him and sells himself to the stranger who is living among you or to the descendants of the stranger’s family,  
Lv2548 then after he is sold he shall have the right of redemption. One of his relatives may redeem him:  
Lv2549 either his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him, or one of his blood relatives from his family may redeem him; or if he prospers, he may redeem himself.  
Lv2550 Then he [or his redeemer] shall calculate with his purchaser from the year when he sold himself to the purchaser to the Year of Jubilee, and the [original] price of his sale shall be adjusted according to the number of years. The time he was with his owner shall be considered as that of a hired man.  
Lv2551 If there are still many years [before the Year of Jubilee], in proportion to them he must refund [to the purchaser] part of the price of his sale for his redemption and release.  
Lv2552 And if only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, he shall so calculate it with him. He is to refund the proportionate amount for his release.  
Lv2553 Like a man hired year by year he shall deal with him; he shall not rule over him with harshness in your sight.  
Lv2554 Even if he is not redeemed during these years and under these provisions, then he shall go free in the Year of Jubilee, he and his children with him.  
Lv2555 For the children of Israel are My servants; My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.  
Lv2601 ‘You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you erect an image, a sacred pillar or an obelisk, nor shall you place any figured stone in your land so that you may bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.  
Lv2602 You shall keep My Sabbaths and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am the LORD.  
Lv2603 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and [obediently] do them,  
Lv2604 then I will give you rain in its season, and the land will yield her produce and the trees of the field bear their fruit.  
Lv2605 And your threshing season will last until grape gathering and the grape gathering [time] will last until planting, and you will eat your bread and be filled and live securely in your land.  
Lv2606 I will also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down and there will be no one to make you afraid. I will also eliminate harmful animals from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.  
Lv2607 And you will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword.  
Lv2608 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will put ten thousand to flight; your enemies will fall before you by the sword.  
Lv2609 For I will turn toward you [with favor and regard] and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish and confirm My covenant with you.  
Lv2610 You will eat the old supply of [abundant] produce, and clear out the old [to make room] for the new.  
Lv2611 I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject nor separate itself from you.  
Lv2612 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.  
Lv2613 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves; and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright [with heads held high as free men].  
Lv2614 ‘But if you do not obey Me and do not [obediently] do all these commandments,  
Lv2615 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul rejects My ordinances, so that you will not [obediently] do all My commandments, and in this way break My covenant,  
Lv2616 I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you sudden terror, consumption, and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to languish also. And you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat what you plant.  
Lv2617 I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you.  
Lv2618 If in spite of all this you still will not listen to Me and be obedient, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.  
Lv2619 I will break your pride in your power, and I will make your sky like iron [giving no rain and blocking all prayers] and your ground like bronze [hard to plow and yielding no produce].  
Lv2620 Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.  
Lv2621 ‘If then, you act with hostility toward Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times in accordance with your sins.  
Lv2622 I will let loose the [wild] animals of the field among you, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you so few in number that your roads will lie deserted and desolate.  
Lv2623 ‘And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me,  
Lv2624 then I also will act with hostility against you, and I will strike you seven times for your sins.  
Lv2625 I will bring a sword on you that will execute vengeance for [breaking] the covenant; and when you gather together in your cities, I will send pestilence (virulent disease) among you, and you shall be handed over to the enemy.  
Lv2626 When I break your staff of bread [that is, cut off your supply of food], ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will ration your bread; and you will eat and not be satisfied.  
Lv2627 ‘Yet if in spite of this you will not [attentively] listen to Me but act with hostility against me,  
Lv2628 then I will act with hostility against you in wrath, and I also will punish you seven times for your sins.  
Lv2629 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.  
Lv2630 I will destroy your high places [devoted to idolatrous worship], and cut down your incense altars, and heap your dead bodies upon the [crushed] bodies of your idols, and My soul will detest you [with deep and unutterable loathing].  
Lv2631 I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your sweet and soothing aromas [of offerings by fire].  
Lv2632 I will make the land desolate, and your enemies who settle in it will be appalled at it.  
Lv2633 I will scatter you among the nations and draw out the sword [of your enemies] after you; your land will become desolate and your cities will become ruins.  
Lv2634 ‘Then the land [of Israel] will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths.  
Lv2635 As long as it lies desolate, it will have rest, the rest it did not have on your Sabbaths, while you were living on it.  
Lv2636 As for those who are left of you, I will bring despair (lack of courage, weakness) into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a scattered leaf will put them to flight, and they will flee as if [running] from the sword, and will fall even when no one is chasing them.  
Lv2637 They shall stumble over one another as if to escape from a sword when no one is chasing them; and you will have no power to stand before your enemies.  
Lv2638 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will consume you.  
Lv2639 Those of you who are left will rot away because of their wickedness in the lands of your enemies; also because of the wickedness of their forefathers they will rot away like them.  
Lv2640 ‘If they confess their wickedness and the wickedness of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they have committed against Me—and also in their acting with hostility toward Me—  
Lv2641 I also was acting with hostility toward them and brought them into the land of their enemies—then if their uncircumcised (sin-filled) hearts are humbled and they accept the punishment for their wickedness,  
Lv2642 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham, and remember the land.  
Lv2643 But the land will be abandoned by them and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accept the punishment for their wickedness and make amends because they rejected My ordinances and their soul rejected My statutes.  
Lv2644 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so despise them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.  
Lv2645 But I will, for their sake, [earnestly] remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I have brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am the LORD.’”  
Lv2646 These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws which the LORD established between Himself and the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai.  
Lv2701 Again, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Lv2702 “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man makes a special vow [consecrating himself or a member of his family], he shall be valued according to your [established system of] valuation of people belonging to the LORD [that is, the priest accepts from the man making the vow a specified amount of money for the temple treasury in place of the actual person].  
Lv2703 If your valuation is of a male between twenty and sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.  
Lv2704 Or if the person is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels.  
Lv2705 If the person is between five years and twenty years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels and for the female ten shekels.  
Lv2706 But if the child is between one month and five years of age, then your valuation shall be five shekels of silver for the male and three shekels for the female.  
Lv2707 If the person is sixty years old and above, your valuation shall be fifteen shekels for the male, and ten shekels for the female.  
Lv2708 But if the person is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall be placed before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the ability of the one who vowed, the priest shall value him.  
Lv2709 ‘Now if it is an animal of the kind which men can present as an offering to the LORD, any such that one gives to the LORD shall be holy.  
Lv2710 He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; but if he does exchange an animal for an animal, then both the original offering and its substitute shall be holy.  
Lv2711 If it is any unclean animal of the kind which men do not present as an offering to the LORD, then he shall bring the animal before the priest,  
Lv2712 and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; it shall be as you, the priest, value it.  
Lv2713 But if he ever wishes to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of it to your valuation.  
Lv2714 ‘If a man consecrates his house as sacred to the LORD, the priest shall appraise it as either good or bad; as the priest appraises it, so shall it stand.  
Lv2715 If the one who consecrates his house should wish to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it, so that it may be his.  
Lv2716 ‘And if a man consecrates to the LORD part of a field of his own property, then your valuation shall be proportionate to the seed needed for it; a homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.  
Lv2717 If he consecrates his field during the Year of Jubilee, it shall stand according to your valuation.  
Lv2718 But if he consecrates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall calculate the price for him in proportion to the years that remain until the Year of Jubilee; and it shall be deducted from your valuation.  
Lv2719 If the one who consecrates the field should ever wish to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of the appraisal price to it, so that it may return to him.  
Lv2720 If he does not redeem the field, but has sold it to another man, it may no longer be redeemed.  
Lv2721 When the field reverts in the Jubilee, the field shall be holy to the LORD, like a field set apart (devoted); the priest shall possess it as his property.  
Lv2722 Or if a man consecrates to the LORD a field which he has bought, which is not part of the field of his [ancestral] property,  
Lv2723 then the priest shall calculate for him the amount of your valuation up to the Year of Jubilee; and the man shall give that [amount] on that day as a holy thing to the LORD.  
Lv2724 In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to the one from whom it was purchased, to whom the land belonged [as his ancestral inheritance].  
Lv2725 Every valuation of yours shall be in accordance with the sanctuary shekel; twenty gerahs shall make a shekel.  
Lv2726 ‘However, the firstborn among animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the LORD, no man may consecrate, whether an ox or a sheep. It is [already] the LORD’S.  
Lv2727 If it is among the unclean animals, the owner may redeem it in accordance with your valuation, and add one-fifth to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold in accordance with your valuation.  
Lv2728 ‘But nothing that a man sets apart [that is, devotes as an offering] to the LORD out of all that he has, of man or of animal or of the fields of his own property, shall be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction (banned, cursed) is most holy to the LORD.  
Lv2729 No one who may have been set apart among men shall be ransomed [from death], he shall most certainly be put to death.  
Lv2730 ‘And all the tithe (tenth part) of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S; it is holy to the LORD.  
Lv2731 If a man wishes to redeem any part of his tithe, he shall add one-fifth to it.  
Lv2732 For every tithe of the herd or flock, whatever passes under the [shepherd’s] staff, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.  
Lv2733 The man is not to be concerned whether the animal is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it. But if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”  
Lv2734 These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai for the children of Israel.  
Nu0101 The LORD spoke [by special revelation] to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) on the first day of the second month in the second year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, saying,  
Nu0102 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head  
Nu0103 from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go out to war. You and Aaron shall number them, army by army.  
Nu0104 And with you there shall be a man [to assist you] from each tribe, each being the head of his father’s household.  
Nu0105 These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from [the tribe of] Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;  
Nu0106 from [the tribe of] Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;  
Nu0107 from [the tribe of] Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;  
Nu0108 from [the tribe of] Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;  
Nu0109 from [the tribe of] Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;  
Nu0110 from the sons (descendants) of Joseph: from [the tribe of] Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from [the tribe of] Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;  
Nu0111 from [the tribe of] Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;  
Nu0112 from [the tribe of] Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;  
Nu0113 from [the tribe of] Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;  
Nu0114 from [the tribe of] Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;  
Nu0115 from [the tribe of] Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.  
Nu0116 These men were the ones called from the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ (ancestors’) tribes; they were the heads of thousands [the highest ranking officers] in Israel.”  
Nu0117 So Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name,  
Nu0118 and assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month, and they registered by ancestry in their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head,  
Nu0119 just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.  
Nu0120 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s (Jacob’s) firstborn, their generations, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0121 those of the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.  
Nu0122 Of the sons of Simeon, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, their numbered men according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0123 those of the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.  
Nu0124 Of the sons of Gad, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0125 those of the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.  
Nu0126 Of the sons of Judah, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0127 those of the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.  
Nu0128 Of the sons of Issachar, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0129 those of the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.  
Nu0130 Of the sons of Zebulun, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0131 those of the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.  
Nu0132 Of the sons of Joseph: the sons (descendants) of Ephraim, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0133 those of the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.  
Nu0134 Of the sons of Manasseh, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0135 those of the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.  
Nu0136 Of the sons of Benjamin, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0137 those of the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.  
Nu0138 Of the sons of Dan, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0139 those of the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.  
Nu0140 Of the sons of Asher, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0141 those of the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.  
Nu0142 Of the sons of Naphtali, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:  
Nu0143 those of the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.  
Nu0144 These were the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ household.  
Nu0145 So all those numbered of the sons of Israel, by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war in Israel,  
Nu0146 all who were numbered were 603,550.  
Nu0147 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.  
Nu0148 For the LORD had said to Moses,  
Nu0149 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel [since they are unavailable to go to war].  
Nu0150 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle (sanctuary) of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings and all things that belong to it. They shall carry the tabernacle [when traveling] and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and camp around it.  
Nu0151 When the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to [be set up for] camp, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman (non-Levite) who approaches the tabernacle shall be put to death.  
Nu0152 The Israelites shall camp according to their armies, every man by his own camp and every man by his own [tribal] standard (banner).  
Nu0153 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, so that there will be no wrath against the congregation of the Israelites. The Levites shall be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”  
Nu0154 Thus the sons of Israel did these things; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.  
Nu0201 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu0202 “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but at a distance.  
Nu0203 Those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall lead the sons of Judah,  
Nu0204 and his army as numbered totaled 74,600.  
Nu0205 Next to Judah [on the east side] the tribe of Issachar shall encamp; and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall lead the sons of Issachar,  
Nu0206 and his army as numbered totaled 54,400.  
Nu0207 Then [also on the east side] the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall lead the sons of Zebulun,  
Nu0208 and his army as numbered totaled 57,400.  
Nu0209 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the east side] in the camp of Judah was 186,400, by their armies. They shall move out first [on the march].  
Nu0210 “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben, by their armies; and Elizur the son of Shedeur shall lead the sons of Reuben,  
Nu0211 and his army as numbered totaled 46,500.  
Nu0212 Those who camp next to Reuben [on the south side] shall be the tribe of Simeon; and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai shall lead the sons of Simeon,  
Nu0213 and his army as numbered totaled 59,300.  
Nu0214 Then [completing the south side] the tribe of Gad; and Eliasaph the son of Reuel (Deuel) shall lead the sons of Gad,  
Nu0215 and his army as numbered totaled 45,650.  
Nu0216 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the south side] in the camp of Reuben was 151,450, by their armies. They shall move out second [on the march].  
Nu0217 “Then the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the [other] camps; just as they camp so shall they move out, every man in his place by their standards.  
Nu0218 “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim, by their armies; and Elishama the son of Ammihud shall lead the sons of Ephraim,  
Nu0219 and his army as numbered totaled 40,500.  
Nu0220 Beside Ephraim [on the west side] shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur shall lead the sons of Manasseh,  
Nu0221 and his army as numbered totaled 32,200.  
Nu0222 Then [completing the west side shall be] the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan the son of Gideoni shall lead the sons of Benjamin,  
Nu0223 and his army as numbered totaled 35,400.  
Nu0224 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the west side] in the camp of Ephraim was 108,100, by their armies. They shall move out in third place.  
Nu0225 “On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan, by their armies; and Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai shall lead the sons of Dan,  
Nu0226 and his army as numbered totaled 62,700.  
Nu0227 Encamped next to Dan [on the north side] shall be the tribe of Asher; and Pagiel the son of Ochran shall lead the sons of Asher,  
Nu0228 and his army as numbered totaled 41,500.  
Nu0229 Then [completing the north side] comes the tribe of Naphtali; and Ahira the son of Enan shall lead the sons of Naphtali,  
Nu0230 and his army as numbered totaled 53,400.  
Nu0231 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the north side] in the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall move out last, standard after standard.”  
Nu0232 These are the men of the Israelites [twenty years old and upward] as numbered by their fathers’ households. The total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies, 603,550.  
Nu0233 But the Levites were not numbered with the [other] Israelites, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu0234 Thus the Israelites did [as ordered]; according to everything the LORD had commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they moved out, everyone with his family (clan), according to his fathers’ household.  
Nu0301 Now these are the records of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day when the LORD spoke [by special revelation] with Moses on Mount Sinai.  
Nu0302 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
Nu0303 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom Aaron consecrated and ordained to minister in the priest’s office.  
Nu0304 But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the LORD when they offered strange (unholy, unacceptable, inappropriate) fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence and under the supervision of Aaron their father.  
Nu0305 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0306 “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, so that they may serve him.  
Nu0307 They shall carry out the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, doing the service of the tabernacle.  
Nu0308 They shall also take care of all the furnishings and utensils of the Tent of Meeting, and [attend to] the duties of the Israelites, doing the service of the tabernacle.  
Nu0309 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons [as servants and helpers]; they are to be given wholly to him from among the Israelites.  
Nu0310 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall observe and attend to their priesthood; but the layman (non-Levite) who approaches [the holy things] shall be put to death.”  
Nu0311 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0312 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of and as a substitute for every firstborn, that is, the first that opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites shall be Mine,  
Nu0313 for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine; I am the LORD.”  
Nu0314 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,  
Nu0315 “Number the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families (clans). You shall number every male from a month old and upward.”  
Nu0316 So Moses numbered them just as he was commanded by the word (mouth) of the LORD.  
Nu0317 These are the [three] sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  
Nu0318 These are the names of the [two] sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei;  
Nu0319 and the [four] sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel;  
Nu0320 and the [two] sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ households.  
Nu0321 Of Gershon were the families of the Libnites and of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.  
Nu0322 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upward totaled 7,500.  
Nu0323 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west,  
Nu0324 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.  
Nu0325 Now the responsibilities of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting involved the tabernacle and the tent, its covering, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting,  
Nu0326 and the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain for the doorway of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, its tent ropes, and all the service concerning them.  
Nu0327 Of Kohath were the families of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these are the families of the Kohathites.  
Nu0328 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upward totaled 8,600, attending to the duties of the sanctuary.  
Nu0329 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,  
Nu0330 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.  
Nu0331 Now their responsibilities involved the ark, the table [on which the bread of the Presence was placed], the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the curtain, and all the service concerning them.  
Nu0332 Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was chief of the leaders of the Levites; he supervised those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.  
Nu0333 Of Merari were the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.  
Nu0334 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upward totaled 6,200.  
Nu0335 The leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. The Merarites were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.  
Nu0336 Now the appointed responsibilities of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets or bases, and all the equipment, and all the service concerning them,  
Nu0337 and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes).  
Nu0338 Now those to camp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were to be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for whatever was required of the Israelites; and the layman (non-Levite) who approached [the sanctuary] was to be put to death.  
Nu0339 All the men of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the LORD, by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.  
Nu0340 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.  
Nu0341 You shall take the Levites for Me instead of and as a substitute for all the firstborn among the Israelites. I am the LORD; and you shall take the cattle of the Levites instead of and as a substitute for all the firstborn among the cattle of the Israelites.”  
Nu0342 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the Israelites, just as the LORD had commanded him;  
Nu0343 and all the firstborn males from a month old and upward as numbered were 22,273 [273 more than the Levites].  
Nu0344 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0345 “Take the Levites [for Me] instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine. I am the LORD.  
Nu0346 For the ransom (redemption price) of the 273 of the firstborn of the Israelites who outnumber the Levites,  
Nu0347 you shall take five shekels apiece, per head, you shall take them in terms of the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs),  
Nu0348 and give the money, the ransom (redemption price) of those who outnumber the Levites to Aaron and to his sons.”  
Nu0349 So Moses took the ransom (redemption) money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites;  
Nu0350 from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money in terms of the sanctuary shekel, 1,365 shekels.  
Nu0351 Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons at the command of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu0401 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu0402 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,  
Nu0403 from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu0404 This is the work and responsibility of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle): the most holy things.  
Nu0405 “When the camp prepares to move out, Aaron and his sons shall come into the sanctuary and take down the veil (curtain) screening off the Holy of Holies, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;  
Nu0406 and they shall put on it a covering of porpoise skin (fine leather), and shall spread over that a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert the carrying poles of the ark.  
Nu0407 Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes [for incense], the sacrificial bowls, the jars for the drink offering, and the continual bread [of the Presence] shall be on it.  
Nu0408 They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover that with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its carrying poles.  
Nu0409 Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light, along with its lamps, its wick cutters, its trays, and all the oil vessels, by which it is supplied;  
Nu0410 and they shall put the lampstand and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars.  
Nu0411 Over the golden [incense] altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its carrying poles;  
Nu0412 and they shall take all the utensils of the service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars.  
Nu0413 Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar [of burnt offering], and spread a purple cloth over it.  
Nu0414 They shall also put on it all its utensils with which they minister in connection with it: the pans, the meat-forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a covering of porpoise skin over it, and insert its carrying poles.  
Nu0415 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all its furniture, as the camp sets out, after all that [is done, but not before], the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them [using the poles], so that they do not touch the holy things, and die. These are the things in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) which the sons of Kohath are to carry.  
Nu0416 “The responsibility of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, is the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continual grain offering, and the anointing oil—the responsibility of all the tabernacle and everything that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”  
Nu0417 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu0418 “Do not cut off (eliminate, destroy) the tribe of the families of the Kohathites [who are only Levites and not priests], from among the Levites [by exposing them to the sin of touching the most holy things].  
Nu0419 But deal with them in this way, so that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his [specific] work and to his load [to be carried on the march].  
Nu0420 But the Kohathites shall not go in to see the holy things, even for an instant, or they will die.”  
Nu0421 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0422 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families.  
Nu0423 From thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter for service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.  
Nu0424 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying [when on the march]:  
Nu0425 they shall carry the tent curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the covering of porpoise skin (fine leather) that is on top of it, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),  
Nu0426 and the hangings of the courtyard, and the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their tent ropes, and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shall perform.  
Nu0427 Aaron and his sons shall direct all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all they have to carry and all they have to do. You shall assign to them as a duty all that they are to carry [on the march].  
Nu0428 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle); and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the [high] priest.  
Nu0429 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households;  
Nu0430 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu0431 This is what they are assigned to carry [on the march], according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the boards [for the framework] of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its sockets or bases,  
Nu0432 and the pillars around the courtyard with their sockets or bases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes), with all their equipment and with all their [accessories for] service; and you shall assign each man by name the items he is to carry [on the march].  
Nu0433 This is the work of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their tasks in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the priest.”  
Nu0434 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,  
Nu0435 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);  
Nu0436 the men who were numbered by their families were 2,750.  
Nu0437 These were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who did service in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.  
Nu0438 The men who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families (clans), and by their fathers’ households,  
Nu0439 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);  
Nu0440 the men who were numbered by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630.  
Nu0441 These were numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who served in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered just as the LORD had commanded.  
Nu0442 The men who were numbered of the sons of Merari, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,  
Nu0443 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);  
Nu0444 the men who were numbered by their families were 3,200.  
Nu0445 These are the men who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered in accordance with the commandment of the LORD through Moses.  
Nu0446 All the men who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,  
Nu0447 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);  
Nu0448 the men that were numbered were 8,580.  
Nu0449 According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses, they were numbered, each assigned to his work of serving and carrying. Thus they were numbered by him, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu0501 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0502 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp every leper and everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is defiled [that is, ceremonially unclean] by [coming in contact with] the dead.  
Nu0503 You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst.”  
Nu0504 The Israelites did so, and sent them outside the camp; just as the LORD had said to Moses, so the Israelites did.  
Nu0505 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0506 “Say to the Israelites, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind [against other people], thus breaking faith with the LORD, and that person is guilty,  
Nu0507 then he shall confess the sin which he has committed, and he shall make restitution for his wrong in full, and add a fifth to it, and give it to [the person] whom he has wronged.  
Nu0508 But if the man [who was wronged] has no redeemer (relative) to whom the restitution may be made, it is to be given to the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the offender.  
Nu0509 Also every contribution pertaining to all the holy gifts of the Israelites which they offer to the priest, shall be his.  
Nu0510 And every man’s holy gifts shall be the priest’s; whatever any man gives the priest, it becomes his.’”  
Nu0511 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0512 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘If any man’s wife goes astray (deviates) and is unfaithful to him,  
Nu0513 and a man is intimate with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it is kept secret, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,  
Nu0514 and if a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous and angry at his wife who has defiled herself—or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself—  
Nu0515 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring as an offering for her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it [the symbols of favor and joy], because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a memorial grain offering, a reminder of [the consequences of] wickedness.  
Nu0516 ‘Then the priest shall have her approach and have her stand before the LORD,  
Nu0517 and the priest shall take holy water [from the sacred basin] in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.  
Nu0518 The priest shall then have the woman stand before the LORD, and let the hair of the woman’s head hang loose, and put the memorial grain offering in her hands, which is the jealousy offering, and in the hand of the priest is to be the water of bitterness that brings a curse.  
Nu0519 Then the priest shall have her take an oath and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray into uncleanness [while married], then be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse;  
Nu0520 but if you have gone astray [while married] and you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has been intimate with you”  
Nu0521 (then the priest shall have the woman swear the oath of the curse, and say to the woman), “The LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people when the LORD makes your thigh waste away and your abdomen swell;  
Nu0522 and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amen. Amen (so let it be).”  
Nu0523 ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness;  
Nu0524 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse will go into her and cause bitterness.  
Nu0525 Then the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and he shall wave the grain offering before the LORD and offer it on the altar.  
Nu0526 Then the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as the memorial portion of it and offer it up in smoke on the altar, and afterward he shall make the woman drink the water.  
Nu0527 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall come about, that if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the curse water will go into her and cause bitterness and cause her abdomen to swell and her thigh to waste away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.  
Nu0528 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she will be free and conceive children.  
Nu0529 ‘This is the law of jealousy: when a wife goes astray [while married] and defiles herself,  
Nu0530 or when a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousy and suspicion comes on a man and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest shall apply this law to her.  
Nu0531 Further, the husband will be free from guilt, but that woman [if guilty] shall bear her guilt.’”  
Nu0601 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0602 “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, that is, one separated and dedicated to the LORD,  
Nu0603 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes.  
Nu0604 All the time of his separation he shall not eat anything produced from the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins.  
Nu0605 ‘All the time of the vow of his separation no razor shall be used on his head. Until the time of his separation to the LORD is completed, he shall be holy, and shall let the hair of his head grow long.  
Nu0606 ‘All the time that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body.  
Nu0607 He shall not make himself [ceremonially] unclean for his father, mother, brother, or sister, when they die, because [the responsibility for] his separation to God is on his head.  
Nu0608 All the time of his separation he is holy to the LORD.  
Nu0609 ‘If a man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his dedicated head, then he shall shave his head on the day that he becomes [ceremonially] clean; he shall shave it on the seventh day [the end of the purification period].  
Nu0610 On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu0611 The priest shall offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering and make atonement for him concerning his sin because of the [dead] body. He shall consecrate his head the same day,  
Nu0612 and he shall dedicate himself to the LORD for the time of his separation and shall bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt offering; but the previous days will be void and lost, because his separation was defiled.  
Nu0613 ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the days of his separation and dedication are fulfilled: he shall bring the offering to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu0614 And he shall offer his gift to the LORD: one male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering, and one female lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering,  
Nu0615 and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread spread with oil, along with their grain offering and their drink offering.  
Nu0616 Then the priest shall present them before the LORD and shall offer the person’s sin offering and his burnt offering.  
Nu0617 He shall also offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, together with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering.  
Nu0618 The Nazirite shall shave his dedicated head at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and take the dedicated hair of his head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.  
Nu0619 The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened [ring-shaped] loaf out of the basket, and one unleavened flat cake and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his dedicated hair.  
Nu0620 Then the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD; they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered by lifting up; and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine.’  
Nu0621 “This is the law for the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD for his separation, besides what else he is able to afford, according to the vow which he has vowed; so shall he do according to the law for his separation and abstinence [as a Nazirite].”  
Nu0622 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0623 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:  
Nu0624 The LORD bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];  
Nu0625 The LORD make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];  
Nu0626 The LORD lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’  
Nu0627 So Aaron and his sons shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  
Nu0701 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it and all its furniture, and the altar and all its utensils; he also anointed them and consecrated them [for holy use].  
Nu0702 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ households, made offerings. (These were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who were over the men who were numbered.)  
Nu0703 They brought their offering before the LORD, six covered carts and twelve oxen; a cart for each two of the leaders and an ox for each one; and they presented them before the tabernacle.  
Nu0704 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0705 “Accept these things from them, so that they may be used in the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”  
Nu0706 So Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.  
Nu0707 He gave two carts and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service [in transporting the tabernacle];  
Nu0708 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service [in transporting the tabernacle], under the supervision of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the [high] priest.  
Nu0709 But to the sons of Kohath he gave nothing, because they were assigned the care of the holy things which they carried on their shoulders [when the tabernacle was moved].  
Nu0710 The leaders offered the dedication sacrifices for the altar on the day that it was anointed; and they offered their sacrifice before the altar.  
Nu0711 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Let them present their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”  
Nu0712 Now the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;  
Nu0713 and his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0714 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0715 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0716 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0717 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab [from the tribe of Judah].  
Nu0718 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader [of the tribe] of Issachar, presented [his offering];  
Nu0719 he presented as his offering one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0720 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0721 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0722 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0723 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar [from the tribe of Issachar].  
Nu0724 On the third day [it was] Eliab the son of Helon, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Zebulun [who presented his offering];  
Nu0725 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0726 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0727 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0728 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0729 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon [from the tribe of Zebulun].  
Nu0730 On the fourth day [it was] Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Reuben [who presented his offering];  
Nu0731 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;  
Nu0732 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0733 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0734 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0735 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur [from the tribe of Reuben].  
Nu0736 On the fifth day [it was] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Simeon [who presented his offering];  
Nu0737 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0738 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0739 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;  
Nu0740 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0741 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai [from the tribe of Simeon].  
Nu0742 On the sixth day [it was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Gad [who presented his offering];  
Nu0743 his offering was one silver dish the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and a silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0744 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0745 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0746 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0747 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel [from the tribe of Gad].  
Nu0748 On the seventh day [it was] Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Ephraim [who presented his offering];  
Nu0749 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0750 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0751 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0752 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0753 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud [from the tribe of Ephraim].  
Nu0754 On the eighth day [it was] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Manasseh [who presented his offering];  
Nu0755 his offering was one silver dish the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0756 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0757 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0758 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0759 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur [from the tribe of Manasseh].  
Nu0760 On the ninth day [it was] Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Benjamin [who presented his offering];  
Nu0761 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0762 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0763 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0764 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0765 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni [from the tribe of Benjamin].  
Nu0766 On the tenth day [it was] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Dan [who presented his offering];  
Nu0767 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0768 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0769 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0770 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0771 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai [from the tribe of Dan].  
Nu0772 On the eleventh day [it was] Pagiel the son of Ochran, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Asher [who presented his offering];  
Nu0773 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0774 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0775 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0776 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0777 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran [from the tribe of Asher].  
Nu0778 On the twelfth day [it was] Ahira the son of Enan, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Naphtali [who presented his offering];  
Nu0779 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;  
Nu0780 one golden bowl of ten shekels, full of incense;  
Nu0781 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;  
Nu0782 one male goat as a sin offering;  
Nu0783 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan [from the tribe of Naphtali].  
Nu0784 This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel on the day when it was anointed: twelve dishes of silver, twelve silver basins, twelve golden bowls;  
Nu0785 each dish of silver weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, each basin seventy [shekels]; all the silver vessels weighed 2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;  
Nu0786 the twelve golden bowls, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the bowls being a hundred and twenty shekels;  
Nu0787 all the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs one year old twelve, together with their grain offering; and the male goats as a sin offering twelve;  
Nu0788 and all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs one year old sixty. This was the dedication for the altar [of burnt offering] after it was anointed.  
Nu0789 Now when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat (the gold cover) that was on the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke [by special revelation] to him.  
Nu0801 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0802 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up and light the lamps, the seven lamps will shine in front of the lampstand.’”  
Nu0803 And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps at the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu0804 Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand: hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.  
Nu0805 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0806 “Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them.  
Nu0807 This is what you shall do to them to [ceremonially] cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes, and they will be clean.  
Nu0808 Then let them take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull as a sin offering.  
Nu0809 You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and you shall also assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel,  
Nu0810 and present the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites.  
Nu0811 Aaron shall present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the service of the LORD.  
Nu0812 Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, then you are to offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.  
Nu0813 You shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and present them as a wave offering to the LORD.  
Nu0814 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites shall be Mine [in a very special sense].  
Nu0815 Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but you shall cleanse them [first] and present them as a wave offering;  
Nu0816 for they are wholly given to Me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself instead of all who are born first, the firstborn of all the Israelites.  
Nu0817 For all the firstborn among the Israelites are Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified and set the Israelites apart for Myself.  
Nu0818 And I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the Israelites.  
Nu0819 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service of the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) and to make atonement for them, so that there will be no plague among the Israelites if they should approach the sanctuary.”  
Nu0820 Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did [these things] to the Levites; in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the Israelites did to them.  
Nu0821 The Levites, too, purified themselves from sin and they washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.  
Nu0822 Then after that the Levites went in to perform their service in the Tent of Meeting before Aaron and his sons; just as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.  
Nu0823 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0824 “This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the Tent of Meeting,  
Nu0825 but at the age of fifty years, they shall retire from the service of the [tabernacle] work and serve no longer.  
Nu0826 They may assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting to keep an obligation, but they shall do no [heavy or difficult] work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites concerning their obligations.”  
Nu0901 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,  
Nu0902 “The sons of Israel are to keep the Passover at its appointed time.  
Nu0903 On the fourteenth day of this month at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and ordinances you shall keep it.”  
Nu0904 So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover.  
Nu0905 They observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai; in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.  
Nu0906 But there were certain men who were [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] the dead body of a man, so they could not observe the Passover on that day; so they came before Moses and Aaron that same day.  
Nu0907 Those men said to Moses, “We are [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] a dead body. Why are we being restrained from presenting the LORD’S offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?”  
Nu0908 Therefore, Moses said to them, “Wait, and I will listen to what the LORD will command concerning you.”  
Nu0909 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu0910 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If any one of you or of your descendants becomes [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] a dead body or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to the LORD.  
Nu0911 On the fourteenth day of the second month [thirty days later] at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  
Nu0912 They shall leave none of it until morning nor break any of its bones; in accordance with all the statutes of the Passover they shall observe it.  
Nu0913 But the man who is [ceremonially] clean and is not on a journey, and yet does not observe the Passover, that person shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them] because he did not bring the LORD’S offering at its appointed time; that man will bear [the penalty of] his sin.  
Nu0914 If a stranger lives among you as a resident alien and observes the Passover to the LORD, in accordance with its statutes and its ordinances, so shall he do; you shall have one statute, both for the resident alien and for the native of the land.’”  
Nu0915 Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud [of God’s presence] covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the Testimony; and in the evening it was over the tabernacle, appearing like [a pillar of] fire until the morning.  
Nu0916 So it was continuously; the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  
Nu0917 Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent (tabernacle), afterward the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites would camp.  
Nu0918 At the LORD’S command the Israelites would journey on, and at His command they would camp. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle they remained camped.  
Nu0919 Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites would keep their obligation to the LORD and not set out.  
Nu0920 Sometimes the cloud remained only a few days over the tabernacle, and in accordance with the command of the LORD they remained camped. Then at His command they set out.  
Nu0921 If sometimes the cloud remained [over the tabernacle] from evening only until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would journey on; whether in the daytime or at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out.  
Nu0922 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the LORD’S presence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out.  
Nu0923 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed on; they kept their obligation to the LORD, in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.  
Nu1001 The LORD spoke further to Moses, saying,  
Nu1002 “Make two trumpets of silver; you shall make them of hammered work. You shall use them to summon the congregation and to have the camps move out.  
Nu1003 When both are blown, all the congregation [that is, all adult males] shall gather before you at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu1004 However, if a single trumpet is blown, then the leaders, heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.  
Nu1005 When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side [of the tabernacle] shall set out.  
Nu1006 When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps on the south side [of the tabernacle] shall set out. They shall blow an alarm whenever they are to move out [on their journeys].  
Nu1007 When the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow [the trumpets in short, sharp tones], but without sounding an alarm.  
Nu1008 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and the trumpets shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations.  
Nu1009 When you go to war in your land against the enemy that attacks you, then sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.  
Nu1010 Also in the day of rejoicing, and in your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”  
Nu1011 On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year [since leaving Egypt], the cloud [of the Lord’s presence] was lifted from over the tabernacle of the Testimony,  
Nu1012 and the Israelites set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud [of the LORD’S guiding presence] settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.  
Nu1013 So they moved out for the first time in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.  
Nu1014 The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, moved out first, Nahshon the son of Amminadab was [commander] over its army,  
Nu1015 and Nethanel the son of Zuar was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar;  
Nu1016 and Eliab the son of Helon was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.  
Nu1017 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, moved out.  
Nu1018 Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Reuben, according to their armies, moved out, with Elizur the son of Shedeur [commander] over its army,  
Nu1019 and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon,  
Nu1020 and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.  
Nu1021 Then the Kohathites moved out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before they arrived.  
Nu1022 Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim moved out, according to their armies, with Elishama the son of Ammihud [commander] over its army,  
Nu1023 and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh,  
Nu1024 and Abidan the son of Gideoni was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin.  
Nu1025 Then the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, according to their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, moved out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai [commander] over its army,  
Nu1026 and Pagiel the son of Ochran was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Asher,  
Nu1027 and Ahira the son of Enan was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali.  
Nu1028 This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they moved out.  
Nu1029 Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are going to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will be good to you, for the LORD has promised good [things] concerning Israel.”  
Nu1030 But Hobab [Moses’ brother-in-law] said to him, “I will not go; I will return to my own land and to my family.”  
Nu1031 Then Moses said, “Please do not leave us, for you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us [as we make our trek through the desert].  
Nu1032 So if you will go with us, it shall be that whatever good the LORD does for us, we will do the same for you.”  
Nu1033 So they set out from the mountain of the LORD (Sinai) three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went in front of them during the three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them.  
Nu1034 The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.  
Nu1035 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered; And let those who hate You flee before You.”  
Nu1036 And when the ark rested, Moses said, “Return, O LORD, To the myriad (many) thousands of Israel.”  
Nu1101 Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the LORD heard it; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.  
Nu1102 So the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire died out.  
Nu1103 He named that place Taberah (the place of burning), because the fire of the LORD burned among them.  
Nu1104 The rabble among them [who followed Israel from Egypt] had greedy desires [for familiar and delicious food], and the Israelites wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?  
Nu1105 We remember the fish we ate freely and without cost in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.  
Nu1106 But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing at all [in the way of food] to be seen but this manna.”  
Nu1107 The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium.  
Nu1108 The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes with it; and it tasted like cakes baked with fresh [olive] oil.  
Nu1109 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna fell with it.  
Nu1110 Now Moses heard the people weeping [in self-pity] throughout their families, every man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses regarded their behavior as evil.  
Nu1111 So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have placed the burden of all these people on me?  
Nu1112 Was it I who conceived all these people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms as a nurse carries the nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’?  
Nu1113 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, so that we may eat.’  
Nu1114 I am not able to carry all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.  
Nu1115 So if this is the way You are going to deal with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”  
Nu1116 Accordingly, the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from among the elders of Israel whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers; bring them to the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) and let them stand there with you.  
Nu1117 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take away some of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not have to bear it all alone.  
Nu1118 Say to the people, ‘Consecrate (separate as holy) yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept [in self-pity] in the ears of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.  
Nu1119 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,  
Nu1120 but a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and is disgusting to you—because you have rejected and despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept [in self-pity] before Him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”  
Nu1121 But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 [fighting men] on foot [besides all the women and children]; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat it for a whole month!’  
Nu1122 Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Or should all the fish of the sea be collected for them to be sufficient for them?”  
Nu1123 The LORD said to Moses, “Is the LORD’S hand (ability, power) limited (short, inadequate)? You shall see now whether My word will come to pass for you or not.”  
Nu1124 So Moses went out and spoke to the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered seventy men from among the elders of the people and stationed them around the Tent (tabernacle).  
Nu1125 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took some of the Spirit who was upon Moses and put Him upon the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied [praising God and declaring His will], but they did not do it again.  
Nu1126 But two men had remained in the camp; one named Eldad and the other named Medad. The Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the Tent), and they prophesied in the camp.  
Nu1127 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying [extolling the praises of God and declaring His will] in the camp.”  
Nu1128 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!”  
Nu1129 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!”  
Nu1130 Then Moses went back into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.  
Nu1131 Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought quails from the sea, and let them fall [so they flew low] beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and on the other side, all around the camp, about two cubits (three feet) deep on the surface of the ground.  
Nu1132 The people spent all that day and all night and all the next day and caught and gathered the quail (the one who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves around the camp [to cure them by drying].  
Nu1133 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck them with a very severe plague.  
Nu1134 So that place was named Kibroth-hattaavah (the graves of greediness), because there they buried the people who had been greedy [for more than the manna that God provided them].  
Nu1135 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people set out for Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.  
Nu1201 Now Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman);  
Nu1202 and they said, “Has the LORD really spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken also through us?” And the LORD heard it.  
Nu1203 (Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)  
Nu1204 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).” And the three of them came out.  
Nu1205 The LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tabernacle, and He called Aaron and Miriam, and they came forward.  
Nu1206 And He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make Myself known to him in a vision And I will speak to him in a dream.  
Nu1207 “But it is not so with My servant Moses; He is entrusted and faithful in all My house.  
Nu1208 “With him I speak mouth to mouth [directly], Clearly and openly and not in riddles; And he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”  
Nu1209 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Miriam and Aaron, and He departed.  
Nu1210 But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned and looked at Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.  
Nu1211 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, I plead with you, do not account this sin to us, in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned.  
Nu1212 Oh, do not let her be like one dead, already half decomposed when he comes from his mother’s womb.”  
Nu1213 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “Heal her please, O God, I plead with You!”  
Nu1214 But the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut up outside the camp for seven days, and afterward she may return.”  
Nu1215 So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought in again [and declared ceremonially clean from her leprosy].  
Nu1216 Afterward the people moved on from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.  
Nu1301 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1302 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am going to give to the sons of Israel. From each of their fathers’ tribes you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”  
Nu1303 So Moses sent spies from the Wilderness of Paran at the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites.  
Nu1304 These were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur;  
Nu1305 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori;  
Nu1306 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;  
Nu1307 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph;  
Nu1308 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea [that is, Joshua] the son of Nun;  
Nu1309 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu;  
Nu1310 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi;  
Nu1311 from the tribe of Joseph, that is, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi;  
Nu1312 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli;  
Nu1313 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael;  
Nu1314       from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;     
Nu1315 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.  
Nu1316 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land; but Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua (the LORD is salvation).  
Nu1317 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the Negev (the South country); then go up into the hill country.  
Nu1318 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many,  
Nu1319 and whether the land in which they live is good or bad, and whether the cities in which they live are [open] camps or fortifications,  
Nu1320 and what the land is, whether it is fat (productive) or lean, whether there is timber on it or not. Make an effort to get some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes.  
Nu1321 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob [a town in Lebanon], at Lebo-hamath [in the far north].  
Nu1322 When they had gone up into the Negev (the South country), they came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai the descendants of Anak were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)  
Nu1323 Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes), and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two of them, with some of pomegranates and the figs.  
Nu1324 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol (cluster of grapes) because of the cluster of grapes which the sons of Israel cut down there.  
Nu1325 When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days,  
Nu1326 they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the land’s fruit.  
Nu1327 They reported to Moses and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.  
Nu1328 But the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified (walled) and very large; moreover, we saw there the descendants of Anak [people of great stature and courage].  
Nu1329 [The people descended from] Amalek live in the land of the Negev (South country); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the [Dead] Sea and along the side of the Jordan.”  
Nu1330 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.”  
Nu1331 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”  
Nu1332 So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.  
Nu1333 There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”  
Nu1401 Then all the congregation [of Israel] raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night.  
Nu1402 All the Israelites murmured [in discontent] against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!  
Nu1403 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land [of Canaan], to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”  
Nu1404 So they said one to another, “Let us appoint a [new] leader and return to Egypt.”  
Nu1405 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites.  
Nu1406 Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes [as a sign of grief],  
Nu1407 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land.  
Nu1408 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.  
Nu1409 Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”  
Nu1410 But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the glory and brilliance of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) before all the sons of Israel.  
Nu1411 The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me disrespectfully and reject Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the [miraculous] signs which I have performed among them?  
Nu1412 I will strike them with the pestilence (plague) and dispossess them, and will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”  
Nu1413 But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up these people from among them,  
Nu1414 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, LORD, are among these people [of Israel], that You, LORD, are seen face to face, while Your cloud stands over them; and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.  
Nu1415 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations (Gentiles) that have heard of Your fame will say,  
Nu1416 ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring these people into the land which He promised to give them, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness.’  
Nu1417 But now, please, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, saying,  
Nu1418 ‘The LORD is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving wickedness and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting (avenging) the wickedness and guilt of the fathers on the children, to the third and fourth generations [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers].’  
Nu1419 Please pardon the wickedness and guilt of these people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You have forgiven these people, from Egypt even until now.”  
Nu1420 So the LORD said, “I have pardoned them according to your word;  
Nu1421 but indeed as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.  
Nu1422 Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My [miraculous] signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice,  
Nu1423 will by no means see the land which I swore to [give to] their fathers; nor will any who treated me disrespectfully and rejected Me see it.  
Nu1424 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land into which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.  
Nu1425 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valley; tomorrow turn and set out for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea.”  
Nu1426 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu1427 “How long shall I put up with this evil congregation who murmur [in discontent] against Me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they are making against Me.  
Nu1428 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just what you have spoken in My hearing I will most certainly do to you;  
Nu1429 your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, even all who were numbered of you, your entire number from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me.  
Nu1430 Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, not one of you shall enter the land in which I swore [an oath] to settle you.  
Nu1431 But your children whom you said would become plunder, I will bring in, and they will know the land which you have despised and rejected.  
Nu1432 But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness.  
Nu1433 Your sons shall be wanderers and shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness (spiritual infidelity), until your corpses are consumed in the wilderness.  
Nu1434 According to the number of days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], forty days, for each day, you shall bear and suffer a year for your sins and guilt, for forty years, and you shall know My displeasure [the revoking of My promise and My estrangement because of your sin].  
Nu1435 I, the LORD, have spoken. I will most certainly do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed [by war, disease, and plagues], and here they shall die.’”  
Nu1436 As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, and who returned and made all the congregation murmur and complain against him by bringing back a bad report concerning the land,  
Nu1437 even those [ten] men who brought back the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the LORD.  
Nu1438 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land.  
Nu1439 Moses spoke the Lord’s words to all the Israelites, and the people mourned greatly.  
Nu1440 They got up early in the morning and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Look, here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised.”  
Nu1441 But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed?  
Nu1442 Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD is not among you.  
Nu1443 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, because you have turned away from following the LORD; therefore the LORD will not be with you.”  
Nu1444 But [in their arrogance] they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country; however, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp.  
Nu1445 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and struck the Israelites and scattered them as far as Hormah.  
Nu1501 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1502 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you come into the land where you are to live, which I am giving you,  
Nu1503 then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed feasts, to make a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.  
Nu1504 The one who presents his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil,  
Nu1505 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, a fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.  
Nu1506 Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil.  
Nu1507 And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Nu1508 When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or as a sacrifice, in fulfilling a special vow or peace offering to the LORD,  
Nu1509 then you shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil;  
Nu1510 and you shall bring as the drink offering one-half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Nu1511 ‘Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the goats.  
Nu1512 According to the number that you prepare, so shall you do to everyone according to their number.  
Nu1513 All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in presenting an offering by fire, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Nu1514 If a stranger lives as a resident alien with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and he wishes to make an offering by fire, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD, just as you do, so shall he do.  
Nu1515 As for the assembly, there shall be one [and the same] statute for you [of the congregation] and for the stranger who is a resident alien with you, a permanent statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.  
Nu1516 There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the stranger who lives with you as a resident alien.’”  
Nu1517 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1518 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you enter the land to which I am bringing you,  
Nu1519 then, when you eat the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering (heave offering) to the LORD.  
Nu1520 You shall lift up a cake made of the first of your [ground grain which has been made into] dough as an offering [to the Lord]; as an offering from the threshing floor, so shall you lift it up.  
Nu1521 From the first of your dough (ground grain) you shall give to the LORD an offering throughout your generations.  
Nu1522 ‘But when you unintentionally fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the LORD has spoken to Moses,  
Nu1523 even all that the LORD has commanded you through Moses, from the day that the LORD gave commandments and onward throughout your generations,  
Nu1524 then it shall be, if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat as a sin offering.  
Nu1525 Then the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and they will be forgiven, for it was an error and they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their error.  
Nu1526 So all the congregation of the Israelites will be forgiven as well as the stranger who lives among them as a resident alien, because all the people were involved in the error.  
Nu1527 ‘Also if one person sins unintentionally, then he shall offer a female goat one year old as a sin offering.  
Nu1528 The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who commits an error when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.  
Nu1529 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, whether he is native- born among the Israelites or a stranger who is living among them as a resident alien.  
Nu1530 But the person who does [anything wrong] willfully and defiantly, whether he is native- born or a stranger, that one is blaspheming the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].  
Nu1531 Because he has despised and rejected the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; [the responsibility for] his wickedness and guilt will be upon him.’”  
Nu1532 Now while the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man who was gathering wood on the Sabbath day.  
Nu1533 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation;  
Nu1534 and they put him in custody, because it had not been explained [by God] what should be done to him.  
Nu1535 Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall certainly be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”  
Nu1536 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu1537 The LORD said to Moses,  
Nu1538 “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them to make for themselves tassels on the hems of their garments throughout their generations, and put a cord of blue on the tassel of each hem.  
Nu1539 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, so that you do not follow after [the desires of] your own heart and eyes, [desires] after which you used to follow and play the prostitute,  
Nu1540 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy (set apart) to your God.  
Nu1541 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”  
Nu1601 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, took action,  
Nu1602 and they rose up [in rebellion] before Moses, together with some of the Israelites, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation chosen in the assembly, men of distinction.  
Nu1603 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”  
Nu1604 And when Moses heard this, he fell face downward;  
Nu1605 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to Him, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; the one whom He will choose He will bring near to Himself.  
Nu1606 Do this: Take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company,  
Nu1607 then put fire in them and place incense on them in the presence of the LORD tomorrow; and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi.”  
Nu1608 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi,  
Nu1609 does it seem but a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;  
Nu1610 and that He has brought you near [to Him], Korah and all your brothers, sons of Levi with you? Would you seek the priesthood also?  
Nu1611 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he that you murmur against him?”  
Nu1612 Then Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said [defiantly], “We will not come up.  
Nu1613 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?  
Nu1614 Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”  
Nu1615 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Pay no attention to their offering! I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them.”  
Nu1616 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company are to appear before the LORD tomorrow, both you and they along with Aaron.  
Nu1617 Each of you take his censer and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; also you and Aaron shall each bring his censer.”  
Nu1618 So they each took his own censer and put fire on it and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), with Moses and Aaron.  
Nu1619 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). And the glory and brilliance of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.  
Nu1620 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu1621 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them immediately.”  
Nu1622 But they fell on their faces [before the LORD], and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”  
Nu1623 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1624 “Say to the congregation, ‘Get away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”  
Nu1625 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.  
Nu1626 And he said to the congregation, “Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”  
Nu1627 So they got back from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents with their wives and their sons and their little children.  
Nu1628 Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I do not act of my own accord.  
Nu1629 If these men die the common death of all mankind or if what happens to everyone happens to them, then [you will know for sure that] the LORD has not sent me.  
Nu1630 But if the LORD creates an entirely new thing, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, along with all that belongs to them, and they descend alive into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), then you will understand that these men have spurned and rejected the LORD!”  
Nu1631 As soon as Moses finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split open;  
Nu1632 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all the men who supported Korah, with all their possessions.  
Nu1633 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.  
Nu1634 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us also.”  
Nu1635 Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.  
Nu1636 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1637 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, that he is to pick up the censers from the midst of the blaze for they are holy; and you scatter the burning coals abroad.  
Nu1638 As for the censers of these people who have sinned at the cost of their lives, have the censers made into hammered sheets as a plating for the altar [of burnt offering], for they were presented before the LORD and they are sacred. They shall be a [warning] sign to the sons of Israel.”  
Nu1639 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the Levites who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out [into broad sheets] as a plating for the [bronze] altar [of burnt offering],  
Nu1640 as a reminder to the sons of Israel so that no layman—that is, one who is not of the descendants of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD; so that he will not become like Korah and as his company—just as the LORD had said to him through Moses.  
Nu1641 But on the next day the entire congregation of the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have caused the death of the people of the LORD.”  
Nu1642 When the congregation was assembled against Moses and Aaron, they turned and looked at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory and brilliance of the LORD appeared.  
Nu1643 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),  
Nu1644 and the LORD spoke to Moses saying,  
Nu1645 “Get away from among this congregation, so that I may consume them immediately.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces [in silence before the LORD].  
Nu1646 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD; the plague has begun!”  
Nu1647 So Aaron took the burning censer as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had [already] begun among the people; and he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.  
Nu1648 He stood between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to an end.  
Nu1649 But those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died because of Korah.  
Nu1650 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), for the plague had been brought to an end.  
Nu1701 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1702 “Speak to the sons of Israel and get rods from them, a rod for each father’s household, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod,  
Nu1703 and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi [his ancestor]; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households.  
Nu1704 You shall then deposit them in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) in front of [the ark of] the Testimony, where I meet with you.  
Nu1705 It shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will bud, and I will no longer hear the constant grumblings of the Israelites, who are grumbling against you.”  
Nu1706 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.  
Nu1707 So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony (tabernacle).  
Nu1708 Now on the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and the rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had sprouted and put out buds and produced blossoms and yielded [ripe] almonds.  
Nu1709 Moses brought out all the rods from the presence of LORD to all the Israelites; and they looked, and each man took his rod.  
Nu1710 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony [in the ark], to be kept as a [warning] sign for the rebellious and contentious, so that you may put an end to their murmurings [of discontent] against Me, so that they do not die.”  
Nu1711 And Moses did so; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did.  
Nu1712 The sons of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we perish, we are doomed, all doomed!  
Nu1713 Everyone who approaches, who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?”  
Nu1801 So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God’s presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses].  
Nu1802 But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father (ancestor), so that they may join with you and serve you [as assistants], while you and your sons with you are before the Tent of the Testimony [the Holy Place where only priests may go, and the Most Holy Place which only the high priest may enter].  
Nu1803 And the Levites shall attend to your duty [as assistants] and to the duties of all the tent (tabernacle); only they shall not approach the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.  
Nu1804 They shall join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting—all the service of the tent—and no stranger [no layman, anyone who is not a Levite] may approach you [and your sons].  
Nu1805 So you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense], so that there will no longer be wrath on the Israelites [as with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram].  
Nu1806 Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, given (dedicated) to the LORD, to do the service for the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu1807 Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense] and [of the Holy of Holies] within the veil, and you are to serve. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the stranger (outsider, layman) who approaches shall be put to death.”  
Nu1808 Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I [the LORD] have entrusted you with My heave offerings, even all the holy gifts of the Israelites, I have given them to you as a portion, and to your sons as a continual allotment.  
Nu1809 This shall be yours of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every offering of the people, every grain offering and sin offering and guilt offering, which they shall render (give) to Me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.  
Nu1810 You shall eat it as the most holy thing; every male [of your family] shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.  
Nu1811 This also is yours: the heave offering of their gift, including all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and to your daughters with you as a continual allotment; everyone in your household who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it.  
Nu1812 All the best of the fresh [olive] oil, and all the best of the new wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the LORD, I give them to you.  
Nu1813 The first ripe fruits of all that is in the land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; everyone in your household who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it.  
Nu1814 Every devoted thing in Israel [everything that has been promised to the Lord with an oath] shall be yours.  
Nu1815 Every firstborn of the womb of all flesh, whether it is man or animal, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall most certainly redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.  
Nu1816 And their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem, according to your valuation, for the [fixed] price of five shekels in silver, in accordance with the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.  
Nu1817 But the firstborn of a cow or of a sheep or of a goat you shall not redeem; they are holy [and belong to the LORD]. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Nu1818 Their meat shall be yours, like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.  
Nu1819 All the offerings of the holy things, which the Israelites offer to the LORD I have given to you and to your sons and your daughters with you as a continual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt [that cannot be dissolved or violated] before the LORD to you and to your descendants with you.”  
Nu1820 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], nor have any portion [of land] among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.  
Nu1821 “Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu1822 The Israelites shall never again approach the Tent of Meeting [the covered sanctuary, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies], or they [who do] will incur sin and die.  
Nu1823 Only the Levites shall perform the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that the Levites shall have no inheritance [of land] among the children of Israel.  
Nu1824 But the tithe of the Israelites, which they present as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the children of Israel.’”  
Nu1825 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu1826 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the Israelites the tithe which I have given to you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe [paid by the people].  
Nu1827 Your offering shall be credited to you as the grain from the threshing floor or as the full produce from the wine vat.  
Nu1828 Likewise you shall also present an offering to the LORD from all your tithes, which you receive from the Israelites; and from it you shall give the LORD’S offering to Aaron the priest.  
Nu1829 Out of all your gifts, you shall present every offering due to the LORD, from all the best of it, even the sacred part from them.’  
Nu1830 Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered the best from it, then the rest shall be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor, and as the product of the wine vat.  
Nu1831 You may eat it anywhere, you and [the members of] your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu1832 You will bear no sin because of it when you have offered the best of it; but you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the children of Israel, or you will die [because of it].’”  
Nu1901 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  
Nu1902 “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.  
Nu1903 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence.  
Nu1904 Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of it toward the front of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) seven times.  
Nu1905 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its waste, shall be burned (reduced to ash).  
Nu1906 The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet [material] and cast them into the midst of the burning heifer.  
Nu1907 Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; and afterward come into the camp, but he shall be [ceremonially] unclean until evening.  
Nu1908 The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and shall be unclean until evening.  
Nu1909 Now a man who is [ceremonially] clean shall collect the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the Israelites shall keep it for water to remove impurity; it is [to be used for] purification from sin.  
Nu1910 The one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. This shall be a perpetual statute to the Israelites and to the stranger who lives as a resident alien among them.  
Nu1911 ‘The one who touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean for seven days.  
Nu1912 That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water [made with the ashes of the burned heifer] on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.  
Nu1913 Whoever touches a corpse, the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from Israel [that is, excluded from the atonement made for them]. Because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him.  
Nu1914 ‘This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be [ceremonially] unclean for seven days.  
Nu1915 Every open container [in the tent], which has no covering tied down on it, is unclean.  
Nu1916 Also, anyone in the open field who touches one who has been killed with a sword or who has died [of natural causes], or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.  
Nu1917 Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for the purification from sin, and running water shall be added to them in a container.  
Nu1918 A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the people who were there, and on the one who touched the bone or the one who was killed or the one who died [naturally] or the grave.  
Nu1919 Then the clean person shall sprinkle [the water for purification] on the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day, and on the seventh day the unclean man shall purify himself, and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be [ceremonially] clean at evening.  
Nu1920 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. The water for purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.  
Nu1921 So it shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity [on another] shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.  
Nu1922 Furthermore, anything the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be [ceremonially] unclean until evening.’”  
Nu2001 Then the Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month [in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt]. And the people lived in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.  
Nu2002 Now there was no water for the congregation, and they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.  
Nu2003 The people contended with Moses, and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished [in the plague] before the LORD!  
Nu2004 Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness to die here, we and our livestock?  
Nu2005 Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”  
Nu2006 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) and fell on their faces [before the LORD in prayer]. Then the glory and brilliance of the LORD appeared to them;  
Nu2007 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu2008 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock in front of them, so that it will pour out its water. In this way you shall bring water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their livestock drink [fresh water].”  
Nu2009 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him;  
Nu2010 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?”  
Nu2011 Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the LORD had commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water].  
Nu2012 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”  
Nu2013 These are the waters of Meribah (contention, strife), where the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He showed Himself holy among them.  
Nu2014 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel, ‘You know all the hardship that has come upon us [as a nation];  
Nu2015 that our fathers (ancestors) went down to Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians treated [both] us and our fathers badly.  
Nu2016 But when we cried out to the LORD [for help], He heard us and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.  
Nu2017 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through a field or through a vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway, not turning [off-course] to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’”  
Nu2018 But [the king of] Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my territory, or I will come out against you with the sword.”  
Nu2019 Again, the Israelites said to him, “We will go by the highway [trade route], and if I and my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it. Only let me pass through on foot, nothing else.”  
Nu2020 But the king of Edom said, “You shall not pass through [my territory].” And Edom came out against Israel with many people and a strong hand.  
Nu2021 Thus [the king of] Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.  
Nu2022 Now when they set out from Kadesh, the Israelites, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.  
Nu2023 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,  
Nu2024 “Aaron will be gathered to his people [in death]; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you [both] rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.  
Nu2025 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor;  
Nu2026 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. So Aaron will be gathered to his fathers, and will die there.”  
Nu2027 So Moses did just as the LORD had commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.  
Nu2028 After Moses stripped Aaron of his [priestly] garments and put them on Eleazar his son, Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.  
Nu2029 When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel wept (mourned) for him thirty days.  
Nu2101 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim [the route traveled by the spies sent out by Moses], he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.  
Nu2102 So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”  
Nu2103 The LORD heard the voice of Israel and handed over the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah (dedicate to destruction).  
Nu2104 Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the [branch of the] Red Sea [called the Gulf of Aqabah], to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient, because [of the challenges] of the journey.  
Nu2105 So the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, nor is there any water, and we loathe this miserable food.”  
Nu2106 Then the LORD sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died.  
Nu2107 So the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, so that He will remove the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.  
Nu2108 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it.”  
Nu2109 So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.  
Nu2110 Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped at Oboth.  
Nu2111 They journeyed on from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness facing Moab, toward the sunrise.  
Nu2112 From there they set out and camped in the Wadi Zered.  
Nu2113 From there they journeyed on and camped on the other side of [the river] Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for [the river] Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.  
Nu2114 That is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “Waheb in Suphah, And the wadis of the Arnon [River],  
Nu2115 And the slope of the wadis That stretches toward the site of Ar And leans to the border of Moab.”  
Nu2116 From there the Israelites went on to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”  
Nu2117 Then Israel sang this song, “Spring up, O well! Sing to it,  
Nu2118 The well which the leaders dug, Which the nobles of the people hollowed out With the scepter and with their staffs.” And from the wilderness Israel journeyed to Mattanah,  
Nu2119 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,  
Nu2120 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.  
Nu2121 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,  
Nu2122 “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn away [from the road] into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have crossed your border.”  
Nu2123 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. Instead Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel.  
Nu2124 Then Israel struck the king of the Amorites with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.  
Nu2125 Israel took all these cities, and settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its towns.  
Nu2126 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.  
Nu2127 That is why those who use proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon, Let the city of Sihon be built and established.  
Nu2128 “For fire has gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab And the lords of the heights of the Arnon.  
Nu2129 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you, Moab! You are destroyed, O people of [the god] Chemosh! Moab has given his sons as fugitives [that is, survivors of battle], And his daughters into captivity To Sihon king of the Amorites.  
Nu2130 “We have shot them down [with arrows]; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon, And we have laid them waste as far as Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”  
Nu2131 Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.  
Nu2132 Now Moses sent men to spy out Jazer, and they overthrew its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.  
Nu2133 Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.  
Nu2134 But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have handed over him and all his people and his land to you; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”  
Nu2135 So the sons of Israel killed Og and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor left to him; and they took possession of his land.  
Nu2201 The Israelites journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.  
Nu2202 And Balak [the king of Moab] the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.  
Nu2203 So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel.  
Nu2204 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, just as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time.  
Nu2205 So he sent messengers to Balaam [a famous prophet-diviner] the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, “There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.  
Nu2206 Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”  
Nu2207 So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with fees for divination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.  
Nu2208 Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam [that night].  
Nu2209 God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”  
Nu2210 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me:  
Nu2211 ‘Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”  
Nu2212 God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.”  
Nu2213 Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, “Go back to your own land [of Moab], for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”  
Nu2214 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”  
Nu2215 Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and [men who were] more distinguished than the first ones.  
Nu2216 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.  
Nu2217 For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please come, curse these people [of Israel] for me.’”  
Nu2218 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.  
Nu2219 Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will say to me.”  
Nu2220 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shall still do only what I tell you.”  
Nu2221 So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.  
Nu2222 But God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  
Nu2223 When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way and His drawn sword in His hand, the donkey turned off the path and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back toward the path.  
Nu2224 But the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a [stone] wall on this side and a [stone] wall on that side.  
Nu2225 When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, and he struck her again.  
Nu2226 The Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.  
Nu2227 When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, so Balaam was angry and he struck the donkey [a third time] with his staff.  
Nu2228 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”  
Nu2229 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now!”  
Nu2230 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”  
Nu2231 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and lay himself face down.  
Nu2232 The Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your behavior was obstinate and contrary to Me.  
Nu2233 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have certainly killed you now, and let her live.”  
Nu2234 Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will turn back.”  
Nu2235 The Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.  
Nu2236 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon [River], at the farthest end of the border.  
Nu2237 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send word to you to call you? Why did you not come to me [immediately]? Am I really unable to honor (pay) you?”  
Nu2238 So Balaam said to Balak, “Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”  
Nu2239 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.  
Nu2240 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and to the leaders who were with him.  
Nu2241 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal; from there he saw a portion of the Israelites.  
Nu2301 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams here.”  
Nu2302 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.  
Nu2303 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me; and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a desolate hill.  
Nu2304 Now God met Balaam, who said to Him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.”  
Nu2305 Then the LORD put a speech in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”  
Nu2306 Balaam returned to Balak, and behold, he was standing by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the leaders of Moab.  
Nu2307 Balaam took up his [first] discourse (oracle) and said: “Balak, the king of Moab, has brought me from Aram (Syria), from the mountains of the east, [saying,] ‘Come, curse [the descendants of] Jacob for me; And come, [violently] denounce Israel.’  
Nu2308 “How shall I curse those whom God has not cursed? Or how can I [violently] denounce those the LORD has not denounced?  
Nu2309 “For from the top of the rocks I see Israel, And from the hills I look at him. Behold, the people [of Israel] shall dwell alone And will not be reckoned among the nations.  
Nu2310 “Who can count the dust (the descendants) of Jacob And the number of even the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God], And let my end be like his!”  
Nu2311 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but here you have [thoroughly] blessed them instead!”  
Nu2312 Balaam answered, “Must I not be obedient and careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”  
Nu2313 Balak said to him, “Come with me, I implore you, to another place from where you can see them, although you will see only the nearest and not all of them; and curse them for me from there.”  
Nu2314 So he took Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of [Mount] Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.  
Nu2315 Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I go to meet the LORD over there.”  
Nu2316 Then the LORD met Balaam and put a speech in his mouth, and said, “Go back to Balak and you shall speak thus.”  
Nu2317 When Balaam returned to Balak, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?”  
Nu2318 Balaam took up his [second] discourse (oracle) and said: “Rise up, O Balak, and hear; Listen [closely] to me, son of Zippor.  
Nu2319 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?  
Nu2320 “Behold, I have received His command to bless [Israel]. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.  
Nu2321 “God has not observed wickedness in Jacob [for he is forgiven], Nor has He seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with Israel, And the shout of their King is among the people.  
Nu2322 “God brought them out of Egypt; They have the strength of a wild ox.  
Nu2323 “For there is no enchantment or omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what has God done!  
Nu2324 “Behold, a people rises up like a lioness And lifts itself up like a lion; He will not lie down until he devours the prey And drinks the blood of the slain.”  
Nu2325 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”  
Nu2326 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not say to you, ‘All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?’”  
Nu2327 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please come; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.”  
Nu2328 So Balak brought Balaam to the top of [Mount] Peor, that overlooks the wasteland.  
Nu2329 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams here.”  
Nu2330 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.  
Nu2401 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before [superstitiously] to seek omens and signs [in the natural world], but he set his face toward the wilderness (desert).  
Nu2402 And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel living in their tents tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him.  
Nu2403 He took up his [third] discourse (oracle) and said: “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened [at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God],  
Nu2404 The oracle of one who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered,  
Nu2405 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, And your tabernacles, O Israel!  
Nu2406 “Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.  
Nu2407 “Water [that is, great blessings] will flow from his buckets, And his offspring will live by many waters, And his king will be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.  
Nu2408 “God brought Israel out of Egypt; Israel has strength like the wild ox; He will devour [Gentile] nations, his adversaries (enemies), And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.  
Nu2409 “He bowed down [to rest], he lies down as a lion; And as a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed [of God] is he who blesses you, And cursed [of God] is he who curses you.”  
Nu2410 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times.  
Nu2411 Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.”  
Nu2412 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me,  
Nu2413 ‘Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak?’  
Nu2414 And now, look, I am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people [Israel] will do to your people [Moab] in the days to come.”  
Nu2415 He took up his [fourth] discourse (oracle) and said: “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,  
Nu2416 The oracle of him who hears the words of God And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:  
Nu2417 I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star shall come forth from [the descendants of] Jacob, A scepter shall rise out of [the descendants of] Israel And shall crush the forehead of Moab And destroy all the sons of Sheth.  
Nu2418 “Edom shall be [taken as] a possession, [Mount] Seir, Israel’s enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly.  
Nu2419 “One from [the descendants of] Jacob shall have dominion And will destroy the remnant from the city.”  
Nu2420 Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his [fifth] discourse (oracle) and said: “Amalek was the first of the [neighboring] nations [to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt], But his end shall be destruction.”  
Nu2421 And Balaam looked at the Kenites and took up his [sixth] discourse (oracle) and said: “Strong is your dwelling place, And you set your nest in the cliff.  
Nu2422 “Nevertheless the Kenites will be consumed. How long will Asshur (Assyria) keep you (Israel) captive?”  
Nu2423 Then he took up his [seventh] discourse (oracle) and said: “Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?  
Nu2424 “But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and Eber; So they (the victors) also will come to destruction.”  
Nu2425 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.  
Nu2501 Israel settled and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the prostitute with the women of Moab [by being unfaithful to God].  
Nu2502 For they invited the Israelites to the sacrifices of their gods, and the Israelites ate [food offered to idols] and bowed down to Moab’s gods.  
Nu2503 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.  
Nu2504 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people [who have committed sin with the Moabites], and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.”  
Nu2505 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each one of you must kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship].”  
Nu2506 Then one of the Israelites came and presented to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation of the Israelites, while they were weeping [over God’s judgment] at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
Nu2507 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he left the congregation and took a spear in his hand,  
Nu2508 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and pierced both of them through the body, the man of Israel and the woman. Then the plague on the Israelites stopped.  
Nu2509 Nevertheless, those [Israelites] who died in the plague numbered 24,000.  
Nu2510 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu2511 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites because he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My jealousy.  
Nu2512 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to Phinehas My covenant of peace.  
Nu2513 And it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous (impassioned) for [the unique honor and respect owed to] his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”  
Nu2514 Now the name of the man of Israel who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites.  
Nu2515 The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father’s household in Midian.  
Nu2516 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu2517 “Provoke hostilities with the Midianites and attack them,  
Nu2518 for they harass you with their tricks, the tricks with which they have deceived you in the matter [of the Baal] of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague because [of the Baal] of Peor.”  
Nu2601 Then it happened after the plague that the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest,  
Nu2602 “Take a census of all the [males in the] congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ households, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”  
Nu2603 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with the people in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,  
Nu2604 “A census of the people shall be taken from twenty years old and upward, just as the LORD has commanded Moses.” Now the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt were:  
Nu2605 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel (Jacob), the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;  
Nu2606 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.  
Nu2607 These are the families (clans) of the Reubenites; and those who were numbered of them were 43,730.  
Nu2608 The son of Pallu: Eliab.  
Nu2609 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD,  
Nu2610 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, so that they became a [warning] sign.  
Nu2611 But Korah’s sons did not die [because they did not participate in the rebellion].  
Nu2612 The sons of Simeon according to their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;  
Nu2613 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.  
Nu2614 These are the families (clans) of the Simeonites, 22,200.  
Nu2615 The sons of Gad according to their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;  
Nu2616 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;  
Nu2617 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.  
Nu2618 These are the families (clans) of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered, 40,500.  
Nu2619 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan [were judged by God and] died in the land of Canaan.  
Nu2620 The sons of Judah according to their families: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.  
Nu2621 The sons of Perez: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.  
Nu2622 These are the families (clans) of Judah according to those who were numbered, 76,500.  
Nu2623 The sons of Issachar according to their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;  
Nu2624 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.  
Nu2625 These are the families (clans) of Issachar according to those who were numbered, 64,300.  
Nu2626 The sons of Zebulun according to their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.  
Nu2627 These are the families (clans) of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered, 60,500.  
Nu2628 The sons of Joseph according to their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.  
Nu2629 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.  
Nu2630 These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;  
Nu2631 of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;  
Nu2632 of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.  
Nu2633 Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters, and the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  
Nu2634 These are the families (clans) of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were 52,700.  
Nu2635 These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.  
Nu2636 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.  
Nu2637 These are the families (clans) of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered, 32,500. These are the descendants of Joseph according to their families (clans).  
Nu2638 The sons of Benjamin according to their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;  
Nu2639 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.  
Nu2640 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.  
Nu2641 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families (clans); and those who were numbered, 45,600.  
Nu2642 These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan according to their families.  
Nu2643 All the families (clans) of the Shuhamites according to those who were numbered, 64,400.  
Nu2644 Of the sons of Asher according to their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.  
Nu2645 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.  
Nu2646 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.  
Nu2647 These are the families (clans) of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered, 53,400.  
Nu2648 Of the sons of Naphtali according to their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;  
Nu2649 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.  
Nu2650 These are the families (clans) of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were 45,400.  
Nu2651 This was the [total] number of the [male] Israelites, 601,730 [twenty years old and upward who were able to go to war].  
Nu2652 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu2653 “Among these the land shall be divided as an inheritance according to the number of names.  
Nu2654 To the larger tribe you shall give the larger inheritance, and to the smaller tribe the smaller inheritance; each tribe shall be given its inheritance according to its numbers.  
Nu2655 But the land shall be divided by lot. They shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers (tribal ancestors).  
Nu2656 According to the [location selected by] lot, their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller [groups].”  
Nu2657 These are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.  
Nu2658 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath was the father of Amram.  
Nu2659 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister.  
Nu2660 To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
Nu2661 But Nadab and Abihu died [in the presence of God] when they offered [in their ceremonial censers] strange [unholy, unacceptable, unauthorized] fire before the LORD.  
Nu2662 Those numbered of the Levites were 23,000, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not numbered among the sons of Israel, since no inheritance [of land] was given to them among the Israelites.  
Nu2663 These are those numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel [for the second time] in the plains of Moab by the Jordan [River] at Jericho.  
Nu2664 But among these there was not a man [left] of those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel [for the first time] in the Wilderness of Sinai.  
Nu2665 For the LORD had said of them, “They shall certainly die in the wilderness.” And not a man was left of them except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.  
Nu2701 Then the [five] daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the tribes of Manasseh [who was] the son of Joseph, approached [with a request]. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  
Nu2702 They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), saying,  
Nu2703 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among those who assembled together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died for his own sin [as did all those who rebelled at Kadesh], and he had no sons.  
Nu2704 Why should the name of our father be removed from his family because he had no son? Give to us a possession (land) among our father’s brothers.”  
Nu2705 So Moses brought their case before the LORD.  
Nu2706 Then the LORD said to Moses,  
Nu2707 “The request of the daughters of Zelophehad is justified. You shall certainly give them a possession as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer their father’s inheritance to them.  
Nu2708 Further, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.  
Nu2709 If a man has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.  
Nu2710 If a man has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.  
Nu2711 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall take possession of it. It shall be a statute and ordinance to the Israelites, just as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”  
Nu2712 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain (Nebo) [in the] Abarim [range] and look at the land I have given to the sons of Israel.  
Nu2713 When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother was gathered;  
Nu2714 because in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy [by following My instruction] before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)  
Nu2715 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,  
Nu2716 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation  
Nu2717 who will go out and come in before them, and will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be as sheep without a shepherd.”  
Nu2718 The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;  
Nu2719 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole congregation, and give him a commission in their sight.  
Nu2720 You shall put some of your authority and honor on him, so that all the congregation of the Israelites will obey him.  
Nu2721 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment (decision) of the Urim. At Joshua’s command the people shall go out and at his command they shall come in, he and all the congregation of Israel with him.”  
Nu2722 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,  
Nu2723 and Moses laid his hands on Joshua and commissioned him, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.  
Nu2801 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu2802 “Command the Israelites and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present at its appointed time [during the year] My offering, My food for My offerings by fire as a sweet and soothing aroma to Me.’  
Nu2803 You shall say to the people, ‘This is the offering by fire which you shall present to the LORD every day: two male lambs one year old without blemish as a continual burnt offering.  
Nu2804 You shall offer one lamb in the morning and you shall offer the other lamb at twilight,  
Nu2805 also a tenth of an ephah of finely-milled flour as a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a hin of pressed oil.  
Nu2806 It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained on Mount Sinai as a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Nu2807 Its drink offering shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a strong drink offering to the LORD.  
Nu2808 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD.  
Nu2809 ‘Then on the Sabbath day two male lambs one year old without blemish, and two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2810 This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.  
Nu2811 ‘Then at the beginning of [each of] your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish;  
Nu2812 and three-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, for the one ram;  
Nu2813 and a tenth [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering of a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Nu2814 Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, and a third of a hin for a ram, and a fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year.  
Nu2815 And one male goat as a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.  
Nu2816 ‘The LORD’S Passover shall be on the fourteenth day of the first month [of each year].  
Nu2817 There shall be a feast on the fifteenth day of this month; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.  
Nu2818 On the first day there shall be a holy [summoned] assembly; you shall do no laborious work that day.  
Nu2819 But you shall present an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the LORD: two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, without blemish.  
Nu2820 For their grain offering you shall offer fine flour mixed with oil; three-tenths [of an ephah] for the bull, and two-tenths for the ram;  
Nu2821 you shall offer a tenth [of an ephah] for each of the seven male lambs;  
Nu2822 and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.  
Nu2823 You shall present these in addition to the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.  
Nu2824 In this way you shall present daily, for seven days, the food of the offering by fire, a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD; it shall be presented with its drink offering in addition to the continual burnt offering.  
Nu2825 On the seventh day you shall have a holy [summoned] assembly; you shall do no laborious work.  
Nu2826 ‘Also on the day of the first fruits, when you offer a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy [summoned] assembly; you shall do no laborious work.  
Nu2827 You shall present the burnt offering as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs one year old;  
Nu2828 and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil; three-tenths [of an ephah] for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,  
Nu2829 a tenth for each of the seven male lambs,  
Nu2830 and one male goat to make atonement for you.  
Nu2831 In addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be without blemish.  
Nu2901 ‘On the first day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy [summoned] assembly; you shall do no laborious work. It will be for you a day of blowing the trumpets (the shophar, ram’s horn).  
Nu2902 You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without blemish;  
Nu2903 also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths [of an ephah] for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,  
Nu2904 and one-tenth [of an ephah] for each of the seven lambs,  
Nu2905 and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.  
Nu2906 These are in addition to the burnt offering of the New Moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to the ordinance for them, as a sweet and soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.  
Nu2907 ‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy [summoned] assembly [for the Day of Atonement]; and you shall humble yourselves; you shall not do any work.  
Nu2908 You shall present a burnt offering to the LORD as a sweet and soothing aroma: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old, which are without blemish;  
Nu2909 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths [of an ephah] for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,  
Nu2910 a tenth [of an ephah] for each of the seven lambs,  
Nu2911 one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.  
Nu2912 ‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy [summoned] assembly; you shall do no laborious work, and you shall observe a Feast [of Booths] to the LORD for seven days.  
Nu2913 You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD: thirteen bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs one year old, which are without blemish;  
Nu2914 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths [of an ephah] for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,  
Nu2915 and a tenth [of an ephah] for each of the fourteen lambs;  
Nu2916 also one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.  
Nu2917 ‘Then on the second day [of the Feast of Booths]: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish,  
Nu2918 with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance,  
Nu2919 also one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.  
Nu2920 ‘Then on the third day [of the Feast of Booths]: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish,  
Nu2921 with their grain offering and drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance,  
Nu2922 and one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2923 ‘Then on the fourth day [of the Feast of Booths]: ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;  
Nu2924 their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance,  
Nu2925 and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2926 ‘Then on the fifth day [of the Feast of Booths]: nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish,  
Nu2927 and their grain offering and drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;  
Nu2928 and one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2929 ‘Then on the sixth day [of the Feast of Booths]: eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish;  
Nu2930 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance,  
Nu2931 and one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings.  
Nu2932 ‘Then on the seventh day [of the Feast of Booths]: seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs one year old without blemish,  
Nu2933 and their grain offering and drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance;  
Nu2934 and one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2935 ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly [to mark the end of the feast]; you shall do no laborious work.  
Nu2936 You shall present a burnt offering, an offering by fire, as a sweet and soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs one year old without blemish;  
Nu2937 their grain offering and drink offerings for the bull, the ram, and the lambs, by their number according to the ordinance,  
Nu2938 and one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its drink offering.  
Nu2939 ‘You shall present these to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition the offerings you have vowed and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and as your peace offerings.’”  
Nu2940 So Moses spoke to the Israelites in accordance with everything that the LORD had commanded him.  
Nu3001 Then Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of the Israelites, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded:  
Nu3002 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself with a pledge [of abstinence], he shall not break (violate, profane) his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.  
Nu3003 “Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD and binds herself by a pledge [of abstinence], while living in her father’s house in her youth,  
Nu3004 and her father hears her vow and her pledge by which she has bound herself, and he offers no objection, then all her vows shall stand and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand.  
Nu3005 But if her father disapproves of her [making her vow] on the day that he hears about it, none of her vows or her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her because her father has disapproved of her [making the vow].  
Nu3006 “But if she marries while under her vows or if she has bound herself by a rash statement,  
Nu3007 and her husband hears of it and says nothing about it on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand and her pledge by which she bound herself shall stand.  
Nu3008 But if her husband disapproves of her [making her vow or pledge] on the day that he hears of it, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she bound herself; and the LORD will forgive her.  
Nu3009 “But the vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, everything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.  
Nu3010 However, if she vowed in her husband’s house or bound herself by a pledge with an oath,  
Nu3011 and her husband heard it, but said nothing to her and did not disapprove of her [making the vow], then all her vows and every pledge by which she bound herself shall stand.  
Nu3012 But if her husband absolutely annuls them on the day he heard them, then whatever proceeds from her lips concerning her vows or concerning her pledge shall not stand. Her husband has annulled them, and the LORD will forgive her.  
Nu3013 “Every vow and every binding oath to humble herself, her husband may confirm it or her husband may annul it.  
Nu3014 But if her husband says nothing to her [concerning the matter] from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her pledges which are on her. He has confirmed them because he said nothing to her on the day he heard them.  
Nu3015 But if he indeed nullifies them after he hears of them, then he shall be responsible for and bear her guilt [for breaking her promise].”  
Nu3016 These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and his daughter while she is a youth in her father’s house.  
Nu3101 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu3102 “Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death].”  
Nu3103 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD’S vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry].  
Nu3104 A thousand [fighting men] from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”  
Nu3105 So out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe were selected, twelve thousand armed for war.  
Nu3106 Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to war with them, and the sacred vessels [of the sanctuary] and the trumpets to blow the alarm in his hand.  
Nu3107 They made war against Midian, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.  
Nu3108 They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur [the father of Cozbi] and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; also Balaam the son of Beor they killed with the sword.  
Nu3109 The sons of Israel captured the women of Midian and their children; and all their cattle, all their livestock, and all their property they took as spoil [of war].  
Nu3110 They burned all the cities where they lived, and all their encampments with fire.  
Nu3111 They took all the plunder and all the spoils of war, both people and livestock.  
Nu3112 Then they brought the captives, the spoils, and the plunder to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the congregation of the Israelites at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.  
Nu3113 Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.  
Nu3114 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, who served in the war.  
Nu3115 And Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live?  
Nu3116 Look, these [are the women who] caused the Israelites, by the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and so a plague came among the congregation of the LORD.  
Nu3117 Now therefore, kill every male among the children, and kill every woman who is not a virgin.  
Nu3118 But all the young girls who have not known a man intimately, keep alive for yourselves [to marry].  
Nu3119 Camp outside the camp for seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any dead body, purify yourselves and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.  
Nu3120 You shall purify every garment and every article made of leather and all the things made of goats’ hair, and every article made of wood.”  
Nu3121 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses:  
Nu3122 only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,  
Nu3123 everything that can stand fire, you shall pass through fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water of purification [to remove its impurity]; and all that cannot stand fire [such as fabrics] you shall pass through water.  
Nu3124 And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp.”  
Nu3125 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu3126 “You and Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the fathers’ households of the congregation are to take a count of the spoil of war that was captured, both people and livestock.  
Nu3127 Divide the spoil into two [equal] parts between those who were involved in the war, that is, those who went out to battle and all [the rest of] the congregation.  
Nu3128 Levy a tax for the LORD from the warriors who went to battle, one in five hundred of the persons, the oxen, the donkeys, and the flocks.  
Nu3129 Take this tribute from the warriors’ half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.  
Nu3130 From the Israelites’ half [of the spoil] you shall take one out of every fifty of the persons, the oxen, the donkeys, the flocks, and of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who are in charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”  
Nu3131 Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu3132 The plunder that remained from the spoil of war which the warriors had taken, was 675,000 sheep,  
Nu3133 and 72,000 cattle,  
Nu3134 and 61,000 donkeys,  
Nu3135 and 32,000 persons in all, of the [Midianite] women who were virgins.  
Nu3136 The half share, the portion of those who went to war, was 337,500 sheep in number,  
Nu3137 and the LORD’S levy (tax) of the sheep was 675;  
Nu3138 the cattle were 36,000, from which the LORD’S levy was 72;  
Nu3139 the donkeys were 30,500, from which the LORD’S levy was 61;  
Nu3140 the persons were 16,000, from whom the LORD’S levy was 32 persons.  
Nu3141 Moses gave the levy which was the LORD’S offering to Eleazar the priest, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu3142 As for the Israelites’ half, which Moses separated from that of the warriors—  
Nu3143 now the congregation’s half was 337,500 sheep,  
Nu3144 and 36,000 cattle,  
Nu3145       and 30,500 donkeys,     
Nu3146 and 16,000 people—  
Nu3147 and from the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty, both of persons and animals, and gave them to the Levites, who were in charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Nu3148 Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, approached Moses,  
Nu3149 and they said to him, “Your servants have counted the warriors under our command, and not one man of us is missing.  
Nu3150 So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man obtained—articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”  
Nu3151 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all the handmade articles.  
Nu3152 All the gold of the offering which they presented to the LORD from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds was 16,750 shekels.  
Nu3153 For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.  
Nu3154 So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) as a memorial for the sons of Israel before the LORD.  
Nu3201 Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had very large herds of cattle, and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead [on the east side of the Jordan River], and indeed, the place was suitable for raising livestock.  
Nu3202 So the sons of Gad and of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,  
Nu3203 “[The country around] Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,  
Nu3204 the land which the LORD conquered before the congregation of Israel, is a land [suitable] for livestock, and your servants have [very large herds of] livestock.”  
Nu3205 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan [River].”  
Nu3206 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?  
Nu3207 Now why are you discouraging the hearts of the Israelites from crossing over into the land which the LORD has given them?  
Nu3208 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land!  
Nu3209 For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites so that they did not go into the land which the LORD had given them.  
Nu3210 And the LORD’S anger was kindled on that day and He swore an oath, saying,  
Nu3211 ‘None of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not followed Me completely,  
Nu3212 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have followed the LORD completely.’  
Nu3213 So the LORD’S anger was kindled against the sons of Israel (Jacob) and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the LORD was destroyed.  
Nu3214 Now look, you [the tribes of Reuben and Gad] have risen up in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to add still more to the fierce anger of the LORD against Israel.  
Nu3215 For if you turn back from following Him [completely], He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.”  
Nu3216 But the people of Reuben and Gad approached Moses and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks and [walled] cities for our children,  
Nu3217 but we will be armed and ready to go to war before the [other tribes of the] Israelites, until we have brought them to their place, while our children live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.  
Nu3218 We will not return to our homes until every one of the [other] sons of Israel has taken possession of his inheritance.  
Nu3219 For we will not inherit with them on the west side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan [River] toward the east.”  
Nu3220 Moses replied, “If you will do as you say, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for war,  
Nu3221 and every armed man of yours will cross the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven out His enemies before Him,  
Nu3222 and the land [west of the Jordan] is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be blameless [in this matter] before the LORD and before Israel, and this land [east of the Jordan] shall be yours as a possession before the LORD.  
Nu3223 But if you do not do this, behold, you will have sinned against the LORD; and be sure that your sin will find you out.  
Nu3224 Build yourselves cities for your children, and folds for your sheep, and do that of which you have spoken.”  
Nu3225 Then the descendants of Gad and of Reuben said to Moses, “Your servants will do just as my lord commands.  
Nu3226 Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our cattle shall be there in the cities of Gilead.  
Nu3227 But your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to the battle, just as my lord says.”  
Nu3228 So Moses gave the command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the leaders of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the Israelites.  
Nu3229 Moses said to them, “If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben will cross over the Jordan with you, every man armed for battle before the LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead [east of the Jordan River] as a possession;  
Nu3230 but if they will not cross over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan [and surrender their right to their land east of the Jordan River].”  
Nu3231 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, “As the LORD has said to your servants, so will we do.  
Nu3232 We will cross over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, so that the possession of our inheritance on [the east] side of the Jordan may be ours.”  
Nu3233 So Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half- tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the land with its cities and territories, the cities of the surrounding land.  
Nu3234 The sons of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,  
Nu3235 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,  
Nu3236 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fortified (walled) cities, and sheepfolds for sheep.  
Nu3237 The sons of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,  
Nu3238 Nebo, and Baal-meon (their names being changed) and Sibmah; and they gave other names to the cities which they built.  
Nu3239 The sons of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and drove out the Amorites who were in it.  
Nu3240 So Moses gave Gilead to [the tribe of] Machir the son of Manasseh, and they settled in it.  
Nu3241 [The sons of] Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its towns (tent villages) and called them Havvoth-jair.  
Nu3242 Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah after his own name.  
Nu3301 These are the stages of the journeys of the Israelites, by which they came out of the land of Egypt by their [tribal] armies, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  
Nu3302 Moses recorded their points of departure, as the LORD commanded, stage by stage; and these are their journeys according to their points of departure:  
Nu3303 They set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the Israelites moved out triumphantly in the sight of all the Egyptians,  
Nu3304 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn whom the LORD had struck down among them. Upon their gods the LORD also executed judgments.  
Nu3305   Then the Israelites moved out from Rameses [where they had all joined  together], and camped in Succoth.   
Nu3306 They moved out from Succoth and camped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.  
Nu3307 They moved out from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, east of Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol.  
Nu3308 They moved out from before Pi-hahiroth and passed through the midst of the [Red] Sea into the wilderness; and they went a three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.  
Nu3309 They moved out from Marah and came to Elim; in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.  
Nu3310 They moved out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds).  
Nu3311 They moved out from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin.  
Nu3312 They moved out from the Wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.  
Nu3313 They moved out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.  
Nu3314 They moved out from Alush and camped at Rephidim; now it was there that the people had no water to drink.  
Nu3315 They moved out from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai [where they remained for about a year].  
Nu3316 They moved out from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.  
Nu3317 They moved out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.  
Nu3318 They moved out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah [near Kadesh, the place from which the twelve spies were sent to spy out the land of Canaan].  
Nu3319 They moved out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.  
Nu3320 They moved out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.  
Nu3321   They moved out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.   
Nu3322 They moved out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.  
Nu3323 They moved out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.  
Nu3324 They moved out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.  
Nu3325 They moved out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.  
Nu3326   They moved out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.   
Nu3327 They moved out from Tahath and camped at Terah.  
Nu3328 They moved out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.  
Nu3329 They moved out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.  
Nu3330 They moved out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.  
Nu3331 They moved out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.  
Nu3332 They moved out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.  
Nu3333 They moved out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.  
Nu3334 They moved out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.  
Nu3335 They moved out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber [or Elath on the gulf of Aqabah].  
Nu3336 They moved out from Ezion-geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.  
Nu3337 They moved out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.  
Nu3338 Aaron the priest went up on Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.  
Nu3339 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.  
Nu3340 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) in the land of Canaan, heard that the sons of Israel were coming.  
Nu3341 They moved out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.  
Nu3342 Then they moved out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.  
Nu3343 They moved out from Punon and camped at Oboth.  
Nu3344 They moved out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab.  
Nu3345 They moved out from Iyim (Iye-abarim) and camped at Dibon-gad.  
Nu3346 They moved out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.  
Nu3347 They moved out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before [Mount] Nebo.  
Nu3348 They moved out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho [their last stop on the journey to Canaan].  
Nu3349 They camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.  
Nu3350 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying,  
Nu3351 “Say to the children of Israel, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,  
Nu3352 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you and destroy all their sculpted images, and destroy all their cast idols and completely eliminate all their [idolatrous] high places,  
Nu3353 and you shall take possession of the land and live in it, for I have given the land to you to possess.  
Nu3354 You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be [the location of] his [inheritance]. According to the tribes of your fathers (ancestors) you shall inherit.  
Nu3355 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be like pricks in your eyes and like thorns in your sides, and they will attack you in the land in which you live.  
Nu3356 And as I [the LORD] planned to do to them, so I will do to you.’”  
Nu3401 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu3402 “Command the Israelites, ‘When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall be yours as an inheritance, the land of Canaan according to its boundaries,  
Nu3403 your southern region shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the side of Edom, and your southern boundary from the end of the Salt (Dead) Sea eastward.  
Nu3404 Your boundary shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and continue on to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to Hazar-addar and pass on to Azmon.  
Nu3405 Then the boundary shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-arish), and its limit shall be at the [Mediterranean] Sea.  
Nu3406 ‘As the western boundary you shall have the Great [Mediterranean] Sea and its coastline. This shall be your western boundary.  
Nu3407 ‘And this shall be your north border: from the Great [Mediterranean] Sea mark out your boundary line to Mount Hor;  
Nu3408 from Mount Hor you shall mark out your boundary to the entrance of Hamath, and the limit of the border shall be at Zedad;  
Nu3409 then the [northern] boundary shall go on to Ziphron, and its limit shall be at Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern boundary.  
Nu3410 ‘You shall mark out your eastern boundary from Hazar-enan to Shepham;  
Nu3411 the [eastern] boundary shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and shall descend and reach to the slope on the east of the Sea of Chinnereth [the Sea of Galilee];  
Nu3412 and the [eastern] boundary shall go down to the Jordan [River], and its limit shall be at the Salt (Dead) Sea. This shall be your land according to its boundaries all around.’”  
Nu3413 So Moses commanded the Israelites, saying, “This is the land you are to inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to be given to the nine tribes and the half-tribe [of Manasseh],  
Nu3414 for the tribe of the sons of Reuben and the tribe of the sons of Gad have received their inheritance by their fathers’ households, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their possession.  
Nu3415 The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan [River] opposite Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise.”  
Nu3416 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu3417 “These are the names of the men who shall divide the land among you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.  
Nu3418 You shall take one leader from every tribe to divide the land for the inheritance.  
Nu3419 These are the names of the men: From the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;  
Nu3420 from the tribe of the sons of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammihud;  
Nu3421 from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon;  
Nu3422 from the tribe of the sons of Dan a leader, Bukki the son of Jogli;  
Nu3423 of the sons of Joseph: from the tribe of the sons of Manasseh a leader, Hanniel the son of Ephod;  
Nu3424 from the tribe of the sons of Ephraim a leader, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan;  
Nu3425 from the tribe of the sons of Zebulun a leader, Elizaphan the son of Parnach;  
Nu3426 from the tribe of the sons of Issachar a leader, Paltiel the son of Azzan;  
Nu3427 from the tribe of the sons of Asher a leader, Ahihud the son of Shelomi;  
Nu3428 from the tribe of the sons of Naphtali a leader, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.”  
Nu3429 These are the [twelve] men whom the LORD commanded [to work with Joshua and Eleazar] to divide the inheritance to the sons of Israel in the land of Canaan.  
Nu3501 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan [across from] Jericho, saying,  
Nu3502 “Command the Israelites to give to the Levites cities to live in from the inheritance of their possession; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities.  
Nu3503 The cities shall be theirs to live in; and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle and for their herds and for all their livestock.  
Nu3504 “The pasture lands around the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits (1,500 ft.) around.  
Nu3505 You shall also measure outside the city on the east, south, west, and north sides two thousand cubits (3,000 ft.), with the city in the center. This shall belong to the Levites as pasture lands for the cities.  
Nu3506 [Among] the cities which you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall provide for the one who commits manslaughter to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities [to the Levites].  
Nu3507 So you shall give to the Levites forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasture lands.  
Nu3508 As for the cities which you shall give from the possession of the Israelites, from the larger tribes you shall take many and from the smaller tribes few; each tribe shall give [at least some] of its cities to the Levites in proportion to [the size of] its inheritance which it possesses.”  
Nu3509 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  
Nu3510 “Tell the Israelites, ‘When you cross the Jordan [River] into the land of Canaan,  
Nu3511 then you shall select for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge, so that the one who kills any person unintentionally may escape there.  
Nu3512 The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who has caused the death of another will not be killed until he has had a [fair] trial before the congregation.  
Nu3513 The cities which you are to provide shall be your six cities of refuge.  
Nu3514 You shall provide three cities on this [east] side of the Jordan [River], and three [more] cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be the cities of refuge.  
Nu3515 These six cities shall be a refuge for the Israelites and for the stranger and the resident alien among them; so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may escape there.  
Nu3516 ‘But if he struck his victim down [intentionally] with an iron object so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.  
Nu3517 If he struck his victim down [intentionally] with a stone in hand, which may cause a person to die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.  
Nu3518 Or if he struck his victim down [intentionally] with a wooden object in hand, which may cause a person to die, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall certainly be put to death.  
Nu3519 The blood avenger shall himself put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him.  
Nu3520 But if he pushed his victim out of hatred or threw something at him with malicious intent, and he died,  
Nu3521 or if, in enmity, he struck the victim down with his hand, and he died, the one that struck the victim shall certainly be put to death; he is a murderer. The blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.  
Nu3522 ‘But if he pushed the victim suddenly, not in enmity, or threw anything at him without malicious intent,  
Nu3523 or without seeing him hit him [accidentally] with a stone object that could kill him, and he died, and [the offender] was not his enemy nor intending to harm him,  
Nu3524 then the congregation shall judge between the offender and the blood avenger according to these ordinances.  
Nu3525 The congregation shall rescue the offender from the hand of the blood avenger and return him to his city of refuge, [the place] to which he had escaped; and he shall live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the sacred oil.  
Nu3526 But if at any time the one guilty of manslaughter comes outside the border of his city of refuge to which he fled,  
Nu3527 and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge and kills the offender, the blood avenger will not be guilty of murder,  
Nu3528 because the offender should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the high priest’s death the offender shall return to the land of his possession.  
Nu3529 ‘These things shall be a statute for you throughout your generations wherever you may be.  
Nu3530 ‘If anyone kills a person [intentionally], the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of [two or more] witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of [only] one witness.  
Nu3531 Moreover, you shall not accept a ransom [in exchange] for the life of a murderer guilty and sentenced to death; but he shall certainly be put to death.  
Nu3532 You shall not accept a ransom for him who has escaped to his city of refuge, so that he may return to live in his [own] land before the death of the high priest.  
Nu3533 So you shall not pollute and defile the land in which you live; for [the shedding of innocent] blood pollutes and defiles the land. No atonement (expiation) can be made for the land for the [innocent] blood shed in it, except by the blood (execution) of him who shed it.  
Nu3534 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I live, for I, the LORD, live among the people of Israel.’”  
Nu3601 The leaders of the fathers’ households of the family of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, approached and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the Israelites,  
Nu3602 and they said, “The LORD commanded my lord [Moses] to give the land by lot to the sons of Israel as an inheritance, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.  
Nu3603 But if the daughters marry any of the men from any of the other tribes of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken away from that of our fathers (tribal ancestors) and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong; so it will be taken away from our allotted inheritance.  
Nu3604 When the [year of] Jubilee of the Israelites comes, then their inheritance will be added [permanently] to that of the tribe to which they belong; so their inheritance will be taken away from that of the tribe of our fathers (tribal ancestors).”  
Nu3605 Then Moses commanded the Israelites in accordance with the word of the LORD, saying, “The statement of the tribe of the sons of Joseph is correct.  
Nu3606 This is what the LORD commands regarding the daughters of Zelophehad: ‘Let them marry whom they wish; only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father.’  
Nu3607 So no inheritance of the Israelites shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for every one of the Israelites shall hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers (tribal ancestors).  
Nu3608 Every daughter who possesses an inheritance [of land] in any one of the tribes of the Israelites shall marry [only] a man whose family is of her father’s tribe, so that the Israelites may each possess the inheritance of his fathers (tribal ancestors).  
Nu3609 So no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another, but each of the tribes of the Israelites shall hold to its own inheritance.”  
Nu3610 The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Nu3611 For Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to sons of their father’s brothers.  
Nu3612 They married into the families of the descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.  
Nu3613 These are the commandments and the ordinances (judgments) which the LORD commanded through Moses to the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan [across from] Jericho.  
Dt0101 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel [while they were still] beyond [that is, on the east side of] the Jordan [River] in the wilderness [across from Jerusalem], in the Arabah [the long, deep valley running north and south from the eastern arm of the Red Sea to beyond the Dead Sea] opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab (place of gold).  
Dt0102 It is [only] eleven days’ journey from Horeb (Mount Sinai) by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea [on Canaan’s border; yet Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years before crossing the border and entering Canaan, the promised land].  
Dt0103 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded him to say to them,  
Dt0104 after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived at Ashtaroth in Edrei.  
Dt0105 Beyond (east of) the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying,  
Dt0106 “The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough on this mountain.  
Dt0107 Turn and resume your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland (the Shephelah), in the Negev (South country) and on the coast of the [Mediterranean] Sea, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.  
Dt0108 Look, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land which the LORD swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.’  
Dt0109 “I spoke to you at that time, saying, ‘I am not able to bear the burden of you alone.  
Dt0110 The LORD your God has multiplied you, and look, today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven.  
Dt0111 May the LORD, the God of your fathers, add to you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, just as He has promised you!  
Dt0112 How can I alone bear the weight and pressure and burden of you and your strife (contention) and complaining?  
Dt0113 Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, experienced, and respected men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as heads (leaders) over you.’  
Dt0114 And you answered me, ‘The thing which you have said to do is good.’  
Dt0115 So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them leaders over you, commanders of thousands, and hundreds, and fifties, and tens, and officers (administrators) for your tribes.  
Dt0116 “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the matters between your brothers [your fellow countrymen], and judge righteously and fairly between a man and his brother, or the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) who is with him.  
Dt0117 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear and pay attention to the [cases of the] least [important] as well as the great. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you [to judge], you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’  
Dt0118 I commanded you at that time [regarding] all the things that you should do.  
Dt0119 “Then we set out from Horeb (Sinai), and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, just as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.  
Dt0120 And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites which the LORD our God is about to give us.  
Dt0121 Behold, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and take possession of it, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’  
Dt0122 “Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let us send men [into the land] before us, so that they may explore and search the area for us, and bring back to us word regarding the way we should go, and the cities we should enter.’  
Dt0123 The plan pleased me and I took twelve of your men, one man from each tribe.  
Dt0124 They turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out.  
Dt0125 Then they took some of the fruit of the land in their hands and brought it down to us; and they reported back to us, and said, ‘It is a good land which the LORD our God is about to give us.’  
Dt0126 “Yet you were not willing to go up [to take possession of it], but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God.  
Dt0127 You murmured and were ill-tempered (discontented) in your tents, and said, ‘Because the LORD hates us He has brought us from the land of Egypt to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us.  
Dt0128 Where can we go up? Our brothers (spies) have made our hearts melt [in fear] and demoralized us by saying, “The people are bigger and taller than we; the cities are large, and fortified [all the way up] to heaven. And besides, we saw the [giant-like] sons of the Anakim there.”’  
Dt0129 Then I said to you, ‘Do not be shocked, nor fear them.  
Dt0130 The LORD your God who goes before you will fight for you Himself, just as He did for you in Egypt before your [very] eyes,  
Dt0131 and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried and protected you, just as a man carries his son, all along the way which you traveled until you arrived at this place.’  
Dt0132 Yet in spite of this word, you did not trust [that is, confidently rely on and believe] the LORD your God,  
Dt0133 who went before you along the way, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to seek a place for you to make camp and to show you the way in which you should go.  
Dt0134 “And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and He was angry and took an oath, saying,  
Dt0135 ‘Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore (solemnly promised) to give to your fathers,  
Dt0136 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has walked, because he has followed the LORD completely [and remained true to Him].’  
Dt0137 The LORD was angry with me also because of you, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter Canaan.  
Dt0138 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter there. Encourage and strengthen him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.  
Dt0139 Moreover, your little ones whom you said would become prey, and your sons, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, shall enter Canaan, and I will give it to them and they shall possess it.  
Dt0140 But as for you, turn around and set out for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds).’  
Dt0141 “Then you answered and said to me, ‘We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, just as the LORD our God has commanded us.’ So you equipped every man with weapons of war, and regarded it as easy to go up into the hill country.  
Dt0142 But the LORD said to me, ‘Say to them, “Do not go up and do not fight, for I am not among you [because of your rebellion]; otherwise you will be [badly] defeated by your enemies.”’  
Dt0143 So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. Instead you rebelled against the command of the LORD, and acted presumptuously and went up into the hill country.  
Dt0144 Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do, and struck you down in Seir as far as Hormah.  
Dt0145 And you returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not listen to your voice nor pay attention to you.  
Dt0146 So you stayed in Kadesh; many days you stayed there.  
Dt0201 “Then we turned and set out for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, just as the LORD had told me; and we circled Mount Seir for many days.  
Dt0202 And the LORD spoke to me, saying,  
Dt0203 ‘You have circled this mountain long enough; turn northward,  
Dt0204 and command the people, saying, “You are passing through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau (the Edomites), who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful;  
Dt0205 do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even as little as a footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.  
Dt0206 You shall buy food from them with money so that you may [have something to] eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money so that you may [have something to] drink.  
Dt0207 For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known about your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”’  
Dt0208 “So we passed beyond our brothers the sons of Esau, who lived in Seir, away from the Arabah (wilderness) road, away from Elath and from Ezion-geber. Then we turned and passed through by the way of the Wilderness of Moab.  
Dt0209 And the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass [the descendants of] Moab, nor provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons (Moab and Ammon) of Lot as a possession.’  
Dt0210 (The Emim lived there in times past, a people great and numerous, and as tall as the Anakim.  
Dt0211 These also are regarded as Rephaim [an ancient people], as are the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim.  
Dt0212 The Horites also used to live in Seir, but the sons of Esau dispossessed them. They destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land which the LORD gave them as their possession.)  
Dt0213 ‘Now arise and cross the valley of the Zered.’ So we crossed the Zered Valley.  
Dt0214 Now thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley, until that entire generation of the men of war had died from within the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them.  
Dt0215 Moreover the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from within the camp, until they were all dead.  
Dt0216 “So it came about when all the men of war had finally died from among the people,  
Dt0217 that the LORD spoke to me, saying,  
Dt0218 ‘Today you are to pass through Ar, the border of Moab.  
Dt0219 When you come opposite the territory of the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’  
Dt0220 (It is also regarded as the land of the Rephaim [of giant stature], for Rephaim used to live there, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummin,  
Dt0221 a great, numerous people, and tall as the Anakim, but the LORD destroyed them before the sons of Ammon. And they dispossessed them and settled in their place,  
Dt0222 just as He did for the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; and the sons of Esau (the Edomites) dispossessed them and settled in their place [and remain there] even to this day.  
Dt0223 As for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim (Cretans, later Philistines) who came from Caphtor (Crete) destroyed them and settled in their place.)  
Dt0224 ‘Now arise, continue on, and go through the valley of the Arnon. Look, I have handed over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin! Take possession [of it] and fight with him in battle.  
Dt0225 This day I will begin to put the dread and the fear of you on the peoples (pagans) under the whole heaven, who, when they hear the reports about you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.’  
Dt0226 “So I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,  
Dt0227 ‘Let me pass through your land [with my people]. I will travel [with them] only on the highway; I will not turn away to the right or to the left.  
Dt0228 You will sell me food for money so that I [along with my people] will eat, and you will give me water for money so that I [along with my people] will drink; only let me [and my people] travel through [the land] on foot,  
Dt0229 just as the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, and the Moabites, who live in Ar, did for me, until I cross the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God is giving us.’  
Dt0230 But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to travel through his land; for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to hand him over to you, as he is today.  
Dt0231 The LORD said to me, ‘Look, I have begun to hand over to you Sihon and his land. Begin! Take possession [of it], so that you may possess his land.’  
Dt0232 “Then at Jahaz, Sihon and all his people came out to meet us in battle.  
Dt0233 So the LORD our God handed him over to us [and gave us the victory], and we defeated him and his sons and all his people.  
Dt0234 At the same time we took all his cities and utterly destroyed every city—men, women and children. We left no survivor.  
Dt0235 We took only the cattle as plunder for ourselves and the spoil of the cities which we had captured.  
Dt0236 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon Valley, and from the city which is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was no city [whose wall was] too high and too strong for us; the LORD our God handed over everything to us.  
Dt0237 Only you did not go near the land of the sons of Ammon, all along the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, and wherever the LORD our God had forbidden us.  
Dt0301 “Then we turned and went up the road toward Bashan, and at Edrei, Og king of Bashan, with all his people came out to meet us in battle.  
Dt0302 And the LORD said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you, him and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.’  
Dt0303 So the LORD our God also handed over Og king of Bashan, and all his people, into our hand and we struck him until no survivor was left.  
Dt0304 We captured all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.  
Dt0305 All these cities were fortified and unassailable with their high walls, gates, and bars; in addition, [there were] a very great number of unwalled villages.  
Dt0306 We utterly destroyed them, just as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every city—the men, women, and children.  
Dt0307 But we took all the cattle and the spoil of the cities as plunder for ourselves.  
Dt0308 “So we took the land at that time from the hand of the two kings [Sihon and Og] of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon  
Dt0309 (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir):  
Dt0310 all the cities of the plain and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.”  
Dt0311 (For only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the [giants known as the] Rephaim. Behold, his bed frame was a bed frame of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? It was nine cubits (12 ft.) long and four cubits (6 ft.) wide, using the cubit of a man [the forearm to the end of the middle finger].)  
Dt0312 “So we took possession of this land at that time. I gave the territory from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, along with half of the hill country of Gilead and its cities to the Reubenites and to the Gadites.  
Dt0313 The rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, all the region of Argob (concerning all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim.  
Dt0314 Jair the son (descendant) of Manasseh took all the region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, that is Bashan, and called it after his own name, Havvoth (the villages of) Jair, as it is called to this day.)  
Dt0315 I gave Gilead to Machir [of Manasseh].  
Dt0316 To the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of Arnon, with the middle of the Valley as a boundary, and as far as the Jabbok River, the boundary of the sons of Ammon;  
Dt0317 the Arabah also, with the Jordan as its boundary, from Chinnereth (the Sea of Galilee) as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea (Dead Sea), at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah on the east.  
Dt0318 “Then I commanded you [Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh] at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God has given you this land to possess; all you who are brave men shall cross over [the Jordan] armed before your brothers, the sons of Israel.  
Dt0319 But your wives and your children and your cattle—I know that you have much livestock—shall remain in your cities which I have given you,  
Dt0320 until the LORD gives rest to your fellow countrymen as [He has] to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God has given them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to the land (possession) which I have given to you.’  
Dt0321 I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings [Sihon and Og]; so the LORD shall do the same to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.  
Dt0322 Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who is fighting for you.’  
Dt0323 “Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time [for His favor], saying,  
Dt0324 ‘O Lord GOD, You have only begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth that can do such works and mighty acts (miracles) as Yours?  
Dt0325 I pray, let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country [with Hermon] and Lebanon.’  
Dt0326 But the LORD was angry with me because of you [and your rebellion at Meribah], and would not listen to me; and the LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Speak to Me no longer about this matter.  
Dt0327 Go up to the top of [Mount] Pisgah and raise your eyes toward the west and north and south and east, and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross this Jordan.  
Dt0328 But command Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go across and lead this people, and he will give them the land which you see as an inheritance.’  
Dt0329 So we stayed in the Valley opposite Beth-peor.  
Dt0401 “Now, O Israel, listen and pay attention to the statutes and the judgments (God’s legal decisions) which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.  
Dt0402 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I am commanding you.  
Dt0403 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor; for all the men who followed [and participated in the worship of] Baal of Peor, the LORD your God destroyed them from among you,  
Dt0404 but you who held tightly to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you.  
Dt0405 “Look, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may do them in the land which you are entering to possess.  
Dt0406 So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’  
Dt0407 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God [is to us] whenever we call on Him?  
Dt0408 Or what great nation has statutes and judgments so righteous (upright, just) as this whole law which I am placing before you today?  
Dt0409 “Only pay attention and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your grandchildren [impressing these things on their mind and penetrating their heart with these truths]—  
Dt0410 especially the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb (Mount Sinai), when the LORD said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me and I will let them hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] all the days they live on the land, and so that they may teach their children.’  
Dt0411 You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the [very] heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud and thick gloom.  
Dt0412 Then the LORD spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of the words, but you saw no form—there was only a voice.  
Dt0413 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to follow, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.  
Dt0414 The LORD commanded me at that time to teach you the statutes and judgments, so that you might do them in the land which you are going over to possess.  
Dt0415 “So pay attention and watch yourselves carefully—for you did not see any form [of God] on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire—  
Dt0416 so that you do not act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved or sculpted image [to worship] in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,  
Dt0417 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, or of any winged bird that flies in the sky,  
Dt0418 the likeness of anything that crawls on the ground, or of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth.  
Dt0419 And beware that you do not raise your eyes toward heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and let yourselves be led astray and worship them and serve them, [mere created bodies] which the LORD your God has allotted to [serve and benefit] all the peoples under the whole heaven.  
Dt0420 But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron [smelting] furnace, out of Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as [you are] this day.  
Dt0421 “Now the LORD was angry with me [at the waters of Meribah] because of you, and He swore [an oath] that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.  
Dt0422 For I am going to die in this land, I am not going to cross the Jordan, but you shall cross over and take possession of this good land.  
Dt0423 So be on your guard and watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He has made with you, and make for yourselves a carved or sculpted image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you.  
Dt0424 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire; He is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His].  
Dt0425 “When you become the father of children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, then if you corrupt yourselves by making a carved or sculpted image in the form of anything [for the purpose of worship], and do evil [things] in the sight of the LORD your God, provoking Him to anger,  
Dt0426 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.  
Dt0427 The LORD will scatter and disperse you among the peoples (pagan nations), and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.  
Dt0428 And there you will serve [false and foreign] gods, the work of human hands, [lifeless images of] wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell [the offerings of food given to them].  
Dt0429 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.  
Dt0430 When you are in distress and tribulation and all these things come on you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.  
Dt0431 For the LORD your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.  
Dt0432 “Indeed, ask now about the days that are past, [those days] which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?  
Dt0433 Did [any] people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you heard, and [still] live?  
Dt0434 Or has any [man-made] god ever tried to go and take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your [very] eyes?  
Dt0435 It was shown to you so that you might have [personal] knowledge and comprehend that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.  
Dt0436 Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline and admonish you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.  
Dt0437 And because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants who followed them, and brought you from Egypt with His Presence, with His great and awesome power,  
Dt0438 dispossessing and driving out from before you nations, [nations that were] greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day.  
Dt0439 Therefore know and understand today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on the earth below; there is no other.  
Dt0440 So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.”  
Dt0441 Then Moses set apart three cities [of refuge] beyond the Jordan toward the rising of the sun (eastward),  
Dt0442 so that someone who committed manslaughter could flee there, [that is, a person] who killed his neighbor unintentionally and without previously having hostility toward him, and that by escaping to one of these cities he might [claim the right of asylum and] save his life:  
Dt0443 Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, and Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.  
Dt0444 This is the law which Moses placed before the sons of Israel;  
Dt0445 these are the testimonies (legal provisions) and the statutes and the judgments which Moses spoke to the sons of Israel when they came out of Egypt,  
Dt0446 beyond the Jordan in the Valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the sons of Israel defeated when they came out from Egypt.  
Dt0447 They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who reigned across the Jordan to the east,  
Dt0448 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the [river] Arnon, as far as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon),  
Dt0449 with all the Arabah (desert lowlands) across the Jordan to the east, even as far as the sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea), at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah.  
Dt0501 Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments (legal decisions) which I am speaking today in your hearing, so that you may learn them and observe them carefully.  
Dt0502 The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.  
Dt0503 The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, all of us who are alive here today.  
Dt0504 The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire.  
Dt0505 I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain. He said,  
Dt0506 ‘I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  
Dt0507 ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.  
Dt0508 ‘You shall not make for yourself an idol [as an object to worship], or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  
Dt0509 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], visiting (avenging) the iniquity (sin, guilt) of the fathers on the children [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], to the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,  
Dt0510 but showing graciousness and lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.  
Dt0511 ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the LORD will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power].  
Dt0512 ‘Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy (set apart, dedicated to God), as the LORD your God commanded you.  
Dt0513 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  
Dt0514 but the seventh day is a Sabbath [a day of rest dedicated] to the LORD your God; on that day you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock or the stranger who stays inside your [city] gates, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.  
Dt0515 You shall remember [with thoughtful concern] that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.  
Dt0516 ‘Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days [on the earth] may be prolonged and so that it may go well with you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.  
Dt0517 ‘You shall not murder.  
Dt0518 ‘You shall not commit adultery.  
Dt0519 ‘You shall not steal.  
Dt0520 ‘You shall not give false testimony [that is, lie, withhold, or manipulate the truth] against your neighbor (any person).  
Dt0521 ‘You shall not covet [that is, desire and seek to acquire] your neighbor’s wife, nor desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’  
Dt0522 “The LORD spoke these words with a great voice to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, and He added no more. He wrote these commandments on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.  
Dt0523 And when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you approached me, all the leaders (heads) of your tribes and your elders;  
Dt0524 and you said, ‘Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire; we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he [still] lives.  
Dt0525 Now then why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we will die.  
Dt0526 For who is there of all flesh (mankind) who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?  
Dt0527 You, Moses, go near and listen to everything that the LORD our God says; then speak to us everything that the LORD our God speaks to you, and we will listen and do it.’  
Dt0528 “The LORD heard your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.  
Dt0529 Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear [and worship Me with awe- filled reverence and profound respect] and keep all My commandments always, so that it may go well with them and with their children forever!  
Dt0530 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.”  
Dt0531 But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will tell you all the commandments and the statutes and the judgments which you shall teach them, so that they may obey them in the land which I give them to possess.’  
Dt0532 Therefore you shall pay attention and be careful to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left [deviating from My commandments].  
Dt0533 You shall walk [that is, live each and every day] in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you will possess.  
Dt0601 “Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess,  
Dt0602 so that you and your son and your grandson may fear and worship the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to keep [and actively do] all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, so that your days may be prolonged.  
Dt0603 Therefore listen, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly [in numbers], as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.  
Dt0604 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]!  
Dt0605 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].  
Dt0606 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind.  
Dt0607 You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.  
Dt0608 And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead.  
Dt0609 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  
Dt0610 “Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore (solemnly promised) to [give] your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give you, [a land with] great and splendid cities which you did not build,  
Dt0611 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn (excavated) cisterns (wells) which you did not dig out, and vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are full and satisfied,  
Dt0612 then beware that you do not forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  
Dt0613 You shall fear [only] the LORD your God; and you shall serve Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] and swear [oaths] by His name [alone].  
Dt0614 You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you,  
Dt0615 for the LORD your God who is among you is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]—otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled and burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the earth.  
Dt0616 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.  
Dt0617 You shall diligently keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively do] the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.  
Dt0618 You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to [give] your fathers,  
Dt0619 by driving out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken.  
Dt0620 “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and judgments (precepts) which the LORD our God has commanded you?’  
Dt0621 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.  
Dt0622 Moreover, the LORD showed great and terrible signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household;  
Dt0623 He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to [give] our fathers.’  
Dt0624 So the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear [and worship] the LORD our God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] for our good always and so that He might preserve us alive, as it is today.  
Dt0625 It will be [considered] righteousness for us [that is, right standing with God] if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God—just as He has commanded us.  
Dt0701 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you are entering to possess, and has cleared away many nations before you, the Hittite and the Girgashite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than you,  
Dt0702 and when the LORD your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall not make a covenant (treaty) with them nor show mercy and compassion to them.  
Dt0703 You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son;  
Dt0704 for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled and burn against you and He will quickly destroy you.  
Dt0705 But this is how you shall deal with them: you shall tear down their altars and smash to pieces their sacred pillars, and cut down their Asherim (symbols of the goddess Asherah), and burn their carved or sculpted images in the fire.  
Dt0706 For you are a holy people [set apart] to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be a people for His own possession [that is, His very special treasure].  
Dt0707 “The LORD did not love you and choose you because you were greater in number than any of the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  
Dt0708 But because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed (bought) you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  
Dt0709 Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;  
Dt0710 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, by destroying them; He will not hesitate with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.  
Dt0711 Therefore, you shall keep (follow, obey) the commandment and the statutes and judgments (precepts) which I am commanding you today.  
Dt0712 “Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the [steadfast] lovingkindness which He swore to your fathers.  
Dt0713 He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your [olive] oil, the offspring of your cattle and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your fathers to give you.  
Dt0714 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren (childless, infertile) among you or among your cattle.  
Dt0715 The LORD will take away from you all sickness; and He will not subject you to any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will impose them on all [those] who hate you.  
Dt0716 And you shall consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God will give over to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a [deadly] trap to you.  
Dt0717 “If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I am; how can I dispossess them?’  
Dt0718 you shall not be afraid of them; you shall remember [with confidence] what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt—  
Dt0719 the great trials which you saw with your own eyes, and the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.  
Dt0720 Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet (His terror) against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish.  
Dt0721 You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.  
Dt0722 The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for [if you did] the wild animals would become too numerous for you.  
Dt0723 But the LORD your God will hand them over to you, and will confuse them with a great panic until they are destroyed.  
Dt0724 And He will hand over their kings to you, and you will make their name perish from under heaven; no man will be able to stand before you until you have destroyed them.  
Dt0725 You shall burn the carved and sculpted images of their gods in the fire. You shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, so that you will not be ensnared by it [in a deadly trap], for it is an abomination (repulsive) to the LORD your God.  
Dt0726 You shall not bring an abomination (idol) into your house, and like it come under the ban (doomed to destruction); you shall utterly detest and you shall utterly hate it, for it is something banned.  
Dt0801 “Every commandment that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, so that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore [to give] to your fathers.  
Dt0802 And you shall remember [always] all the ways which the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart (mind), whether you would keep His commandments or not.  
Dt0803 He humbled you and allowed you to be hungry and fed you with manna, [a substance] which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, so that He might make you understand [by personal experience] that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.  
Dt0804 Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your feet swell these forty years.  
Dt0805 Therefore, know in your heart (be fully cognizant) that the LORD your God disciplines and instructs you just as a man disciplines and instructs his son.  
Dt0806 Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in His ways and fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect].  
Dt0807 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;  
Dt0808 a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;  
Dt0809 a land where you will eat bread without shortage, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.  
Dt0810 When you have eaten and are satisfied, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.  
Dt0811 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and His judgments (precepts) and His statutes which I am commanding you today;  
Dt0812 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,  
Dt0813 and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have increases,  
Dt0814 then your heart will become lifted up [by self-conceit and arrogance] and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  
Dt0815 He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; it was He who brought water for you out of the flinty rock.  
Dt0816 He fed you manna in the wilderness, [a substance] which your fathers did not know, so that He might humble you [by dependence on Him] and that He might test you, to do good [things] for you at the end.  
Dt0817 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’  
Dt0818 But you shall remember [with profound respect] the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers, as it is this day.  
Dt0819 And it shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will most certainly perish.  
Dt0820 Like the nations which the LORD causes to perish before you, so shall you perish; because you would not listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God.  
Dt0901 “Hear, O Israel! You are crossing the Jordan today to go in to dispossess nations greater and more powerful than you, great cities fortified to heaven,  
Dt0902 a people great and tall, sons of Anakim, whom you know and of whom you have heard it said, ‘Who can stand before the sons of Anak?’  
Dt0903 So know today [with confident assurance] that the LORD your God is crossing [the Jordan] before you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, and you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has promised you.  
Dt0904 “Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD is dispossessing them before you.  
Dt0905 It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out before you, and to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  
Dt0906 “Know [without any doubt], that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked (stubborn, obstinate) people.  
Dt0907 Remember [with remorse] and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day you left the land of Egypt until you arrived in this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.  
Dt0908 And at Horeb (Sinai) you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.  
Dt0909 When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I did not eat food or drink water.  
Dt0910 The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were written all the words which the LORD had spoken to you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.  
Dt0911 It came about at the end of forty days and forty nights that the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant.  
Dt0912 Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought from Egypt have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made (cast) a molten image for themselves.’  
Dt0913 Furthermore, the LORD said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, they are stiff- necked (stubborn, obstinate) people.  
Dt0914 Let Me alone, so that I may destroy them and wipe out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’  
Dt0915 “So I turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.  
Dt0916 And I saw that you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God. You had made for yourselves a molten calf (idol). You had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you.  
Dt0917 So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them from my two hands and smashed them before your very eyes!  
Dt0918 Then, as before, I fell down before the LORD for [another] forty days and forty nights; I did not eat food or drink water, because of all the sin you had committed by doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger.  
Dt0919 For I was afraid of the anger and absolute fury which the LORD held against you, [enough divine fury] to destroy you, but the LORD listened to me that time also.  
Dt0920 The LORD was very angry with Aaron, angry [enough] to destroy him, so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.  
Dt0921 I took your sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it in the fire and thoroughly crushed it, grinding the metal thoroughly until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that came down from the mountain.  
Dt0922 “At Taberah also and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the LORD to wrath.  
Dt0923 And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God, and you did not believe and rely on Him, nor did you obey His voice.  
Dt0924 You have been rebellious against the LORD from the [first] day that I knew you.  
Dt0925 “So I fell down and lay face down before the LORD forty days and nights because the LORD had said He would destroy you.  
Dt0926 Then I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought from Egypt with a mighty hand.  
Dt0927 Remember [with compassion] Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people or at their wickedness or at their sin,  
Dt0928 so that the [people of the] land from which You brought us will not say, “Because the LORD was not capable of bringing them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to the wilderness [in order] to kill them.”  
Dt0929 Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm.’  
Dt1001 “At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark (chest) of wood for yourself.  
Dt1002 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’  
Dt1003 So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.  
Dt1004 The LORD wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; then the LORD gave them to me.  
Dt1005 Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and they are there, just as the LORD commanded me.”  
Dt1006 (Now the sons of Israel traveled from the wells of the sons of Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died and there he was buried and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.  
Dt1007 From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.  
Dt1008 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him and to bless in His name until this day.  
Dt1009 Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance [of tribal land] with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God has promised him.)  
Dt1010 “And I stayed on the mountain, like the first time, forty days and nights, and the LORD listened to me at that time also; the LORD was not willing to destroy you.  
Dt1011 Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go on your journey ahead of the people, so that they may go in and take possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give to them.’  
Dt1012 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear [and worship] the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul [your choices, your thoughts, your whole being],  
Dt1013 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?  
Dt1014 Behold, the heavens and the highest of heavens belong to the LORD your God, the earth and all that is in it.  
Dt1015 Yet the LORD had a delight in loving your fathers and set His affection on them, and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day.  
Dt1016 So circumcise [that is, remove sin from] your heart, and be stiff-necked (stubborn, obstinate) no longer.  
Dt1017 For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.  
Dt1018 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) by giving him food and clothing.  
Dt1019 Therefore, show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.  
Dt1020 You shall fear [and worship] the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect]; you shall serve Him and cling to Him [hold tightly to Him, be united with Him], and you shall swear [oaths] by His name.  
Dt1021 He is your praise and glory; He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which you have seen with your own eyes.  
Dt1022 Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy persons [in all], and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.  
Dt1101 “Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and always keep His charge, His statutes, His precepts, and His commandments [it is your obligation to Him].  
Dt1102 Know this day that I am not speaking to your children who have not known [by personal experience] and who have not seen [firsthand] the instruction and discipline of the LORD your God—His greatness, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm;  
Dt1103 and His signs and His works which He did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to all his land;  
Dt1104 and what He did to the army of Egypt, to its horses and its chariots, when He made the water of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how the LORD completely destroyed them;  
Dt1105 and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place;  
Dt1106 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel.  
Dt1107 For your eyes have seen all the great work of the LORD which He did.  
Dt1108 “Therefore, you shall keep all the commandments which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and take possession of the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess;  
Dt1109 so that you may live long on the land which the LORD swore (solemnly promised) to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land [of great abundance,] flowing with milk and honey.  
Dt1110 For the land which you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot like a garden of vegetables.  
Dt1111 But the land into which you are about to cross to possess, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,  
Dt1112 a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  
Dt1113 “It shall come about, if you listen obediently and pay attention to My commandments which I command you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul [your choices, your thoughts, your whole being]—  
Dt1114 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early [fall] rain and the late [spring] rain, so that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your [olive] oil.  
Dt1115 And He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.  
Dt1116 Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away [from the LORD] and serve other gods and worship them,  
Dt1117 or [else] the LORD’S anger will be kindled and burn against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the land will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.  
Dt1118 “Therefore, you shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead.  
Dt1119 You shall teach them [diligently] to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths], speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.  
Dt1120 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,  
Dt1121 so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.  
Dt1122 For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in all His ways and to hold tightly to Him—  
Dt1123 then the LORD will drive out all these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.  
Dt1124 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall become yours; your territory shall be from the wilderness to Lebanon, and from the river, the river Euphrates, as far as the western sea (the Mediterranean).  
Dt1125 No man will be able to stand before you; the LORD your God will lay the fear and the dread of you on all the land on which you set foot, just as He has spoken to you.  
Dt1126 “Behold, today I am setting before you a blessing and a curse—  
Dt1127 the blessing, if you listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today;  
Dt1128 and the curse, if you do not listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following (acknowledging, worshiping) other gods which you have not known.  
Dt1129 “It shall come about, when the LORD your God brings you into the land which you are entering to possess, that you shall place the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.  
Dt1130 Are they not across the Jordan, west of the road, toward the sunset, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?  
Dt1131 For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall possess it and live in it,  
Dt1132 and you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the judgments which I am setting before you today.  
Dt1201 “These are the statutes and judgments (precepts) which you shall be careful to do in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth.  
Dt1202 You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and the hills and under every green [leafy] tree.  
Dt1203 You shall tear down their altars and smash their [idolatrous] pillars and burn their Asherim in the fire; you shall cut down the carved and sculpted images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place.  
Dt1204 You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.  
Dt1205 But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to establish His Name there for His dwelling [place], and there you shall come [to worship Him].  
Dt1206 There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive (pledged, vowed) offerings, your freewill (voluntary) offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.  
Dt1207 And there you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all to which you put your hand, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.  
Dt1208 “You shall not do at all what we are doing here [in the camp] today, every man doing whatever is right in his [own] eyes.  
Dt1209 For you have not yet come to the resting place and to the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.  
Dt1210 When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security,  
Dt1211 then it shall come about that the place which the LORD your God will choose for His Name [and Presence] to dwell; there you shall bring everything that I am commanding you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes and the [voluntary] contribution of your hand [as a first gift from the fruits of the ground], and all your choice votive offerings which you vow to the LORD.  
Dt1212 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, and your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your [city] gates, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.  
Dt1213 “Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every [cultic] place you see,  
Dt1214 but [only] in the place which the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do everything that I am commanding you.  
Dt1215 “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your [city] gates, whatever you wish, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you [as His generous provision for daily life]. The [ceremonially] unclean and the clean may eat it, such as the gazelle and the deer.  
Dt1216 Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.  
Dt1217 You are forbidden to eat within your [city] gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand.  
Dt1218 But you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, and your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your [city] gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.  
Dt1219 Be careful that you do not neglect the Levite [who serves God] as long as you live in your land.  
Dt1220 “When the LORD your God extends your territory, as He promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you want to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you wish.  
Dt1221 If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His Name (Presence) is too far away from you, then you may slaughter [animals] from your herd or flock which the LORD has given you, just as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your [city] gates whatever you wish.  
Dt1222 Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat it [but not make it an offering]; the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean alike may eat it.  
Dt1223 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life (soul), and you shall not eat the life with the meat.  
Dt1224 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.  
Dt1225 You shall not eat it, so that all may be well with you and with your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.  
Dt1226 However, you shall take your holy things which you have [to offer] and your votive (pledged, vowed) offerings, you shall take them and go to the place which the LORD will choose.  
Dt1227 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the LORD your God, and you shall eat the meat.  
Dt1228 “Be careful to listen to all these words which I am commanding you, so that it may be well with you and with your children after you forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.  
Dt1229 “When the LORD your God cuts off and destroys before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and settle in their land,  
Dt1230 beware that you are not lured (ensnared) into following them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods, so that I too may do likewise?’  
Dt1231 You shall not behave this way toward the LORD your God, for they have done for their gods every repulsive thing which the LORD hates; for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire [as sacrifices] to their gods.  
Dt1232 “Everything I command you, you shall be careful to do it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.  
Dt1301 “If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,  
Dt1302 and the sign or the wonder which he spoke (foretold) to you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us follow after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve and worship them,’  
Dt1303 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and all your soul [your entire being].  
Dt1304 You shall walk after the LORD your God and you shall fear [and worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cling to Him.  
Dt1305 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to draw you away from the way in which the LORD your God has commanded you to walk. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt1306 “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as [precious to you as] your own life (soul), entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (gods whom neither you nor your fathers have known,  
Dt1307 of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other),  
Dt1308 you shall not consent to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him.  
Dt1309 Instead, you shall most certainly execute him; your hand shall be first [to be raised] against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.  
Dt1310 So you shall stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.  
Dt1311 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such a wicked thing among you.  
Dt1312 “If you hear [it said] in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to live in,  
Dt1313 that some worthless and evil men have gone out from among you and have tempted the inhabitants of their city [to sin], saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known),  
Dt1314 then you shall investigate and search out [witnesses] and ask thorough questions. If it is true and the matter is established that this loathsome thing has been done among you,  
Dt1315 you shall most certainly strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it, even its livestock with the edge of the sword.  
Dt1316 Then you shall collect all its spoil (plunder) into the middle of its open square and burn the city and set fire to the spoil as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall be a ruin forever. It shall not be built again.  
Dt1317 Nothing from that which is put under the ban (designated for destruction) shall cling to your hand, so that the LORD may turn away from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He swore to your fathers,  
Dt1318 because you have listened to and obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.  
Dt1401 “You are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead,  
Dt1402 for you are a holy people [set apart] to the LORD your God; and the LORD has chosen you out of all the peoples who are on the earth to be a people for His own possession.  
Dt1403 “You shall not eat anything that is detestable [to the LORD and forbidden by Him].  
Dt1404 These are the animals that you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,  
Dt1405 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.  
Dt1406 Among the animals, you may eat any animal that has the divided hoof [that is, a hoof] split into two parts [especially at its distal extremity] and that chews the cud.  
Dt1407 However, you are not to eat any of these [animals] among those which chew the cud, or among those that divide the hoof in two: the camel, the hare and the shaphan, for though they chew the cud, they do not split the hoof; they are unclean for you.  
Dt1408 The swine, because it has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You shall not eat their meat nor touch their carcasses.  
Dt1409 “Of all [creatures] that are in the waters, you may eat these: anything that has fins and scales you may eat,  
Dt1410 but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.  
Dt1411 “You may eat any clean bird.  
Dt1412 But these are the ones which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, and the black buzzard,  
Dt1413 and the red kite, the falcon, and the birds of prey of any variety,  
Dt1414   and every raven of any variety,   
Dt1415 and the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk of any variety,  
Dt1416 the little owl, the great owl, the long-eared owl,  
Dt1417 the pelican, the carrion vulture, the cormorant,  
Dt1418 the stork, and the heron of any variety, and the hoopoe, and the bat.  
Dt1419 And all flying insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.  
Dt1420 You may eat any clean bird.  
Dt1421 “You shall not eat anything that dies on its own. You may give it to the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) who is in your [city] gates, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner [since they are not under God’s law], but you are a people holy (set apart) to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat or a lamb in its mother’s milk.  
Dt1422 “Every year you shall certainly tithe [a tenth] of all the yield of your seed which is produced by your field.  
Dt1423 You shall eat the tithe (tenth) of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock before the LORD your God in the place where He chooses to establish His Name (Presence), so that you may learn to fear [and worship] the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] always.  
Dt1424 If the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His Name (Presence) is a great distance from you and you are not able to carry your tithe, because the LORD your God has blessed you [with such an abundance],  
Dt1425 then you shall exchange your tithe for money, and take the money in your hand and go to the place [of worship] which the LORD your God chooses.  
Dt1426 You may spend the money for anything your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or [other] strong drink, or anything else you want. You shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.  
Dt1427 Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your [city] gates, for he does not have a share [of land] or an inheritance among you.  
Dt1428 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce for that year, and shall store it up within your [city] gates.  
Dt1429 The Levite, because he has no share [of land] or an inheritance among you, and the stranger, and the orphan and the widow who are within your [city] gates, shall come and eat and be satisfied, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  
Dt1501 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release (remission, pardon) from debt.  
Dt1502 This is the regulation for the release: every creditor shall forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require repayment from his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S release has been proclaimed.  
Dt1503 You may require repayment from a foreigner, but whatever of yours is with your brother [Israelite] your hand shall release.  
Dt1504 However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will most certainly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,  
Dt1505 if only you will listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all these commandments which I am commanding you today.  
Dt1506 When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised you, then you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.  
Dt1507 “If there is a poor man among you, one of your fellow Israelites, in any of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not be heartless, nor close-fisted with your poor brother;  
Dt1508 but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend to him whatever he needs.  
Dt1509 Beware that there is no wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release (remission, pardon), is approaching,’ and your eye is hostile (unsympathetic) toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing [since he would not have to repay you]; for he may cry out to the LORD against you, and it will become a sin for you.  
Dt1510 You shall freely and generously give to him, and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to him, because for this [generous] thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.  
Dt1511 For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’  
Dt1512 “If your fellow Israelite, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you shall set him free [from your service].  
Dt1513 When you set him free, you shall not let him go away empty-handed.  
Dt1514 You shall give him generous provisions from your flock, from your threshing floor and from your wine press; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.  
Dt1515 And you shall remember and thoughtfully consider that you were [once] a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you these things today.  
Dt1516 Now if the servant says to you, ‘I will not leave you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he is doing well with you;  
Dt1517 then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall [willingly] be your servant always. Also you shall do the same for your maidservant.  
Dt1518 “It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has served you six years with double the service of a hired man; so the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.  
Dt1519 “You shall consecrate (set apart) to the LORD your God all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock. You shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.  
Dt1520 You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place [for worship] which the LORD chooses.  
Dt1521 But if it has any defect or injury, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.  
Dt1522 You shall eat it within your [city] gates; the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as [if it were] a gazelle or a deer.  
Dt1523 Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.  
Dt1601 “Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.  
Dt1602 You shall sacrifice the Passover [lamb] to the LORD your God from the flock or the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His Name (Presence).  
Dt1603 You shall not eat leavened bread with it; instead, for seven days you shall eat the Passover with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you left the land of Egypt in haste); [do this] so that all the days of your life you may remember [thoughtfully] the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.  
Dt1604 For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory, and none of the meat which you sacrificed the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning.  
Dt1605 You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover [lamb] in any of your cities which the LORD your God is giving you;  
Dt1606 but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His Name (Presence), you shall sacrifice the Passover [lamb] in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt.  
Dt1607 You shall cook and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents.  
Dt1608 For six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a celebration to the LORD your God; so you shall do no work [on that day].  
Dt1609 “You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain.  
Dt1610 Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give [to Him] just as the LORD your God blesses you;  
Dt1611 and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is within your [city] gates, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His Name (Presence).  
Dt1612 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to obey these statutes.  
Dt1613 “You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) seven days, when you have gathered in [the grain] from your threshing floor and [the wine] from your wine vat.  
Dt1614 You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are within your city.  
Dt1615 Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.  
Dt1616 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.  
Dt1617 Every man shall give as he is able, in accordance with the blessing which the LORD your God has given you.  
Dt1618 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your cities (gates) which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.  
Dt1619 You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.  
Dt1620 You shall pursue justice, and only justice [that which is uncompromisingly righteous], so that you may live and take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving you.  
Dt1621 “You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree or wood beside the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make.  
Dt1622 You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the LORD your God hates.  
Dt1701 “You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or sheep with a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the LORD your God.  
Dt1702 “If there is discovered among you, within any of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does evil in the sight of the LORD your God, by transgressing (violating) His covenant,  
Dt1703 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, [doing these things] which I have commanded not to do,  
Dt1704 and if it is told to you and you hear about it, then you shall investigate thoroughly [all the charges]. If it is confirmed beyond doubt that this detestable thing has been done in Israel,  
Dt1705 then you shall bring that man or that woman who has done this evil thing to the gates [of your city] and you shall stone the man or the woman to death.  
Dt1706 On the evidence of two or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of [only] one witness.  
Dt1707 The hand of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt1708 “If any case is too difficult for you to judge—between one kind of homicide and another, between one kind of lawsuit and another, between one kind of assault and another, being controversial issues in your courts—then you shall arise and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.  
Dt1709 So you shall come to the Levitical priests or to the judge who is in office at that time, and you shall consult them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case.  
Dt1710 You shall act in accordance with the terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which the LORD chooses. You shall be careful to act in accordance with all of their instructions.  
Dt1711 You shall act in accordance with the law which they teach you and the judgment which they tell you. You shall not turn aside from their verdict, to the right or to the left.  
Dt1712 The man who acts presumptuously and insolently by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve the LORD your God, nor to the judge, that man shall die; so you shall remove the evil from Israel.  
Dt1713 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again.  
Dt1714 “When you enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you take possession of it and live there, and you say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’  
Dt1715 you shall most certainly set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses. You shall set a king over you from among your countrymen (brothers); you may not choose a foreigner [to rule] over you who is not your countryman.  
Dt1716 Further, he shall not acquire many [war] horses for himself, nor make the people return to Egypt in order to acquire horses [to expand his military power], since the LORD said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’  
Dt1717 He shall not acquire multiple wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away [from God]; nor [for the same reason] shall he acquire great amounts of silver and gold.  
Dt1718 “Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.  
Dt1719 And it shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear [and worship] the LORD his God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], by carefully obeying (keeping foremost in his thoughts and actively doing) all the words of this law and these statutes,  
Dt1720 so that his heart will not be lifted up above his countrymen [by a false sense of self-importance and self-reliance] and that he will not turn away (deviate) from the commandment, to the right or to the left, so that he and his sons may continue [to reign] for a long time in his kingdom in Israel.  
Dt1801 “The Levitical priests, the entire tribe of Levi, shall own [privately] no portion [of land] or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD’S offerings by fire and His portion.  
Dt1802 They shall have no inheritance [of land] among their countrymen (brothers, brethren); the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.  
Dt1803 “Now this shall be the priests’ portion from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.  
Dt1804 You shall also give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine [the first of the season], and your [olive] oil, and the first sheared fleece of your sheep.  
Dt1805 For the LORD your God has chosen him, him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.  
Dt1806 “Now if a Levite comes from any of your cities throughout Israel where he resides, and comes whenever he wishes to [the sanctuary] the place which the LORD chooses;  
Dt1807 then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.  
Dt1808 They shall have equal portions to eat, except what they receive from the sale of their fathers’ estates.  
Dt1809 “When you enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable (repulsive) practices of those nations.  
Dt1810 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,  
Dt1811 or one who casts a charm or spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or a necromancer [who seeks the dead].  
Dt1812 For everyone who does these things is utterly repulsive to the LORD; and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God is driving them out before you.  
Dt1813 You shall be blameless (complete, perfect) before the LORD your God.  
Dt1814 For these nations which you shall dispossess listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners and fortune-tellers, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.  
Dt1815 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen (brothers, brethren). You shall listen to him.  
Dt1816 This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb (Mount Sinai) on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear the voice of the LORD my God again, nor see this great fire anymore, so that I will not die.’  
Dt1817 The LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well.  
Dt1818 I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.  
Dt1819 It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him [and there will be consequences].  
Dt1820 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods—that prophet shall die.’  
Dt1821 If you say in your heart, ‘How will we know and recognize the word which the LORD has not spoken?’  
Dt1822 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the thing does not happen or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.  
Dt1901 “When the LORD your God cuts off (destroys) the nations whose land He is giving you, and you dispossess them and live in their cities and in their houses,  
Dt1902 you shall designate three cities for yourself in the central area of the land, which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.  
Dt1903 You shall prepare and maintain for yourself the roads [to these cities], and divide the territory of your land into three parts, so that anyone who kills another unintentionally may escape there [for asylum].  
Dt1904 “Now this is the case of the offender (manslayer) who may escape there and live [protected from vengeance]: when he kills his neighbor unintentionally, not having hated him previously—  
Dt1905 as [for example] when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, but the iron head slips off the wooden handle and hits his companion and he dies—the offender may escape to one of these cities and live;  
Dt1906 otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the offender in the heat of anger, and overtake him, because it is a long way, and take his life, even though he did not deserve to die, since he did not hate his neighbor beforehand.  
Dt1907 Therefore, I command you, saying, ‘You shall set aside three cities [of refuge] for yourself.’  
Dt1908 “If the LORD your God enlarges your border, as He has sworn to your fathers to do, and gives you all the land which He promised to give to your fathers—  
Dt1909 if you keep and carefully observe all these commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God, and to walk [that is, to live each and every day] always in His ways—then you shall add three more cities [of refuge] for yourself, besides these three,  
Dt1910 so that innocent blood will not be shed [by blood avengers] in your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and blood guilt will not be on you [for the death of an innocent man].  
Dt1911 “But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait and ambush for him and attacks him and strikes him down so that he dies, and the assailant escapes to one of these cities,  
Dt1912 then the elders of his own city shall send for him and have him taken back from there and turn him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may be put to death.  
Dt1913 You shall not pity him [the guilty one], but you shall purge the blood of the innocent from Israel, so that it may go well with you.  
Dt1914 “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary mark, which the forefathers [who first divided the territory] have set, in the land which you will inherit in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.  
Dt1915 “A single witness shall not appear in a trial against a man for any wrong or any sin which he has committed; [only] on the testimony or evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be confirmed.  
Dt1916 If a malicious witness rises up against a man to [falsely] accuse him of wrongdoing,  
Dt1917 then both parties to the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who will be in office at that time.  
Dt1918 The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness, and he has accused his brother falsely,  
Dt1919 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt1920 Those who remain will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you.  
Dt1921 You shall not show pity [to the guilty one]: it shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.  
Dt2001 “When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you.  
Dt2002 When you approach the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people,  
Dt2003 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: you are advancing today to battle against your enemies. Do not lack courage. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble [in terror] before them,  
Dt2004 for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’  
Dt2005 The officers shall also speak to the soldiers, saying, ‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not yet dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would dedicate it.  
Dt2006 What man has planted a vineyard and has not put it to use [harvesting its fruit]? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would begin to use its fruit.  
Dt2007 And who is the man who is engaged (legally promised) to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, otherwise he might die in the battle and another man would marry her.’  
Dt2008 Then the officers shall speak further to the soldiers and say, ‘Who is the man who is afraid and lacks courage? Let him go and return to his house, so that he does not cause his brothers’ courage to fail like his own.’  
Dt2009 And it shall be when the officers have finished speaking to the soldiers, they shall appoint commanders of armies over them.  
Dt2010 “When you advance to a city to fight against it, you shall [first] offer it terms of peace.  
Dt2011 If that city accepts your terms of peace and opens its gates to you, then all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you.  
Dt2012 However, if it does not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall lay siege to it.  
Dt2013 When the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall strike down all the men in it with the edge of the sword.  
Dt2014 Only the women and the children and the animals and everything that is in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourself; and you shall use the spoil of your enemies which the LORD your God has given you.  
Dt2015 That is what you shall do to all the cities that are very far away from you, which are not among the cities of these nations nearby [which you are to dispossess].  
Dt2016 Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.  
Dt2017 But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the LORD your God has commanded you,  
Dt2018 so that they will not teach you to act in accordance with all the detestable practices which they have done [in worship and service] for their gods, and in this way cause you to sin against the LORD your God.  
Dt2019 “When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its [fruit-bearing] trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged (destroyed) by you?  
Dt2020 Only the trees which you know are not fruit trees shall you destroy and cut down, so that you may build siegeworks against the city that is making war with you until it falls.  
Dt2101 “If someone is found slain, lying in the field, in the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess, and it is not known who has killed him,  
Dt2102 then your elders and judges shall go out and measure the distance to the cities which are around the dead person.  
Dt2103 It shall be that the elders of the city which is nearest to the dead man shall take a heifer of the herd, one which has not been worked and which has not pulled in a yoke;  
Dt2104 and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a [river] valley with running water, which has not been plowed or planted, and shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley.  
Dt2105 Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall approach, for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the Name (Presence) of the LORD; and every dispute and every assault (violent crime) shall be settled by them.  
Dt2106 All the elders of that city nearest to the dead man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;  
Dt2107 and they shall respond, and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.  
Dt2108 Forgive Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, O LORD, and do not put the guilt of innocent blood among Your people Israel.’ And the guilt of blood shall be forgiven them.  
Dt2109 So shall you remove the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.  
Dt2110 “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you lead them away captive,  
Dt2111 and you see a beautiful woman among the captives, and desire her and would take her as your wife,  
Dt2112 then you shall bring her [home] to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails [in preparation for mourning].  
Dt2113 She shall take off the clothes of her captivity and remain in your house, and weep (mourn) for her father and her mother a full month. After that you may go in to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife.  
Dt2114 But it shall be that if you have no delight and take no pleasure in her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes. You certainly shall not sell her for money; you shall not deal with her as a slave or mistreat her, because you have humbled her [by forced marriage].  
Dt2115 “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have born him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the unloved wife,  
Dt2116 then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he cannot treat the son of his loved wife as firstborn in place of the son of the unloved wife—the [actual] firstborn.  
Dt2117 Instead he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved as the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he was the beginning of his strength (generative power); to him belongs the right of the firstborn.  
Dt2118 “If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or of his mother, and when they reprimand and discipline him, he will not listen to them,  
Dt2119 then his father and mother shall take hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown.  
Dt2120 They shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.’  
Dt2121 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear of it and be afraid.  
Dt2122 “And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death and [afterward] you hang him on a tree [as a public example],  
Dt2123 his body shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall most certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed by God), so that you do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.  
Dt2201 “You shall not see your countryman’s ox or his sheep straying away or being stolen, and ignore [your duty to help] them; you shall certainly take them back to him.  
Dt2202 If your countryman is not nearby or you do not know him, you shall bring the animal to your house, and it shall stay with you until he searches for it; then you shall return it to him.  
Dt2203 You shall do this with his donkey or with his garment or with anything that your countryman has lost and you have found. You are not allowed to ignore [your duty to help] them.  
Dt2204 You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and ignore [your duty to help] them; you shall certainly help him lift it up.  
Dt2205 “A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is utterly repulsive to the LORD your God.  
Dt2206 “If you happen to come upon a bird’s nest along the road, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother [bird] is sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.  
Dt2207 You shall certainly let the mother go, but you may take the young for yourself, so that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.  
Dt2208 “When you build a new house, you shall make a railing (parapet) around your [flat] roof, so that you do not bring the guilt of [innocent] blood on your house if someone falls from it.  
Dt2209 “You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, or everything produced by the seed which you have sown and the yield of the vineyard will become defiled [and banned for use].  
Dt2210 “You shall not plow with an ox [a clean animal] and a donkey [an unclean animal] together.  
Dt2211 “You shall not wear a fabric made of wool and linen blended together [a fabric pagans believed to be magical].  
Dt2212 “You shall make tassels for yourself on the four corners of your outer garment with which you cover yourself.  
Dt2213 “If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then scorns and hates her,  
Dt2214 and charges her [without cause] with shameful behavior and publicly defames her, and says, ‘I took this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find in her evidence of virginity,’  
Dt2215 then the young woman’s father and her mother shall get and bring out the evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city at the gate [where court is held].  
Dt2216 The father of the young woman shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, but he hates her and has turned against her;  
Dt2217 and behold, he has made baseless charges against her, saying, “I did not find in your daughter the evidence of her virginity.” But this is the evidence of my daughter’s virginity.’ And they shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city.  
Dt2218 Then the elders of that city shall take the man and reprimand him,  
Dt2219 and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give it to the father of the young woman, because he publicly defamed a virgin of Israel. And she shall remain his wife; he is not allowed to divorce her as long as he lives.  
Dt2220 “But if this charge is true that the evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman,  
Dt2221 then they shall bring her out to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed a deliberate sin in Israel by playing the prostitute in her father’s house. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt2222 “If a man is intimate with a woman who is another man’s wife, they shall both be put to death, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall remove the evil from Israel.  
Dt2223 “If a young woman who is a virgin is engaged (legally betrothed) to a man, and another man finds her in the city and is intimate with her,  
Dt2224 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out for help [though she was] in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s [promised] wife. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt2225 “However, if the man finds the girl who is engaged (legally betrothed) in the [open] field, and seizes her and is intimate with her [by force], then only the man who lies with her shall be put to death.  
Dt2226 But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no sin worthy of death, for this is the same as when a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.  
Dt2227 When he found her in the [open] field, the engaged girl [may have] cried out for help, but there was no one to [hear and] save her.  
Dt2228 “If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not engaged, and seizes her and is intimate with her and they are discovered,  
Dt2229 then the man who was intimate with her shall give fifty shekels of silver to the girl’s father, and she shall become his wife because he has violated her; he can never divorce her.  
Dt2230 “A man shall not take his father’s [former] wife, so that he will not expose his father’s wife.  
Dt2301 “He who has been castrated by having his testicles crushed or his male organ cut off shall not enter the congregation of the LORD.  
Dt2302 A person of illegitimate birth shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation.  
Dt2303 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD,  
Dt2304 because they did not meet you with bread (food) and water on the road as you came out of Egypt, and because they hired [to act] against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.  
Dt2305 Nevertheless, the LORD your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the LORD your God has loved you.  
Dt2306 You shall never seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days.  
Dt2307 “You shall not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother [Esau’s descendant]. You shall not detest an Egyptian, because you were a stranger (resident alien, foreigner) in his land.  
Dt2308 Their children of the third generation who are born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.  
Dt2309 “When you go out as an army [to fight] against your enemies, you shall keep yourselves from every evil [thing].  
Dt2310 “If there is any man among you who is [ceremonially] unclean because of nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he shall not come back to the camp.  
Dt2311 But when evening comes, he shall bathe in water, and at sundown he may return to the camp.  
Dt2312 “You shall also have a place outside the camp to which you may go,  
Dt2313 and you shall have a spade among your tools, and when you [prepare to] sit down outside [to relieve yourself], you shall dig a hole with it and shall turn and cover up your waste.  
Dt2314 Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to rescue you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy (undefiled); and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.  
Dt2315 “You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.  
Dt2316 He shall live among you, in the place he chooses in one of your cities where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat or oppress him.  
Dt2317 “There shall be no cult prostitute among the daughters of Israel, nor shall there be a cult prostitute (a sodomite) among the sons of Israel.  
Dt2318 You shall not bring the wages of a prostitute or the price of a dog [that is, a male prostitute] into the house of the LORD your God as payment for any vow, for both of these [the gift and the giver] are utterly repulsive to the LORD your God.  
Dt2319 “You shall not charge interest to your fellow Israelite—interest on money, food or anything that may be loaned for interest.  
Dt2320 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your fellow Israelite you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.  
Dt2321 “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for He will most certainly require it of you, and a delay would cause you to sin.  
Dt2322 But if you refrain from making a vow, that would not be [counted as] sin in you.  
Dt2323 You shall be careful to perform that [vow] which passes your lips, just as you have made a voluntary vow to the LORD your God, just as you have promised with your own words (mouth).  
Dt2324 “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you please, but you shall not put any in your basket [to take with you].  
Dt2325 “When you come into the standing grain of your neighbor, you may pluck the ears of grain with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain [to harvest it].  
Dt2401 “When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she loses his favor because he has found something indecent or unacceptable about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house,  
Dt2402 and after she leaves his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife,  
Dt2403 and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife,  
Dt2404 then her former husband who [first] sent her away may not take her again as his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an outrage before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.  
Dt2405 “When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out [to fight] with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home for one year and shall bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.  
Dt2406 “No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone [used to grind grain into bread] as security [for a debt], for he would be taking a [person’s] life in pledge.  
Dt2407 “If a man is caught kidnapping any of his countrymen from the sons of Israel, and he treats him violently or sells him [as a slave], then that thief shall die. So you shall remove the evil from among you.  
Dt2408 “Be careful during an outbreak of leprosy, that you diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you; just as I have commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.  
Dt2409 Remember [with thoughtful concern] what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the road as you came out of Egypt.  
Dt2410 “When you lend your neighbor anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge (security deposit).  
Dt2411 You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you.  
Dt2412 If the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.  
Dt2413 You shall certainly restore the pledge (security deposit) to him at sunset, so that he may sleep in his garment and bless you; and it will be credited to you as righteousness (right standing) before the LORD your God.  
Dt2414 “You shall not take advantage of a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether [he is] one of your countrymen or one of the strangers (resident aliens, foreigners) who is in your land inside your cities.  
Dt2415 You shall give him his wages on the day that he earns them before the sun sets—for he is poor and is counting on it—so that he does not cry out to the LORD against you, and it becomes a sin for you.  
Dt2416 “The fathers shall not be put to death for [the sins of] their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; [only] for his own sin shall anyone be put to death.  
Dt2417 “You shall not pervert the justice due a stranger or an orphan, nor seize (impound) a widow’s garment as security [for a loan].  
Dt2418 But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.  
Dt2419 “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf [of grain] in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, for the orphan, and for the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  
Dt2420 When you beat [the olives off of] your olive tree, do not search through the branches again; [whatever is left] shall be for the stranger, for the orphan, and for the widow.  
Dt2421 “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, for the orphan, and for the widow.  
Dt2422 You shall [thoughtfully] remember [the fact] that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.  
Dt2501 “If there is a controversy between men, and they go to court, and the judges decide [the issue] between them, and they judge in favor of the innocent and condemn the guilty,  
Dt2502 then it shall be that if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with a [certain] number of stripes in proportion to his offense.  
Dt2503 He may have him beaten forty times, but no more. He is not to be beaten with more stripes than these and he is not to be degraded [that is, treated like an animal] in your sight.  
Dt2504 “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing [to prevent him from eating any of the grain].  
Dt2505 “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, the widow of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall be intimate with her after taking her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.  
Dt2506 It shall be that her firstborn [son] will be given the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out of Israel.  
Dt2507 But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s [widowed] wife, then she shall go up to the gate [of the city, where court is held] to the elders, and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to continue his brother’s name in Israel; he is not willing to perform the duty of a husband’s brother.’  
Dt2508 Then the elders of his city will summon him and speak to him. And if he stands firm and says, ‘I do not want to marry her,’  
Dt2509 then his brother’s widow shall approach him in the presence of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, ‘So it is done to that man who does not build up his brother’s household.’  
Dt2510 In Israel his [family] name shall be, ‘The house of him whose sandal was removed.’  
Dt2511 “If [two] men, a man and his countryman, are fighting and the wife of one approaches to rescue her husband from the man who is striking him, and she reaches out with her hand and grabs the aggressor’s genitals,  
Dt2512 then you shall cut off her hand; you shall not show pity [for her].  
Dt2513 “You shall not have in your bag inaccurate weights, a heavy and a light [so you can cheat others].  
Dt2514 You shall not have in your house inaccurate measures, a large and a small.  
Dt2515 You shall have a perfect (full) and just weight, and a perfect and just measure, so that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.  
Dt2516 For everyone who does such things, everyone who acts unjustly [without personal integrity] is utterly repulsive to the LORD your God.  
Dt2517 “Remember what Amalek did to you along the road when you came from Egypt,  
Dt2518 how he met you along the road and attacked all the stragglers at your rear when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.  
Dt2519 Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget.  
Dt2601 “Then it shall be, when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and you take possession of it and live in it,  
Dt2602 that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His Name (Presence).  
Dt2603 You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare this day to the LORD my God that I have entered the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.’  
Dt2604 Then the priest will take the basket from you and place it before the altar of the LORD your God.  
Dt2605 And you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘My father [Jacob] was a wandering Aramean, and he [along with his family] went down to Egypt and lived there [as strangers], few in number; but while there he became a great, mighty and populous nation.  
Dt2606 And the Egyptians treated us badly and oppressed us, and imposed hard labor on us.  
Dt2607 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers for help, and He heard our voice and saw our suffering and our labor and our [cruel] oppression;  
Dt2608 and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror [suffered by the Egyptians] and with signs and with wonders;  
Dt2609 and He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  
Dt2610 And now, look, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall place it before the LORD your God, and shall worship before the LORD your God;  
Dt2611 and you and the Levite and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household.  
Dt2612 “When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within the gates of your cities and be satisfied.  
Dt2613 You shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion (the tithe) from my house and also have given it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, in accordance with all that You have commanded me. I have not transgressed or forgotten any of Your commandments.  
Dt2614 I have not eaten from the tithe while mourning, nor have I removed any of it when I was [ceremonially] unclean [making the tithe ceremonially unclean], nor offered any of it to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the LORD my God; I have done everything in accordance with all that You have commanded me.  
Dt2615 Look down from Your holy dwelling above, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us, as You have sworn to our fathers, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.’  
Dt2616 “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and judgments (precepts). Therefore, you shall be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul (your entire being).  
Dt2617 Today you have [openly] declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk [that is, live each and every day] in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments (precepts), and listen to His voice.  
Dt2618 Today the LORD has declared that you are His people, His treasured possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments;  
Dt2619 and that He will set you high above all the nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor: and that you shall be a holy people [set apart and consecrated] to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken.”  
Dt2701 Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep (remember, obey) all the commandments which I am commanding you today.  
Dt2702 So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to [enter] the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with plaster (lime, whitewash).  
Dt2703 You shall write on the stones all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may go into the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers has promised you.  
Dt2704 Now when you cross the Jordan you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal, just as I am commanding you today and coat them with plaster.  
Dt2705 There you shall build an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them.  
Dt2706 You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with whole [uncut] stones, and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God;  
Dt2707 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and shall rejoice before the LORD your God.  
Dt2708 And you shall write very clearly on the stones all the words of this law.”  
Dt2709 Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God.  
Dt2710 So you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God, and do His commandments and statutes which I am commanding you today.”  
Dt2711 Moses also commanded the people that day, saying,  
Dt2712 “These [tribes] shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people when you have crossed the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.  
Dt2713 These [tribes] shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curse [for disobedience]: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.  
Dt2714 The Levites shall answer with a loud voice to all the men of Israel:  
Dt2715 ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast image (idol), a repulsive thing to the LORD, the work of the hands of the artisan, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2716 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors (treats with contempt) his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2717 ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2718 ‘Cursed is he who misleads a blind person on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2719 ‘Cursed is he who distorts (perverts) the justice due to a stranger, an orphan, and a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2720 ‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his father’s [former] wife, because he has violated what belongs to his father.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2721 ‘Cursed is he who is intimate with any animal.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2722 ‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his [half] sister, whether his father’s or his mother’s daughter.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2723 ‘Cursed is he who is intimate with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2724 ‘Cursed is he who strikes his neighbor in secret.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2725 ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to strike down an innocent person.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2726 ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them [keeping them, taking them to heart as the rule of his life].’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’  
Dt2801 “Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  
Dt2802 All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the LORD your God.  
Dt2803 “You will be blessed in the city, and you will be blessed in the field.  
Dt2804 “The offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your animals, the offspring of your herd and the young of your flock will be blessed.  
Dt2805 “Your basket and your kneading bowl will be blessed.  
Dt2806 “You will be blessed when you come in and you will be blessed when you go out.  
Dt2807 “The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you seven ways.  
Dt2808 The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your storehouses and in all that you undertake, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.  
Dt2809 The LORD will establish you as a people holy [and set apart] to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk [that is, live your life each and every day] in His ways.  
Dt2810 So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.  
Dt2811 The LORD will give you great prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your ground, in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.  
Dt2812 The LORD will open for you His good treasure house, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.  
Dt2813 The LORD will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully.  
Dt2814 Do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or to the left, to follow and serve other gods.  
Dt2815 “But it shall come about, if you do not listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:  
Dt2816 “You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.  
Dt2817 “Your basket and your kneading bowl will be cursed.  
Dt2818 “The offspring of your body and the produce of your land, the offspring of your herd and the young of your flock will be cursed.  
Dt2819 “You will be cursed when you come in and you will be cursed when you go out.  
Dt2820 “The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke in everything that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your deeds, because you have turned away from Me.  
Dt2821 The LORD will make the pestilence and plague cling to you until He has consumed and eliminated you from the land which you are entering to possess.  
Dt2822 The LORD will strike you with consumption [causing you to waste away] and with fever and with inflammation and with fiery heat and with the sword and with blight and with mildew [on your crops]; and they will pursue you until you perish.  
Dt2823 The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze [giving no rain and blocking all prayers], and the earth which is under you, iron [hard to plow and yielding no produce].  
Dt2824 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it will come down on you until you are destroyed.  
Dt2825 “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you will go out against them one way, but flee before them seven ways, and you will be an example of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth [when they see your destruction].  
Dt2826 Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.  
Dt2827 “The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors and with the scab and the itch that you cannot heal.  
Dt2828 The LORD will strike you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart and mind;  
Dt2829 and you will be groping at noon [in broad daylight], just as the blind grope in the darkness, and nothing you do will prosper; but you will only be oppressed and exploited and robbed continually, with no one to save you.  
Dt2830 You will be pledged to marry a wife, but another man will be intimate with her [before you]; you will build a house, but you will not live in it; you will plant a vineyard, but you will not use its fruit.  
Dt2831 Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will not eat any of it; your donkey will be torn away from you, and it will not be returned to you; your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to save you.  
Dt2832 Your sons and daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes look on and long for them continually; but there will be nothing you can do.  
Dt2833 A people whom you do not know will eat the produce of your land and all the products of your labors, and you will never be anything but oppressed and exploited and crushed continually.  
Dt2834 You shall be driven mad by the sight of the things you see.  
Dt2835 The LORD will strike you on the knees and on the legs with sore boils that you cannot heal, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.  
Dt2836 The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you appoint over you, to a nation which you and your fathers have never known; there you will [be forced to] serve other gods, [lifeless gods of] wood and stone.  
Dt2837 And you will become a horror, a proverb [a mere object lesson], and a taunt [a derisive joke] among all the people to which the LORD drives you.  
Dt2838 “You will bring out a great quantity of seed to the field, but you will gather in little, because the locusts will consume it.  
Dt2839 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because the worm will eat them.  
Dt2840 You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourselves with the oil, because your olives will drop off.  
Dt2841 You will have sons and daughters, but they will not be yours [for long], because they will go into captivity.  
Dt2842 The cricket will take possession of all your trees and the produce of your ground.  
Dt2843 The stranger who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, and you will go down lower and lower.  
Dt2844 He will lend to you [out of his affluence], but you will not lend to him [because of your poverty]; he will be the head, and you the tail.  
Dt2845 “So all these curses will come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He has commanded you.  
Dt2846 They will be a sign and a wonder to you and your descendants forever.  
Dt2847 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with a heart full of joy and gladness for the abundance of all things [with which He blessed you],  
Dt2848 you will therefore serve your enemies whom the LORD sends against you, in hunger and in thirst, in nakedness and in lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke [of slavery] on your neck until He has destroyed you.  
Dt2849 “The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle swoops down [to attack], a nation whose language you will not understand,  
Dt2850 a defiant nation who will have no respect for the old, nor show favor to the young,  
Dt2851 and it will eat the offspring of your herd and the produce of your ground until you are destroyed, who will leave you no grain, new wine, or oil, nor the offspring of your herd or the young of your flock until they have caused you to perish.  
Dt2852 They will besiege you in all your cities until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout your land; and they will besiege you in all your cities throughout your land which the LORD your God has given you.  
Dt2853 Then you will eat the offspring of your own body [to avoid starvation], the flesh of your sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you.  
Dt2854 The man who is most refined and well-bred among you will be cruel and hostile toward his brother and toward the wife he cherishes and toward the rest of his children who remain,  
Dt2855 so that he will not give even one of them any of the flesh of his children which he will eat, because he has nothing else left, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you in all your cities.  
Dt2856 The most refined and well-bred woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and pampered, will be cruel and hostile toward the husband she cherishes and toward her son and daughter,  
Dt2857 and toward her afterbirth that comes from between her legs and toward the children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of anything else, during the siege and the misery by which your enemy will oppress you in your cities.  
Dt2858 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, to fear and honor with reverence this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God,  
Dt2859 then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.  
Dt2860 Moreover, He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you.  
Dt2861 Also the LORD will bring on you every sickness and every plague which is not written in this book of this law, until you are destroyed.  
Dt2862 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, you who were as numerous as the stars of heaven shall be left few in number.  
Dt2863 It shall come about that just as the LORD delighted over you to make you prosper and multiply, so the LORD will delight over you to bring you to ruin and destruction; and you will be uprooted [violently] from the land which you are entering to possess.  
Dt2864 And the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other; and there you will [be forced to] serve other gods, [lifeless gods of] wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.  
Dt2865 Among those nations you will find no peace (rest), and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.  
Dt2866 Your life will hang in doubt before you; night and day you will be filled with anxiety and have no assurance of living.  
Dt2867 In the morning you will say, ‘I wish it were evening!’ and in the evening you will say, ‘I wish it were morning!’—because of the dread in your heart with which you tremble, and because of the sight of your eyes which you will see.  
Dt2868 The LORD will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way about which I said to you, ‘You will never see it again!’ And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no one to buy you.”  
Dt2901 These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which He made with them at Horeb (Sinai).  
Dt2902 Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land;  
Dt2903 the great trials [of Pharaoh] which your eyes have seen, the signs and those great wonders.  
Dt2904 Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a heart and mind to understand, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.  
Dt2905 I have led you in the wilderness forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.  
Dt2906 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the LORD your God [on whom you must depend].  
Dt2907 When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us in battle, but we defeated them;  
Dt2908 and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  
Dt2909 So keep the words of this covenant and obey them, so that you may prosper and be successful in everything that you do.  
Dt2910 “All of you stand today before the LORD your God—your chiefs, your tribes, your elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel,  
Dt2911 your little ones, your wives, and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) who is in your camps, from the one who chops and gathers your firewood to the one who draws your water—  
Dt2912 so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, and into His oath and agreement which the LORD your God is making with you today,  
Dt2913 so that He may establish you today as His people and that He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  
Dt2914 “It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant and this oath,  
Dt2915 but with those [future Israelites] who are not here with us today, as well as with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God  
Dt2916 (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we passed through the nations along the way;  
Dt2917 and you have seen their detestable acts and their [repulsive] idols of wood and stone, [lifeless images] of silver and gold, which they had with them),  
Dt2918 so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the [false] gods of these nations; so that there will not be among you a root [of idolatry] bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood (bitterness).  
Dt2919 It will happen that when he (a renegade) hears the words of this oath, and he imagines himself as blessed, saying, ‘I will have peace and safety even though I walk within the stubbornness of my heart [rejecting God and His law], in order that the watered land dwindles away along with the dry [destroying everything],’  
Dt2920 the LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but then the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him; the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.  
Dt2921 Then the LORD will single him out for disaster from all the tribes of Israel [making an example of him], according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law.  
Dt2922 Now the next generation, your children who come after you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it, will say,  
Dt2923 ‘The whole land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it; it is like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and wrath.’  
Dt2924 All the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done this thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’  
Dt2925 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned (broke) the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.  
Dt2926 For they went and served other gods and worshiped them, [false] gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted (given) to them.  
Dt2927 So the anger of the LORD burned against this land, bringing on it every curse that is written in this book;  
Dt2928 and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’  
Dt2929 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.  
Dt3001 “So it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,  
Dt3002 and you have returned to the LORD your God and have listened to and obeyed His voice with all your heart and with all your soul, in accordance with everything that I am commanding you today, you and your children,  
Dt3003 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes [in your return from exile], and have compassion on you, and will gather you together again from all the peoples (nations) where He has scattered you.  
Dt3004 Even if any of your dispersed are at the ends of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you together from there, and from there He will bring you back.  
Dt3005 The LORD your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it; and He shall make you prosper and multiply—even more than your fathers.  
Dt3006 “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants [that is, He will remove the desire to sin from your heart], so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live [as a recipient of His blessing].  
Dt3007 The LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who have persecuted you.  
Dt3008 And you shall again listen to and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all His commandments which I command you today.  
Dt3009 Then the LORD your God shall make you abundantly prosperous in everything that you do, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your land; for the LORD will again delight over you for good, just as He delighted over your fathers,  
Dt3010 if you listen to and obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul (your entire being).  
Dt3011 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach.  
Dt3012 It is not [a secret hidden] in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’  
Dt3013 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’  
Dt3014 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.  
Dt3015 “Listen closely, I have set before you today life and prosperity (good), and death and adversity (evil);  
Dt3016 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments (precepts), so that you will live and multiply, and that the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to possess.  
Dt3017 But if your heart turns away and you will not hear and obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,  
Dt3018 I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not live long in the land which you cross the Jordan to enter and possess.  
Dt3019 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,  
Dt3020 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  
Dt3101 So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.  
Dt3102 And he said to them, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today; I am no longer able to come in and go out [as your spiritual and military leader], and the LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’  
Dt3103 It is the LORD your God who will cross ahead of you; He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who will go across before you [to lead you], just as the LORD has said.  
Dt3104 The LORD will do to them just as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them.  
Dt3105 The LORD will hand them over to you, and you shall do to them in accordance with all the commandments which I have commanded you.  
Dt3106 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”  
Dt3107 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all [the people of] Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance.  
Dt3108 It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”  
Dt3109 So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.  
Dt3110 Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of year when debts are forgiven, at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles),  
Dt3111 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all [the people of] Israel so that they may hear.  
Dt3112 Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) within your cities, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and be careful to obey all the words of this law.  
Dt3113 Their children, who have not known [the law], will hear and learn to fear [and worship] the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  
Dt3114 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.  
Dt3115 Then the LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood beside the doorway of the tent.  
Dt3116 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down [in death] with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the prostitute (commit apostasy) with the foreign gods [of the people] of the land, where they go to be among them. They will abandon (turn away from) Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.  
Dt3117 Then My anger will be kindled and burn against them in that day, and I will abandon (turn away from) them and hide My face from them. They will be devoured, and many evils and troubles will come on them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come on us?’  
Dt3118 But I will certainly hide My face [from them] in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods [to worship lifeless idols, to honor handmade relics].  
Dt3119 “Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouth, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.  
Dt3120 For when I bring them into the land which I have sworn to their fathers, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise and reject Me and break My covenant.  
Dt3121 Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this [sacred] song will confront them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten from the mouth of their descendants. For I know their inclination which is developing even now, before I bring them into the land which I have sworn to give them.”  
Dt3122 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.  
Dt3123 Then He commanded and commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the sons of Israel into the land which I have sworn to give them, and I will be with you.”  
Dt3124 And when Moses completely finished writing the words of this law in a book,  
Dt3125 he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,  
Dt3126 “Take this Book of the Law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.  
Dt3127 For I know your rebellion and contention and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the LORD; how much more, then, after my death?  
Dt3128 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth as witnesses against them.  
Dt3129 For I know that after my death you will behave corruptly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will come upon you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands.”  
Dt3130 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended:  
Dt3201 “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.  
Dt3202 “Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the light rain upon the tender grass, And as the spring showers upon the herb.  
Dt3203 “For I proclaim the name [and presence] of the LORD; Ascribe greatness and honor to our God!  
Dt3204 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice), Just and upright is He.  
Dt3205 “They (Israel) have acted corruptly toward Him. They are not His children, because of their [moral] defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation.  
Dt3206 “Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is not He your Father who has acquired you [as His own]? He has made you and established you [as a nation].  
Dt3207 “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell you.  
Dt3208 “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel.  
Dt3209 “For the LORD’S portion and chosen share is His people; Jacob (Israel) is the allotment of His inheritance.  
Dt3210 “He found him in a desert land, In the howling wasteland of a wilderness; He kept circling him, He took care of him, He protected him as the apple of His eye.  
Dt3211 “As an eagle that protects its nest, That flutters over its young, He spread out His wings and took them, He carried them on His pinions.  
Dt3212 “So the LORD alone led him; There was no foreign god with him.  
Dt3213 “He made him (Israel) ride on the high places of the earth, And he ate the produce of the field; And He made him suck honey from the rock, And [olive] oil from the flinty rock,  
Dt3214 Butter and curds of cows, and milk of the flock, With fat of lambs, And rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat; And you drank wine, the blood of grapes.  
Dt3215 “But Jeshurun (Israel) became fat and kicked [at God]. You became fat, thick, sleek, and obstinate! Then he abandoned God who had made him, And scorned the Rock of his salvation.  
Dt3216 “They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods [by denying Him the honor and loyalty that is rightfully and uniquely His]; And with repulsive acts they provoked Him to anger.  
Dt3217 “They sacrificed to demons, not to God, To gods whom they have not known, New gods who came lately, Whom your fathers never feared.  
Dt3218 “You were unmindful of the Rock who bore you, And you forgot the God who gave you birth.  
Dt3219 “The LORD saw it, and rejected them, Out of indignation with His sons and His daughters.  
Dt3220 “Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be; For they are a perverse generation, Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.  
Dt3221 ‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.  
Dt3222 ‘For a fire is kindled by My anger, And it burns to the depths of Sheol (the place of the dead, the nether world), It devours the earth with its yield, And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.  
Dt3223 ‘I will heap misfortunes on them; I will use My arrows on them.  
Dt3224 ‘They will be wasted by hunger, and consumed by plague And a bitter destruction; And I will send the teeth of beasts against them, With the venom of crawling things of the dust.  
Dt3225 ‘Outside the sword will bereave, And inside [the chambers] terror— For both young man and virgin, For the nursing child and the man of gray hair.  
Dt3226 ‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces [scattering them far away], I will remove the memory of them from men,”  
Dt3227 Had I not feared the provocation of the enemy, That their adversaries would misjudge, That they would say, “Our [own] hand has prevailed, And the LORD has not done all this.”’  
Dt3228 “For they are a nation devoid of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.  
Dt3229 “O that they were wise, that they understood this, That they could discern their future and ultimate fate!  
Dt3230 “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?  
Dt3231 “For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.  
Dt3232 “For their vine is from the vine of Sodom, And from the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of poison, Their clusters, bitter.  
Dt3233 “Their wine is the venom of serpents, And the deadly poison of vipers.  
Dt3234 ‘Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries?  
Dt3235 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their disaster is at hand, And their doom hurries to meet them.’  
Dt3236 “For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength (hand) is gone, And none remains, whether bond or free.  
Dt3237 “And He will say, ‘Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge?  
Dt3238 ‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your hiding place!  
Dt3239 ‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and I who give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from [the power of] My hand.  
Dt3240 ‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say (swear an oath), as I live forever,  
Dt3241 If I sharpen the lightning of My sword, And My hand takes hold of judgment, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me.  
Dt3242 ‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.’  
Dt3243 “Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And will render vengeance on His adversaries, And will atone for His land and His people.”  
Dt3244 Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua the son of Nun.  
Dt3245 When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all [the people of] Israel,  
Dt3246 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words of warning which I am speaking to you today; and you shall command your children to observe them carefully—to do all the words of this law.  
Dt3247 For it is not an empty or trivial matter for you; indeed it is your [very] life. By [honoring and obeying] this word you will live long in the land, which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  
Dt3248 And the LORD said to Moses that very same day,  
Dt3249 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession.  
Dt3250 Then die on the mountain which you climb, and be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,  
Dt3251 because you broke faith with Me among of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat Me as holy among of the sons of Israel.  
Dt3252 For you shall see the land opposite you from a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”  
Dt3301 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the sons of Israel before his death.  
Dt3302 He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from among ten thousand holy ones; At His right hand was a flaming fire, a law, for them.  
Dt3303 “Indeed, He loves His people; All Your holy ones are in Your hand. They followed in Your steps; They accept and receive direction from You.  
Dt3304 “Moses commanded us with a law, As a possession for the assembly of Jacob.  
Dt3305 “The LORD was King in Jeshurun (Israel), When the heads of the people were gathered, The tribes of Israel together.  
Dt3306 “May [the tribe of] Reuben live and not die out, But let his men be few.”  
Dt3307 And [Moses said] this of Judah: “Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, And may You be a help against his enemies.”  
Dt3308 Of Levi he said, “Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man [Aaron], Whom You tested and proved at Massah, With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;  
Dt3309 Who said of his father and mother, ‘I did not consider them’; Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he regard his own sons, For the priests observed Your word, And kept Your covenant.  
Dt3310 “The priests shall teach Your ordinances (judgments) to Jacob, And Your law to Israel. They shall put incense before You, And whole burnt offerings on Your altar.  
Dt3311 “O LORD, bless Levi’s substance (ability), And accept and take pleasure in the work of his hands; Crush and shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, And of those who hate him, so that they do not rise again.”  
Dt3312 Of Benjamin he said, “May the beloved of the LORD dwell in safety by Him; He shields and covers him all the day long, And he dwells between His shoulders.”  
Dt3313 And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the LORD be his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep water that lies beneath,  
Dt3314 With the precious fruits of the sun, And with the precious produce of the months.  
Dt3315 “With the best things of the ancient mountains, And with the precious things of the everlasting hills,  
Dt3316 With the precious things of the earth and its fullness, And the favor and goodwill of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let these blessings come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him who was distinguished [as a prince] among his brothers.  
Dt3317 “His majesty is like a firstborn young bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; With them he will gore the peoples, All of them together, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”  
Dt3318 Of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your interests abroad, And, Issachar, in your tents [at home].  
Dt3319 “They will call the peoples to the mountain (Mount Carmel); There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.”  
Dt3320 Of Gad he said, “Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lurks like a lioness, And tears the arm and the crown of the head.  
Dt3321 “He selected the best [land] for himself, For there the leader’s portion was reserved; Yet he came with the leaders of the people; He carried out the justice (righteous will) of the LORD, And His ordinances (judgments) with Israel.”  
Dt3322 Of Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub, That leaps forth from Bashan.”  
Dt3323 Of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full of the blessing of the LORD, Take possession of the sea [of Galilee] and the south.”  
Dt3324 Of Asher he said, “More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, And may he dip his foot in oil.  
Dt3325 “Your strongholds will be iron and bronze, And as your days are, so will your strength, your rest and security be.  
Dt3326 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun (Israel), Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majestic glory.  
Dt3327 “The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, ‘Destroy!’  
Dt3328 “So Israel dwells in safety and security, The fountain of Jacob alone and secluded, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens also drop down dew.  
Dt3329 “Happy and blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The Shield of your help, And the Sword of your majesty! Your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread on their high places [tramping down their idolatrous altars].”  
Dt3401 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, from Gilead to Dan,  
Dt3402 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah to the western sea (Mediterranean Sea),  
Dt3403 and the Negev (South country) and the plain in the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.  
Dt3404 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”  
Dt3405 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.  
Dt3406 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows where his burial place is to this day.  
Dt3407 Although Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eyesight was not dim, nor his natural strength abated.  
Dt3408 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.  
Dt3409 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD commanded Moses.  
Dt3410 Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,  
Dt3411 [none equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land,  
Dt3412 and in all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.  
Jo0101 Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant (attendant), saying,  
Jo0102 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise [to take his place], cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.  
Jo0103 I have given you every place on which the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised to Moses.  
Jo0104 From the wilderness [of Arabia in the south] and this Lebanon [in the north], even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates [in the east], all the land of the Hittites (Canaan), and as far as the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward the west shall be your territory.  
Jo0105 No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you.  
Jo0106 Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them.  
Jo0107 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go.  
Jo0108 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.  
Jo0109 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  
Jo0110 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,  
Jo0111 “Go throughout the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to cross this [river] Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess [as an inheritance].’”  
Jo0112 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,  
Jo0113 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest (peace) and will give you this land [east of the Jordan].’  
Jo0114 Your wives, your children, and your cattle shall [be allowed to] stay in the land which Moses gave you on this [eastern] side of the Jordan, but you shall go across [the river] before your brothers (the other tribes) armed for battle, all your brave warriors, and you shall help them [conquer and take possession of their land],  
Jo0115 until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He has given you, and they also take possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall [be allowed to] return to your own land, and take possession of that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”  
Jo0116 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.  
Jo0117 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so will we obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses.  
Jo0118 Any man who rebels against your command and does not obey everything that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”  
Jo0201 Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as scouts secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho [the walled city].” So they went and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there.  
Jo0202 Now the king of Jericho was told, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to spy and search out the land.”  
Jo0203 So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, because they have come [as spies] to search out all the land.”  
Jo0204 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; so she said, “Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.  
Jo0205 When it was time to close the [city] gate at dark, the men left; I do not know where they went. Pursue them quickly, for [if you do] you will overtake them.”  
Jo0206 But [in fact] she had brought the scouts up to the roof and had hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof [to dry].  
Jo0207 So the [king’s] men pursued them on the road to the Jordan as far as the fords [east of Jericho]; as soon as the pursuers had gone out after them, the gate [of the city] was shut.  
Jo0208 Now before the two men lay down [to sleep], Rahab came up to them on the roof,  
Jo0209 and she said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror and dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted [in despair] because of you.  
Jo0210 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan [on the east], to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.  
Jo0211 When we heard it, our hearts melted [in despair], and a [fighting] spirit no longer remained in any man because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.  
Jo0212 And now, please swear [an oath] to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s household (family), and give me a pledge of truth and faithfulness,  
Jo0213 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, along with everyone who belongs to them, and let us all live.”  
Jo0214 So the men said to her, “Our lives for yours if you do not tell [anyone about] this business of ours; then when the LORD gives us the land we will show you kindness and faithfulness [and keep our agreement with you].”  
Jo0215 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.  
Jo0216 And she said to them, “Go [west] to the hill country, so that the pursuers [who have headed east] will not encounter you; hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you can go your way.”  
Jo0217 The men said to her, “We shall be blameless and free from this oath which you have made us swear,  
Jo0218 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and bring into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household [so that they will be safe].  
Jo0219 But if anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head [that is, his own responsibility], and we shall be blameless and free [from our oath]; however, if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.  
Jo0220 But if you tell [anyone] this business of ours, we shall be blameless and free from the oath which you made us swear.”  
Jo0221 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then Rahab sent them off, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.  
Jo0222 They left and went [on their way] to the hill country [west of Jericho], and stayed there [hidden in the caves] three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the road but had not found them.  
Jo0223 Then the two men turned back and came down from the hill country and crossed over [the Jordan] and came to Joshua the son of Nun [at Shittim], and told him everything that had happened to them.  
Jo0224 They said to Joshua, “Certainly the LORD has given all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the land have melted [in despair] because of us.”  
Jo0301 Joshua got up early in the morning; then he and all the children of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed [the river].  
Jo0302 And it happened at the end of three days that the officers went throughout the camp,  
Jo0303 and they commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from where you are and follow it.  
Jo0304 However, there shall be a distance between you and it of about 2,000 cubits (3,000 ft.) by measurement. Do not come near it, so that you may [be able to see the ark and] know the way you are to go, for you have not passed this way before.”  
Jo0305 Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves [for His purpose], for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders (miracles) among you.”  
Jo0306 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over [the river] ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went on ahead of the people.  
Jo0307 The LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to magnify and exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that just as I was with Moses, I will [also] be with you.  
Jo0308 You shall command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’”  
Jo0309 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here, and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”  
Jo0310 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will, without fail, drive out from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.  
Jo0311 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you [leading the way] into the Jordan.  
Jo0312 So now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe.  
Jo0313 When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, [come to] rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing down from above will be cut off, and they will stand in one mass [of water].”  
Jo0314 So when the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan with the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,  
Jo0315 and when those who were carrying the ark came up to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were submerged at the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all of its banks throughout the time of harvest),  
Jo0316 the waters which were flowing down from above stopped and rose up in one mass a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. Those [waters] flowing downward toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed [the river] opposite Jericho.  
Jo0317 And while all [the people of] Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan [riverbed], until all the nation had finished crossing over the Jordan.  
Jo0401 So it was when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,  
Jo0402 “Take for yourselves the twelve men [chosen] from among the people, one man from each tribe,  
Jo0403 and command them, ‘Pick up for yourselves twelve stones [one each] from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm; carry them over with you and lay them down at the place where you will spend the night tonight.’”  
Jo0404 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe;  
Jo0405 and Joshua said to them, “Cross over again to the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel,  
Jo0406 so that this may be a sign among you; when your children ask later, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’  
Jo0407 then you shall say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial for Israel forever.”  
Jo0408 So the [twelve men chosen from the] sons of Israel did as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel, just as the LORD had spoken to Joshua; and they carried them over with them to the place where they were spending the night and put them down there.  
Jo0409 Then Joshua set up [a second monument of] twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing, and they are there to this day.  
Jo0410 For the priests who carried the ark were standing in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in accordance with everything that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried and crossed [the dry riverbed];  
Jo0411 and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.  
Jo0412 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle before the [other] sons of Israel, just as Moses had spoken to them;  
Jo0413 about 40,000 [men] armed and equipped for war crossed for battle before the LORD to the desert plains of Jericho.  
Jo0414 On that day the LORD magnified and exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; so they feared him [with profound awe and reverence], just as they had feared Moses all the days of his life.  
Jo0415 Now the LORD said to Joshua,  
Jo0416 “Order the priests carrying the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”  
Jo0417 So Joshua commanded the priests, saying, “Come up out of the Jordan.”  
Jo0418 When the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet were raised up to the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all its banks as before.  
Jo0419 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth [day] of the first month and encamped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.  
Jo0420 And those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.  
Jo0421 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’  
Jo0422 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’  
Jo0423 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed;  
Jo0424 so that all the peoples of the earth may know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that the hand of the LORD is mighty and extraordinarily powerful, so that you will fear the LORD your God [and obey and worship Him with profound awe and reverence] forever.”  
Jo0501 Now it happened when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted [in despair], and there was no [fighting] spirit in them any longer because of the Israelites [and what God had done for them].  
Jo0502 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise the [new generation of the] sons of Israel as [was done] before.”  
Jo0503 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.  
Jo0504 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness along the way after they left Egypt.  
Jo0505 All the males who came out were circumcised, but all the males who were born in the wilderness on the way as they left Egypt had not been circumcised.  
Jo0506 For the Israelites walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, died because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD; to them the LORD had sworn [an oath] that He would not let them see the land which He had promised to their fathers to give us, a land [of abundance] flowing with milk and honey.  
Jo0507 So it was their uncircumcised sons whom He raised up in their place, whom Joshua circumcised, because circumcision had not been performed on the way.  
Jo0508 Then, when they had finished circumcising all [the males of] the nation, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed.  
Jo0509 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach (derision, ridicule) of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal (rolling) to this day.  
Jo0510 While the Israelites camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.  
Jo0511 On the day after Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread, and roasted grain.  
Jo0512 And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the Israelites no longer had manna, but they ate some of the produce of the land of Canaan during that year.  
Jo0513 Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”  
Jo0514 He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD.” Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, “What does my lord have to say to his servant?”  
Jo0515 The captain of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy (set apart to the LORD).” And Joshua did so.  
Jo0601 Now Jericho [a fortified city with high walls] was tightly closed because [of the people’s fear] of the sons of Israel; no one went out or came in.  
Jo0602 The LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the mighty warriors.  
Jo0603 Now you shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do this [once each day] for six days.  
Jo0604 Also, seven priests shall carry seven trumpets [made] of rams’ horns ahead of the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.  
Jo0605 When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall cry out with a great shout (battle cry); and the wall of the city will fall down in its place, and the people shall go up, each man [going] straight ahead [climbing over the rubble].”  
Jo0606 So Joshua the son of Nun called for the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets made of rams’ horns ahead of the ark of the LORD.”  
Jo0607 He said to the people, “Go forward! March around the city, and let the armed men go ahead of the ark of the LORD.”  
Jo0608 And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made of rams’ horns went on before the LORD and blew the trumpets; then the ark of the covenant of the LORD went behind them.  
Jo0609 The armed men went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued to blow the trumpets.  
Jo0610 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout [the battle cry] nor let your voice be heard nor let a word come out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!”  
Jo0611 So Joshua had the ark of the LORD taken around the city [on the first day], circling it once; then they came back into the camp and spent the night in the camp.  
Jo0612 Then Joshua got up early in the morning [on the second day], and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.  
Jo0613 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets made of rams’ horns ahead of the ark of the LORD went on continually, blowing the trumpets; and the armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued to blow the trumpets.  
Jo0614 On the second day they marched around the city once, and returned to the camp; they did this for six days.  
Jo0615 Then on the seventh day they got up early at daybreak and marched around the city in the same way seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.  
Jo0616 And the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.  
Jo0617 The city and everything that is in it shall be under the ban [that is, designated to be destroyed as a form of tribute] to the LORD; only Rahab the prostitute and all [the people] who are with her in her house shall [be allowed to] live, because she hid and protected the messengers (scouts) whom we sent.  
Jo0618 But as for you, keep yourselves [away] from the things under the ban [which are to be destroyed], so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban [for personal gain], and put the camp of Israel under the ban (doomed to destruction), and bring disaster upon it.  
Jo0619 All the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy (consecrated) to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.”  
Jo0620 So the people shouted [the battle cry], and the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout and the wall [of Jericho] fell down, so that the sons of Israel went up into the city, every man straight ahead [climbing over the rubble], and they overthrew the city.  
Jo0621 Then they utterly destroyed everything that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.  
Jo0622 But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring the woman and all that she has out of there, as you have sworn to her.”  
Jo0623 So the young men, the spies, went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and everything that she had; they also brought out all her relatives and allowed them to stay outside the camp of Israel [at Gilgal during the time required for ceremonial cleansing].  
Jo0624 Then they completely burned the city and everything that was in it. They put only the silver and the gold, and the articles of bronze and of iron, into the treasury of the house (tabernacle) of the LORD.  
Jo0625 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her father’s household and everything that she had; and she has lived among Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers (scouts) whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.  
Jo0626 Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates.”  
Jo0627 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.  
Jo0701 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully and violated their obligation in regard to the things [off limits] under the ban [those things belonging to the LORD], for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban [for personal gain]. Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.  
Jo0702 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.  
Jo0703 Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not make all the people go up [to fight]; have only about two thousand or three thousand men go up and attack Ai; do not make the entire army go up there, for they [of Ai] are few.”  
Jo0704 So about three thousand men from the sons of Israel went up there, but they fled [in retreat] from the men of Ai.  
Jo0705 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of Israel’s men, and chased them from the gate as far as [the bluffs of] Shebarim and struck them down as they descended [the steep pass], so the hearts of the people melted [in despair and began to doubt God’s promise] and became like water (disheartened).  
Jo0706 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and [with great sorrow] they put dust on their heads.  
Jo0707 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have You brought this people across the Jordan at all, only to hand us over to the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to live beyond the Jordan!  
Jo0708 O Lord, what can I say now that [the army of] Israel has turned back [in retreat and fled] before their enemies?  
Jo0709 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear about it, and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name [to keep it from dishonor]?”  
Jo0710 So the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?  
Jo0711 Israel has sinned; they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them [to keep]. They have even taken some of the things under the ban, and they have both stolen and denied [the theft]. Moreover, they have also put the stolen objects among their own things.  
Jo0712 That is why the soldiers of Israel could not stand [and defend themselves] before their enemies; they turned their backs [and ran] before them, because they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from among you.  
Jo0713 Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “There are things under the ban among you, O Israel. You cannot stand [victorious] before your enemies until you remove the things under the ban from among you.”  
Jo0714 In the morning you shall come forward by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the LORD chooses by lot shall come forward by families, and the family which the LORD chooses shall come forward by [separate] households, and the household which the LORD chooses shall come forward man by man.  
Jo0715 It shall be that the one who is chosen with the things under the ban shall be [killed and his body] burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done a disgraceful and disobedient thing in Israel.’”  
Jo0716 So Joshua got up early in the morning and had Israel come forward by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was chosen [by lot].  
Jo0717 He had the families of Judah come forward, and the family of the Zerahites was chosen; and he had the family of the Zerahites come forward man by man, and Zabdi was chosen.  
Jo0718 He brought his household forward man by man; and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.  
Jo0719 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him [in recognition of His righteous judgments]; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.”  
Jo0720 So Achan answered Joshua and said, “In truth, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I have done:  
Jo0721 when I saw among the spoils [in Jericho] a beautiful robe from Shinar (southern Babylon) and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I wanted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”  
Jo0722 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and they saw the stolen objects hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.  
Jo0723 And they took them from the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and spread them out before the LORD.  
Jo0724 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the [royal] robe, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor (Disaster).  
Jo0725 Joshua said, “Why have you brought disaster on us? The LORD will bring you disaster this day.” Then all Israel stoned them [to death] with stones; afterward they burned their bodies in the fire.  
Jo0726 Then they piled up over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor (Disaster) to this day.  
Jo0801 Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed (intimidated). Take all the men of war with you and set out, go up to Ai; see, I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hand.  
Jo0802 You shall do [the same] to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king; [except that] you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set up an ambush for the city behind it [on the west side].”  
Jo0803 So Joshua set out with all the people of war to go up against Ai; then Joshua chose thirty thousand valiant men, and sent them out at night.  
Jo0804 He commanded them, saying, “Listen closely, you are going to lie in wait and ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far away from the city, but all of you be ready.  
Jo0805 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us [for battle] as [they did] the first time, we will run away from them.  
Jo0806 They will come out after us until we have lured them away from the city, because they will say, ‘They are running from us as [they did] before.’ So we will run from them.  
Jo0807 Then you will emerge from the ambush and take possession of the city, for the LORD your God will hand it over to you.  
Jo0808 When you have taken the city, you shall set it on fire; you shall do [exactly] as the LORD commanded. See, I have commanded you.”  
Jo0809 So Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place for the ambush and stayed [hidden] between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people [in Gilgal].  
Jo0810 Now Joshua got up early in the morning and assembled the people, and went up with the elders of Israel before the people to Ai.  
Jo0811 Then all the fighting men who were with him went up and advanced and arrived in front of the city, and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a ravine between them and Ai.  
Jo0812 And Joshua took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.  
Jo0813 So they stationed the people, all the army—the main encampment that was north of the city, and their rear guard on the west side of the city—and Joshua spent that night in the valley.  
Jo0814 Now when the king [and the people] of Ai saw it, the men of the city hurried and got up early and went out to meet Israel in battle, the king and all his people at the appointed [time and] place before the desert plain (the Arabah). But he did not know that there was an ambush against him [waiting] behind the city [on the west side].  
Jo0815 So Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them, and ran toward the wilderness.  
Jo0816 Then all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city.  
Jo0817 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel; so they left the city open and unguarded and they pursued Israel.  
Jo0818 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Reach out with the spear that is in your hand [and point it] toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” So Joshua reached out with the spear in his hand [and pointed it] toward the city.  
Jo0819 The [men in] ambush emerged quickly from their [hiding] place, and when Joshua stretched out his hand they ran and entered the city and captured it, and quickly set the city on fire.  
Jo0820 When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city was ascending toward the sky, and they had no opportunity to run this way or that way. Then the people who had been running to the wilderness turned back toward the pursuers.  
Jo0821 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the [men in] ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city was ascending, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.  
Jo0822 Then the others came out of the city to confront the men of Ai [as they returned], so that they were trapped in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side; then Israel struck them until none of them survived or escaped.  
Jo0823 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.  
Jo0824 When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field in the wilderness where they pursued them, and they had all fallen by the edge of the sword until they were destroyed, then all Israel returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.  
Jo0825 And all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand, all the people of Ai.  
Jo0826 For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.  
Jo0827 Israel took only the livestock and the spoil of that city as plunder for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had commanded Joshua.  
Jo0828 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a rubbish heap forever, a desolation until this day.  
Jo0829 He hanged [the body of] the king of Ai on a tree [leaving it there] until evening; at sunset Joshua gave a command and they took the body down from the tree and dumped it at the entrance of the city gate, and piled a great heap of stones over it that stands to this day.  
Jo0830 Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,  
Jo0831 just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no one has wielded an iron tool; and they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.  
Jo0832 And there, in the presence of the sons of Israel, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses which Moses had written.  
Jo0833 All Israel, the stranger as well as the native born [among them], with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on either side of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at first to bless the people of Israel.  
Jo0834 Then afterward Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessing and curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.  
Jo0835 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and the children and the foreigners who were living among them.  
Jo0901 Now when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country and in the lowland [at the western edge of the hills of Judea], and all along the coast of the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, heard of this [army and its victories over Jericho and Ai],  
Jo0902 they gathered together with one purpose to fight with Joshua and with Israel.  
Jo0903 But when the people of Gibeon [the Hivites] heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,  
Jo0904 they too acted craftily and cunningly, and set out and took along provisions, but took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins (leather bottles) that were worn out and split open and patched together,  
Jo0905 and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes; and all their supply of food was dry and had turned to crumbs.  
Jo0906 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; so now, make a covenant (treaty) with us.”  
Jo0907 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then can we make a covenant (treaty) with you?”  
Jo0908 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”  
Jo0909 They said to him, “Your servants have come from a country that is very far away because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the news about Him and all [the remarkable things] that He did in Egypt,  
Jo0910 and everything that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon and to Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth.  
Jo0911 So our elders and all the residents of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for the journey and go to meet the sons of Israel and say to them, “We are your servants; now make a covenant (treaty) with us.”’  
Jo0912 This bread of ours was hot (fresh) when we took it along as our provision from our houses on the day we left to come to you; now look, it is dry and has turned to crumbs.  
Jo0913 These wineskins which we filled were new, and look, they are split; our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey [that we had to make].”  
Jo0914 So the men [of Israel] took some of their own provisions [and offered them in friendship], and [foolishly] did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.  
Jo0915 Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant (treaty) with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation [of Israel] swore an oath to them.  
Jo0916 It happened that three days after they had made a covenant (treaty) with them, the Israelites heard that they were [actually] their neighbors and that they were living among them.  
Jo0917 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now the cities [of the Hivites] were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.  
Jo0918 But the sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel [to spare them]. And all the congregation murmured [expressing great dissatisfaction] against the leaders.  
Jo0919 But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, so now we cannot touch them.  
Jo0920 This [is what] we will do to them: we will let them live, so that the wrath [of God] does not come upon us for [violating] the oath which we have sworn to them.”  
Jo0921 The leaders said to them, “Let them live [as our slaves].” So they became the cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the entire congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.  
Jo0922 Joshua called the [Hivite] men and said, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We live very far away from you,’ when [in fact] you live among us?  
Jo0923 Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall always be slaves, both cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the house of my God.”  
Jo0924 They replied to Joshua and said, “Because your servants were told in no uncertain terms that the LORD your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the land’s inhabitants before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and so we did this [deceptive] thing.  
Jo0925 Now look, we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight.”  
Jo0926 So that is what he did to them; he rescued them from the hands of the Israelites and they did not kill them.  
Jo0927 Now on that day Joshua made them cutters and gatherers of firewood and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.  
Jo1001 When Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai, and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and that the residents of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were [living] among them,  
Jo1002 he [and his people] feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.  
Jo1003 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,  
Jo1004 “Come up to me and help me, and let us attack Gibeon [with a combined army], because it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons (people) of Israel.”  
Jo1005 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they with all their armies, and they camped by Gibeon and fought against it.  
Jo1006 So the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all [five of] the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have assembled against us.”  
Jo1007 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the men of valor.  
Jo1008 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, because I have given them into your hand; not one of them shall stand before you.”  
Jo1009 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, [surprising them] by marching [uphill] all night from Gilgal.  
Jo1010 And the LORD caused them to panic and be confused before Israel, and He struck them dead in a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.  
Jo1011 As they fled before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones [of hail] from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More [Amorites] died because of the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.  
Jo1012 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD on the day when the LORD handed over the Amorites to the sons of Israel, and Joshua said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, And moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  
Jo1013 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation [of Israel] took vengeance upon their enemies. Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stood still in the middle of the sky and was in no hurry to go down for about a whole day.  
Jo1014 There has not been a day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to (heeded) the voice of a man; for the LORD was fighting for Israel.  
Jo1015 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.  
Jo1016 Now these five [Amorite] kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.  
Jo1017 And Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found and are hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”  
Jo1018 Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them,  
Jo1019 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand.”  
Jo1020 Now when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking the Amorites dead in a very great defeat, until they were wiped out, and the surviving remnant among them had entered the fortified cities,  
Jo1021 all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one uttered a [threatening] word against any of the sons of Israel.  
Jo1022 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring out to me those five [Amorite] kings from the cave.”  
Jo1023 They did so, and brought these five [Amorite] kings out of the cave to him—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.  
Jo1024 When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and told the commanders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come up close, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and put their feet on the necks [of the five kings].  
Jo1025 Joshua said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed (intimidated)! Be strong and courageous, for this is what the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you [are about to] fight.”  
Jo1026 Then afterward Joshua struck them [with his sword] and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening.  
Jo1027 At sunset Joshua gave a command, and they took the bodies down from the trees and threw them into the cave where the kings had hidden themselves, and placed large stones over the mouth of the cave, [where they remain] to this very day.  
Jo1028 Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and everyone who was in it. He left no survivor. So he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.  
Jo1029 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.  
Jo1030 The LORD gave it also along with its king into the hands of Israel, and Joshua struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor in it. So he did to the king of Libnah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.  
Jo1031 And Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it.  
Jo1032 The LORD gave Lachish into the hands of Israel; and Joshua captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.  
Jo1033 Then Horam king of Gezer went up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people down until he had left him no survivor.  
Jo1034 And Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it.  
Jo1035 They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and on that day he utterly destroyed every person who was in it, just as he had done to Lachish.  
Jo1036 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it  
Jo1037 and captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor, just as he had done to Eglon. He utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.  
Jo1038 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and fought against it.  
Jo1039 He captured it with its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Just as he had done to Hebron, so Joshua did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king.  
Jo1040 So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, the Negev (South country) and the lowland and the slopes [that descend to the Dead Sea] and all their kings. He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.  
Jo1041 Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen even as far as Gibeon.  
Jo1042 Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.  
Jo1043 So Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.  
Jo1101 Then when Jabin king of Hazor heard [of Israel’s other victories] he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,  
Jo1102 and to the kings who were in the north, in the hill country, and in the Arabah [the plain] south of Chinnereth (the Sea of Galilee) and in the lowland and on the hills of Dor on the west;  
Jo1103 to the Canaanite in the east and in the west, and to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite at the foot of [Mount] Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.  
Jo1104 They went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.  
Jo1105 So all these kings met and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.  
Jo1106 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow by this time I am going to hand over all of them slain [by the sword] to Israel; you shall hamstring (disable) their horses and set fire to their chariots.”  
Jo1107 So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them.  
Jo1108 The LORD handed them over to Israel, who struck them and pursued them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh; they struck them down until no survivor was left.  
Jo1109 Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung (disabled) their horses and set fire to their chariots.  
Jo1110 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and struck its king dead with the sword; for Hazor previously was the head of all these kingdoms.  
Jo1111 They struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he set fire to Hazor.  
Jo1112 Joshua captured all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.  
Jo1113 But Israel did not burn any of the cities that stood [walled and fortified] on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.  
Jo1114 The sons of Israel took as their plunder all the spoil of these cities and the cattle; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one alive.  
Jo1115 Just as the LORD had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses had commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Jo1116 So Joshua took all this land: the hill country, all the Negev (South country), all the land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah [plain], the hill country of Israel and its lowland  
Jo1117 from Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir [in the south], even as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon [in the north]. He captured all their kings and struck them and put them to death.  
Jo1118 Joshua waged war with all these kings a long time [at least five years].  
Jo1119 There was no city that made peace with the Israelites except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took all the others in battle.  
Jo1120 For it was [the purpose] of the LORD to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle so that Israel would utterly destroy them, that they would receive no mercy, but that Israel would destroy them, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.  
Jo1121 Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.  
Jo1122 There were no Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod [of Philistia] some remained.  
Jo1123 So Joshua took the whole land [of Canaan], according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. So the land had rest from war.  
Jo1201 Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed beyond the Jordan toward the east, from the valley of the [river] Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah [plain] to the east:  
Jo1202 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the [river] Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, and as far as the brook Jabbok, [which is] the border of the sons of Ammon;  
Jo1203 and the Arabah [plain] as far as the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee) eastward, and as far as the sea of the Arabah, the Salt (Dead) Sea, eastward toward Beth- jeshimoth, and southward to the foot of the slopes of [Mount] Pisgah;  
Jo1204 and the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,  
Jo1205 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all of Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead, as far as the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.  
Jo1206 Moses the servant of the LORD and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land as a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  
Jo1207 These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,  
Jo1208 in the hill country, in the lowland (foothills), in the Arabah [plain], on the slopes [descending to the Dead Sea], and in the wilderness, and in the Negev (South country)—the [lands of the] Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite:  
Jo1209 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;  
Jo1210 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;  
Jo1211 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;  
Jo1212 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;  
Jo1213 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;  
Jo1214 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;  
Jo1215 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;  
Jo1216 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;  
Jo1217 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;  
Jo1218 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;  
Jo1219 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;  
Jo1220 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;  
Jo1221 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;  
Jo1222 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;  
Jo1223 the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;  
Jo1224 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.  
Jo1301 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You have grown old and advanced in years, and very substantial portions of the land remain to be possessed.  
Jo1302 This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and all those of the Geshurites;  
Jo1303 from the Shihor [waterway] which is east of Egypt [at the southern end of Canaan], northward to the border of Ekron (all of it regarded as Canaanite); the five rulers of the Philistines: the Gazite, Ashdodite, the Ashkelonite, the Gittite, the Ekronite; and the Avvite  
Jo1304 in the south, all the land of the Canaanite, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorite;  
Jo1305 and the land of the Gebalite, and all Lebanon, toward the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.  
Jo1306 As for all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians, I will drive them out before Israel; only allot the land to Israel as an inheritance just as I have commanded you.  
Jo1307 So now, divide this land [west of the Jordan] as an inheritance for the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”  
Jo1308 With the other half-tribe [of Manasseh], the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance which Moses gave them beyond the Jordan eastward, just as Moses the servant of the LORD gave to them;  
Jo1309 from Aroer on the edge of the valley of the [river] Arnon, and the city in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba, as far as Dibon;  
Jo1310 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites;  
Jo1311 and Gilead, and the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salecah;  
Jo1312 the entire kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei—he alone was left of the remnant of the Rephaim [giants]—for Moses had struck them and dispossessed them.  
Jo1313 But the sons of Israel did not dispossess the Geshurites or the Maacathites; for Geshur and Maacath live among Israel to this day.  
Jo1314 It was only to the tribe of Levi that Moses gave no [territory as an] inheritance; the offerings by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He told him.  
Jo1315 So Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the sons of Reuben according to their families.  
Jo1316 Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the [river] Arnon, and the city which is in the middle of the valley and all the plain by Medeba;  
Jo1317 with Heshbon, and all its cities which are on the plain: Dibon and Bamoth-baal and Beth-baal-meon,  
Jo1318 and Jahaz and Kedemoth and Mephaath,  
Jo1319 and Kiriathaim and Sibmah and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley,  
Jo1320 and Beth-peor and the slopes of Pisgah and Beth-jeshimoth,  
Jo1321 even all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck down along with the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.  
Jo1322 The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the diviner (soothsayer), with the sword among [the rest of] their slain.  
Jo1323 The border of the sons of Reuben was the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the sons of Reuben according to their families, with their cities and villages.  
Jo1324 Moses also gave an inheritance to the tribe of Gad, to the sons of Gad, according to their families.  
Jo1325 Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the sons of Ammon, as far as Aroer east of Rabbah;  
Jo1326 and from Heshbon as far as Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim as far as the border of Debir;  
Jo1327 and in the valley, Beth-haram and Beth-nimrah and Succoth and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as a border, as far as the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee) east of the Jordan.  
Jo1328 This is the inheritance of the sons of Gad according to their families, with their cities and their villages.  
Jo1329 Moses also gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh; and it was for the half-tribe of the sons of Manasseh according to their families.  
Jo1330 Their region extended from Mahanaim, all Bashan, the entire kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;  
Jo1331 also half of Gilead, with Ashtaroth and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; these were for the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, for half of the sons of Machir according to their families (clans).  
Jo1332 These are the territories which Moses distributed as an inheritance in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho to the east.  
Jo1333 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He told them.  
Jo1401 Now these are the territories which the tribes of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the tribes of Israel apportioned to them as an inheritance,  
Jo1402 by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.  
Jo1403 For Moses had given an inheritance to the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give [any territory as] an inheritance to the Levites among them.  
Jo1404 For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and no portion was given in the land to the Levites except cities in which to live, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.  
Jo1405 The Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land.  
Jo1406 Then the [tribe of the] sons of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea.  
Jo1407 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land [of Canaan], and I brought a report back to him as it was in my heart.  
Jo1408 My brothers (fellow spies) who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the LORD my God completely.  
Jo1409 So Moses swore [an oath to me] on that day, saying, ‘Be assured that the land on which your foot has walked will be an inheritance to you and to your children always, because you have followed the LORD my God completely.’  
Jo1410 And now, look, the LORD has let me live, just as He said, these forty-five years since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, look at me, I am eighty-five years old today.  
Jo1411 I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now, for war and for going out and coming in.  
Jo1412 So now, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke that day, for you heard on that day that the [giant-like] Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.”  
Jo1413 So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.  
Jo1414 Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, completely.  
Jo1415 The name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba [city of Arba]; for Arba was the greatest man among the [giant-like] Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.  
Jo1501 Now the lot (allotment) for the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families reached [southward to] the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin at its most southern part.  
Jo1502 Their southern border was from the lower end of the Salt (Dead) Sea, from the bay that turns southward.  
Jo1503 Then it proceeded southward to the ascent of Akrabbim and continued along to Zin, and then went by the south of Kadesh-barnea and continued along to Hezron, and went up to Addar and turned about to Karka.  
Jo1504 It continued along to Azmon and proceeded to the Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish), and the border ended at the [Mediterranean] sea. This was their southern border.  
Jo1505 The eastern border was the Salt (Dead) Sea, as far as the mouth of the Jordan. The northern border was from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.  
Jo1506 Then the border went up to Beth-hoglah, and continued along north of Beth- arabah, and the border went up to the [landmark of the] stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.  
Jo1507 The border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and turned northward toward Gilgal which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley; and the border continued on to the waters of En-shemesh and ended at En-rogel.  
Jo1508 Then the border went up by the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom) at the southern slope of the Jebusite [city] (that is, Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom to the west, which is at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.  
Jo1509 Then the border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah and proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron; then the border curved to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).  
Jo1510 The border went around west from Baalah to Mount Seir, and passed along to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh and then continued on through Timnah.  
Jo1511 The border proceeded to the slope [of the hill] of Ekron northward, then curved to Shikkeron and continued to Mount Baalah and proceeded to Jabneel. Then the border ended at the [Mediterranean] sea.  
Jo1512 The western border was at the Great Sea, with its coastline. This is the border around the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families.  
Jo1513 Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh Joshua gave a portion among the sons of Judah, as the LORD commanded him, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron).  
Jo1514 So Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak.  
Jo1515 Then he went up from there against the people of Debir; Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher.  
Jo1516 Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who attacks Kiriath- sepher and captures it.”  
Jo1517 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.  
Jo1518 Now it came about that when Achsah came to Othniel, she persuaded him [to allow her] to ask her father for a field. Then she [rode up to Caleb and] dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”  
Jo1519 Achsah answered, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the [dry] land of the Negev (South country), give me springs of water, too.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.  
Jo1520 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Judah according to their families (clans).  
Jo1521 The cities of the tribe of the sons of Judah in the extreme south toward the border of Edom were Kabzeel and Eder and Jagur,  
Jo1522 and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah,  
Jo1523 and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,  
Jo1524 Ziph and Telem and Bealoth,  
Jo1525 and Hazor-hadattah and Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),  
Jo1526 Amam and Shema and Moladah,  
Jo1527 and Hazar-gaddah and Heshmon and Beth-pelet,  
Jo1528 and Hazar-shual and Beersheba and Biziothiah,  
Jo1529 Baalah and Iim and Ezem,  
Jo1530 and Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah,  
Jo1531 and Ziklag and Madmannah and Sansannah,  
Jo1532 and Lebaoth and Shilhim and Ain and Rimmon; in all twenty-nine cities with their villages.  
Jo1533 In the lowland: Eshtaol and Zorah and Ashnah,  
Jo1534 and Zanoah and En-gannim, Tappuah and Enam,  
Jo1535 Jarmuth and Adullam, Socoh and Azekah,  
Jo1536 and Shaaraim and Adithaim and Gederah and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.  
Jo1537 Zenan and Hadashah and Migdal-gad,  
Jo1538 and Dilean and Mizpeh and Joktheel,  
Jo1539 Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon,  
Jo1540 and Cabbon and Lahmas and Chitlish,  
Jo1541 and Gederoth, Beth-dagon and Naamah and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.  
Jo1542 Libnah and Ether and Ashan,  
Jo1543       and Iphtah and Ashnah and Nezib,     
Jo1544 and Keilah and Achzib and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.  
Jo1545 Ekron, with its towns and villages;  
Jo1546 from Ekron even to the sea, all that were beside Ashdod, with their villages;  
Jo1547 Ashdod, with its towns and its villages; Gaza, with its towns and its villages; as far as the Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) and the Great [Mediterranean] Sea with its coastline.  
Jo1548 In the hill country: Shamir and Jattir and Socoh,  
Jo1549 and Dannah and Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),  
Jo1550 and Anab and Eshtemoh and Anim,  
Jo1551 and Goshen and Holon and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.  
Jo1552 Arab and Dumah and Eshan,  
Jo1553 and Janum and Beth-tappuah and Aphekah,  
Jo1554 and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.  
Jo1555 Maon, Carmel and Ziph and Juttah,  
Jo1556 and Jezreel and Jokdeam and Zanoah,  
Jo1557 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.  
Jo1558 Halhul, Beth-zur and Gedor,  
Jo1559 and Maarath and Beth-anoth and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.  
Jo1560 Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.  
Jo1561 In the wilderness [that slopes downward toward the Dead Sea]: Beth-arabah, Middin and Secacah,  
Jo1562 and Nibshan and the City of Salt and Engedi; six cities with their villages.  
Jo1563 But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the [tribe of the] sons of Judah were not able to drive them out; so the Jebusites live with the sons of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.  
Jo1601 Then the lot (allotment) for the sons of Joseph went from the Jordan Valley at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east into the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.  
Jo1602 Then it went from Bethel to Luz, and continued to Ataroth, the border of the Archites.  
Jo1603 It went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the outskirts of lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ended at the sea.  
Jo1604 The sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.  
Jo1605 Now this was the territory of the sons of Ephraim according to their families: on the east side the border of their inheritance was Ataroth-addar, as far as upper Beth-horon.  
Jo1606 Then the border went westward at Michmethath on the north, and turned eastward to Taanath-shiloh and continued beyond it to the east of Janoah.  
Jo1607 It went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, touched Jericho and ended at the Jordan.  
Jo1608 The border continued from Tappuah westward to the Brook Kanah, and it ended at the [Mediterranean] sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families (clans),  
Jo1609 with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim within the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.  
Jo1610 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live among Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.  
Jo1701 Now this was the lot (allotment) for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.  
Jo1702 So the lot was also made for the rest of the sons of Manasseh according to their families—for the sons of Abiezer and for the sons of Helek and for the sons of Asriel and for the sons of Shechem and for the sons of Hepher and for the sons of Shemida; these were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families (clans).  
Jo1703 But Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.  
Jo1704 They came before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.  
Jo1705 So ten portions fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan [on the east side of the river],  
Jo1706 because the daughters of [Zelophehad, a descendant of] Manasseh had received an inheritance among his [other] sons [whose inheritance went to their male descendants]. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.  
Jo1707 The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath which was east of Shechem; then the border went southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.  
Jo1708 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but [the city of] Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the sons of Ephraim.  
Jo1709 Then the border went down to the brook of Kanah, south of the brook (these cities belonged to Ephraim, among the cities of Manasseh), and Manasseh’s border was on the north side of the brook and it ended at the sea.  
Jo1710 The land on the south side belonged to Ephraim and that on the north side was Manasseh’s, and the sea was their border; they reached to [the territory of] Asher on the north and to [the territory of] Issachar on the east.  
Jo1711 Also, in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its towns and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; the third is Napheth.  
Jo1712 But the sons of Manasseh were not able to [drive out the inhabitants and] take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.  
Jo1713 When the Israelites became strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.  
Jo1714 The sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one portion as an inheritance, when we are a numerous people whom the LORD has so far blessed?”  
Jo1715 Then Joshua replied, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear ground for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”  
Jo1716 The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”  
Jo1717 Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot,  
Jo1718 but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and though they are strong.”  
Jo1801 Then the whole congregation of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh [in the tribal territory of Ephraim], and set up the Tent of Meeting there; and the land was subdued before them.  
Jo1802 There remained among the Israelites seven tribes who had not yet divided their inheritance.  
Jo1803 So Joshua asked them, “How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?  
Jo1804 Provide for yourselves three men from each tribe so that I may send them, and that they may go through the land and write a description of it with regard to their [tribal] inheritance; then they shall return to me.  
Jo1805 They shall divide it into seven parts; [the tribe of] Judah shall remain in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in its territory on the north.  
Jo1806 You shall describe the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.  
Jo1807 But the Levites have no portion among you, because the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad and Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh also have received their inheritance eastward beyond the Jordan, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.”  
Jo1808 So the men arose and went [on their way], and Joshua commanded those who went to describe the land, saying, “Go and walk throughout the land and describe it, and return to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.”  
Jo1809 So the men set out and passed through the land, and described it by cities in seven divisions in a book; and they came back to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.  
Jo1810 Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land to the sons of Israel, [to each tribe] according to their portions.  
Jo1811 Now the lot (allotment) of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot fell between [the tribes of] the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.  
Jo1812 On the north side their border began at the Jordan, then it went up the slope of Jericho on the north, and up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the Beth-aven wilderness.  
Jo1813 Then the border continued southward toward Luz, to the slope of Luz (that is, Bethel); then the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the hill that lies south of lower Beth-horon.  
Jo1814 The border changed course [from there] and turned around on the western side southward, from the hill that lies to the south opposite Beth-horon; it ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of [the tribe of] the sons of Judah. This formed the western side [of Benjamin’s territory].  
Jo1815 The southern side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went on westward and went to the source of the waters of Nephtoah.  
Jo1816 Then the border went down to the edge of the hill overlooking the Valley of Ben- hinnom (son of Hinnom), which is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim; and it descended to the Valley of Hinnom, south to the slope of the Jebusite, and went on down to En-rogel.  
Jo1817 Then it turned toward the north and went on to En-shemesh and on to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.  
Jo1818 It continued to the north to the side opposite [Beth-] Arabah and went down to the Arabah.  
Jo1819 The border continued along to the north of the slope of Beth-hoglah; and the border ended at the northern bay of the Salt (Dead) Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern border.  
Jo1820 And the Jordan River was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, according to their families and according to its borders all around.  
Jo1821 Now the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-keziz,  
Jo1822 and Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Bethel,  
Jo1823 and Avvim and Parah and Ophrah,  
Jo1824 and Chephar-ammoni and Ophni and Geba; twelve cities with their villages;  
Jo1825 Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth,  
Jo1826 and Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah,  
Jo1827 and Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah,  
Jo1828 and Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of [the tribe of] the sons of Benjamin according to their families (clans).  
Jo1901 Then the second lot fell to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families (clans), and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the sons of Judah.  
Jo1902 So they had as their inheritance Beersheba or Sheba and Moladah,  
Jo1903   and Hazar-shual and Balah and Ezem,   
Jo1904 and Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah,  
Jo1905 and Ziklag and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah,  
Jo1906 and Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages;  
Jo1907 Ain, Rimmon and Ether and Ashan; four cities with their villages;  
Jo1908 and all the villages which were around these cities as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negev (South country). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families.  
Jo1909 The inheritance of the sons of Simeon was taken from the portion of the sons of Judah, for the share of the sons of Judah was too large for them; so the sons of Simeon received an inheritance within Judah’s inheritance.  
Jo1910 The third lot came up for [the tribe of] the sons of Zebulun according to their families. The territory of their inheritance extended to Sarid.  
Jo1911 Then its border went up westward and on to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth and reached to the brook east of Jokneam.  
Jo1912 Then it turned from Sarid east toward the sunrise as far as the border of Chisloth-tabor, and it proceeded to Daberath and on up to Japhia.  
Jo1913 From there it continued east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin, and proceeded to Rimmon which turns toward Neah.  
Jo1914 The border circled it on the north to Hannathon, ending at the Valley of Iphtahel.  
Jo1915 Included were Kattah and Nahalal and Shimron and Idalah and Bethlehem; twelve cities with their villages.  
Jo1916 This was the inheritance of the sons of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.  
Jo1917 The fourth lot fell to [the tribe of] Issachar, to the sons of Issachar according to their families.  
Jo1918 Their territory included: Jezreel and Chesulloth and Shunem,  
Jo1919 and Hapharaim and Shion and Anaharath,  
Jo1920 and Rabbith and Kishion and Ebez,  
Jo1921 and Remeth and En-gannim and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez.  
Jo1922 The border reached to Tabor and Shahazumah and Beth-shemesh, and their border ended at the Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages.  
Jo1923 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.  
Jo1924 The fifth lot fell to the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families.  
Jo1925 Their territory was Helkath and Hali and Beten and Achshaph,  
Jo1926 and Allammelech and Amad and Mishal; and on the west it reached to Carmel and to Shihor-libnath.  
Jo1927 Then it turned eastward to Beth-dagon and reached Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtahel northward to Beth-emek and Neiel, and continued in the north to Cabul,  
Jo1928 and Ebron and Rehob and Hammon and Kanah, as far as Great Sidon.  
Jo1929 Then the border turned to Ramah, [reaching] to the fortified city of Tyre; and it turned to Hosah, and it ended at the [Mediterranean] sea at the region of Achzib.  
Jo1930 Included were Ummah, and Aphek and Rehob; twenty-two cities with their villages.  
Jo1931 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.  
Jo1932 The sixth lot fell to [the tribe of] the sons of Naphtali according to their families.  
Jo1933 Their border ran from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim and Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and it ended at the Jordan.  
Jo1934 Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok; and it reached Zebulun on the south and reached Asher on the west, and to Judah toward the east at the Jordan.  
Jo1935 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath and Chinnereth,  
Jo1936 and Adamah and Ramah and Hazor,  
Jo1937 and Kedesh and Edrei and En-hazor,  
Jo1938 and Yiron and Migdal-el, Horem and Beth-anath and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.  
Jo1939 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.  
Jo1940 The seventh lot fell to the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families.  
Jo1941 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh,  
Jo1942 and Shaalabbin and Aijalon and Ithlah,  
Jo1943 and Elon and Timnah and Ekron,  
Jo1944 and Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalath,  
Jo1945   and Jehud and Bene-berak and Gath-rimmon,   
Jo1946 and Me-jarkon and Rakkon, with the territory opposite Joppa.  
Jo1947 The territory of the sons of Dan went beyond these; so the sons of Dan went up to fight against Leshem (Laish) and captured it. Then they struck it with the edge of the sword and took possession of it and settled there [between the tribes of Naphtali and Manasseh]; they renamed Leshem, Dan, after the name of their father (ancestor) Dan.  
Jo1948 This was the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Dan according to their families (clans), these cities with their villages.  
Jo1949 When they had finished dividing the land for inheritance by its borders, the Israelites gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.  
Jo1950 According to the command of the LORD they gave him the city for which he asked—Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. So he built the city and settled in it.  
Jo1951 These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the tribes of the sons of Israel distributed by lot in Shiloh before the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land.  
Jo2001 The LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,  
Jo2002 “Speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘Designate the cities of refuge (asylum), of which I spoke to you through Moses,  
Jo2003 so that the person (manslayer) who kills any person unintentionally, without premeditation, may flee there, and they shall be your refuge from the blood avenger.  
Jo2004 He shall flee to one of these cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city; and they shall take him into [the protection of] the city and give him a place [to stay], so that he may live among them.  
Jo2005 If the blood avenger pursues him, they shall not hand the offender (manslayer) over to him, because he killed his neighbor unintentionally and without premeditation and did not hate him beforehand.  
Jo2006 He shall live in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment [and if acquitted of murder he must stay there], until the death of the one who is the high priest in those days. Then the offender (manslayer) shall return to his own city and his own house from which he fled.’”  
Jo2007 So they set apart and consecrated Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.  
Jo2008 Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.  
Jo2009 These were the appointed cities for all the Israelites and for the stranger sojourning (living temporarily) among them, so that whoever killed any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the blood avenger until he had stood before the congregation [for judgment].  
Jo2101 Then the heads of the households of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the households of the tribes of the sons of Israel.  
Jo2102 They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us cities to live in, with their pasture lands for our cattle.”  
Jo2103 So the sons of Israel gave the Levites from their inheritance these [forty-eight] cities and their pasture lands, in accordance with the command of the LORD.  
Jo2104 The [first] lot (allotment) came out for the families of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were sons (descendants) of Aaron the priest received thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah and from the tribe of Simeon and from the tribe of Benjamin.  
Jo2105 The rest of the sons of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim and from the tribe of Dan and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.  
Jo2106 The sons of Gershon received thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar and from the tribe of Asher and from the tribe of Naphtali and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.  
Jo2107 The sons of Merari according to their families received twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben and from the tribe of Gad and from the tribe of Zebulun.  
Jo2108 The sons of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.  
Jo2109 They gave these cities which are mentioned here by name from the tribe of the sons of Judah and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon;  
Jo2110 and they were for the sons of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, of the sons of Levi, because the lot fell to them first.  
Jo2111 They gave them [the city of] Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah, with its surrounding pasture lands.  
Jo2112 But the fields of the city and its villages they had given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his property.  
Jo2113 So to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Libnah with its pasture lands,  
Jo2114 and Jattir with its pasture lands and Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,  
Jo2115 and Holon with its pasture lands and Debir with its pasture lands,  
Jo2116 and Ain with its pasture lands and Juttah with its pasture lands and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands; nine cities from these two tribes (Judah and Simeon).  
Jo2117 From the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its pasture lands, and Geba with its pasture lands,  
Jo2118 Anathoth with its pasture lands and Almon with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2119 All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.  
Jo2120 Then the cities from the tribe of Ephraim were allotted to the families of the sons of Kohath, the Levites, even to the rest of the sons of Kohath.  
Jo2121 They gave them Shechem, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and Gezer with its pasture lands,  
Jo2122 and Kibzaim with its pasture lands and Beth-horon with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2123 From the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands,  
Jo2124 Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2125 From the half-tribe of Manasseh, they allotted Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath- rimmon with its pasture lands; two cities.  
Jo2126 All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the sons of Kohath totaled ten.  
Jo2127 To the sons of Gershon, one of the families of the Levites, they gave from the other half-tribe of Manasseh, [the city of] Golan in Bashan, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands, and Be-eshterah with its pasture lands; two cities.  
Jo2128 From the tribe of Issachar, they gave Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands,  
Jo2129 Jarmuth with its pasture lands, and En-gannim with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2130 From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,  
Jo2131 Helkath with its pasture lands and Rehob with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2132 From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands and Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands and Kartan with its pasture lands; three cities.  
Jo2133 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their pasture lands.  
Jo2134 To the families of the sons of Merari, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pasture lands and Kartah with its pasture lands,  
Jo2135 Dimnah with its pasture lands and Nahalal with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2136 From the tribe of Reuben, they gave Bezer with its pasture lands and Jahaz with its pasture lands,  
Jo2137 Kedemoth with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; four cities.  
Jo2138 From the tribe of Gad, they gave Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for anyone who committed manslaughter, with its pasture lands and Mahanaim with its pasture lands,  
Jo2139 Heshbon with its pasture lands and Jazer with its pasture lands; four cities in all.  
Jo2140 All [these were] the cities of the sons of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.  
Jo2141 All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the property of the sons of Israel were forty-eight cities with their pasture lands.  
Jo2142 These cities each had its surrounding pasture lands; so it was with all these cities.  
Jo2143 So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers (ancestors), and they took possession of it and lived in it.  
Jo2144 The LORD gave them rest [from conflict] on every side, in accordance with everything that He had sworn to their fathers, and not one of all their enemies stood before them [in battle]; the LORD handed over all their enemies to them.  
Jo2145 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel failed; all had come to pass.  
Jo2201 Then Joshua called the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,  
Jo2202 and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have listened to and obeyed my voice in everything that I commanded you.  
Jo2203 You have not deserted your brothers these many days to this day, but have [carefully] kept the obligation of the commandment of the LORD your God.  
Jo2204 And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as He has promised them; so turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the [east side of the] Jordan.  
Jo2205 Only be very careful and diligently observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD has commanded you to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul [your very life].”  
Jo2206 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.  
Jo2207 Now to the one-half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave a possession on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers. So when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,  
Jo2208 and he said to them, “Return to your tents with great riches and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with very many clothes; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers (fellow tribesmen).”  
Jo2209 So the sons (descendants) of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home and departed from the [other] sons (western tribes) of Israel at Shiloh which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their own which they had possessed, in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.  
Jo2210 When they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, an altar that was great to behold.  
Jo2211 And the [other] sons of Israel heard it said, “Look, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the edge of the land of Canaan, in the region [west] of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.”  
Jo2212 When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh to make war against them.  
Jo2213 Then the sons of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead,  
Jo2214 and with him ten leaders, one leader from each father’s household from each of the tribes of Israel; and each one was the head of his father’s household among the thousands of Israel.  
Jo2215 They came to the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them,  
Jo2216 “This is what the entire congregation of the LORD says, ‘What is this disloyal and unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, so as to turn away from following the LORD this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the LORD this day?  
Jo2217 Is the wrongdoing (idolatry) of Peor not enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, even though the affliction [in which twenty-four thousand died] came on the congregation of the LORD,  
Jo2218 that you would turn away this day from following the LORD? If you rebel against the LORD today, He will be angry with the entire congregation of Israel tomorrow.  
Jo2219 If, however, the land of your possession is unclean, then cross into the land of the possession of the LORD, where the LORD’S tabernacle is situated, and settle down among us. But do not rebel against the LORD, or rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves, besides the altar of the LORD our God [at Shiloh].  
Jo2220 Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and [as a result God’s] wrath came on the entire congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his wrongdoing.’”  
Jo2221 Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the families of Israel,  
Jo2222 “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the LORD, do not save us this day!  
Jo2223 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from following the LORD, or if [we did so] to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself require it [of us and hold us responsible].  
Jo2224 But in truth we have done this out of concern, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your sons (descendants) may say to our sons, “What claim do you have to the LORD, the God of Israel?  
Jo2225 For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no part in the LORD.” So your sons (descendants) may cause our sons to stop fearing the LORD.’  
Jo2226 “So we said, ‘Let us prepare and build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice,  
Jo2227 but to be a witness between us and you and between the generations after us, that we are to perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your sons (descendants) will not say to our sons in time to come, “You have no part in the LORD.”’  
Jo2228 So we said, ‘If your descendants should say this to us or to our descendants in time to come, then we can reply, “See the copy of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice, but rather it is a witness between us and you.”’  
Jo2229 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away from following the LORD this day, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the LORD our God which is before His tabernacle [in Shiloh].”  
Jo2230 So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation and heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.  
Jo2231 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this unfaithful act against the LORD; indeed you have saved Israel from the hand of the LORD.”  
Jo2232 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them.  
Jo2233 The report pleased the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel blessed God; and they said no more about going to battle against them to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living.  
Jo2234 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; “For it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”  
Jo2301 A long time after that, when the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua had grown old and advanced in years,  
Jo2302 that Joshua called all Israel, their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, “I am old and advanced in years.  
Jo2303 And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you.  
Jo2304 See, I have allotted to you these nations that remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan [on the east] to the Great [Mediterranean] Sea toward the setting sun.  
Jo2305 The LORD your God will push them away from before you and drive them out of your sight and you will take possession of their land, just as the LORD your God promised you.  
Jo2306 Be steadfast and very determined to keep and to do everything that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, so that you do not turn aside from it to the right or the left,  
Jo2307 so that you do not associate with these nations which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear [an oath by them], or serve them, or bow down to them.  
Jo2308 But you are to cling to the LORD your God, just as you have done to this day.  
Jo2309 For the LORD has driven out great and mighty nations from before you; and as for you, no man has been able to stand [in opposition] before you to this day.  
Jo2310 One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who is fighting for you, just as He promised you.  
Jo2311 So be very careful and watchful of yourselves to love the LORD your God.  
Jo2312 For if you ever turn back and cling to the rest of these nations, these that are left among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,  
Jo2313 know and understand with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.  
Jo2314 “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God has promised concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.  
Jo2315 It shall come about that just as every good word which the LORD your God spoke and promised to you has been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you every bad thing [about which He warned you], until He has destroyed and eliminated you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.  
Jo2316 When you transgress (violate) the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you [to follow], and you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”  
Jo2401 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel and for their heads and for their judges and for their officers; they presented themselves before God.  
Jo2402 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, lived beyond the [Euphrates] River in ancient times; and they served other gods.  
Jo2403 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the [Euphrates] River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants, and I gave him Isaac.  
Jo2404 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave [the hill country of] Mount Seir to possess; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.  
Jo2405 Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt by what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out.  
Jo2406 Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.  
Jo2407 When they cried out to the LORD [for help], He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time (forty years).  
Jo2408 Then I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land and I destroyed them before you.  
Jo2409 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.  
Jo2410 But I would not listen to Balaam. Therefore he had to bless you, so I saved you from Balak’s hand.  
Jo2411 You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, the Hivite and the Jebusite; and so I gave them into your hand.  
Jo2412 I sent the hornet [that is, the terror of you] before you, which drove the two kings of the Amorites out before you; but it was not by your sword or by your bow.  
Jo2413 I gave you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you live in them; you eat from vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’  
Jo2414 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; remove the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the [Euphrates] River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
Jo2415 If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”  
Jo2416 The people answered, “Far be it from us to abandon (reject) the LORD to serve other gods;  
Jo2417 for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs (miracles) in our sight and kept us safe all along the way that we went and among all the peoples among whom we passed.  
Jo2418 The LORD drove all the peoples out from before us, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.”  
Jo2419 Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD [if you serve any other gods], for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]. He will not forgive your transgression [of His law] or your sins.  
Jo2420 If you do abandon (reject) the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume and destroy you after He has done you good.”  
Jo2421 The people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve [only] the LORD.”  
Jo2422 Joshua then said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”  
Jo2423 “Now then, remove the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your hearts toward the LORD, the God of Israel.”  
Jo2424 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and we will listen to and obey His voice.”  
Jo2425 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance at Shechem.  
Jo2426 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was in [the courtyard of] the sanctuary of the LORD.  
Jo2427 Joshua then said to all the people, “Look, this stone shall serve as a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us; so it shall be a witness against you, so that [afterward] you do not deny your God.”  
Jo2428 Then Joshua sent the people away, each to [the territory of] his inheritance.  
Jo2429 It happened after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, at the age of a hundred and ten years.  
Jo2430 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.  
Jo2431 Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.  
Jo2432 Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the plot of land which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and it became the inheritance of the sons of Joseph.  
Jo2433 And Eleazar [the priest], the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah [on the hill] of Phinehas his son, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.  
Jd0101 Now it came about after the death of Joshua, that the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) asked the LORD, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?”  
Jd0102 And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up [first]; behold, I have given the land into his hand.”  
Jd0103 And [the tribe of the sons of] Judah said to [the tribe of the sons of] Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my allotted territory, so that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your allotted territory.” So Simeon went with him.  
Jd0104 Then Judah went up, and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they struck down in defeat ten thousand men at Bezek.  
Jd0105 Then they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they struck down in defeat the Canaanites and the Perizzites.  
Jd0106 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.  
Jd0107 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather up scraps of food under my table; as I have done [to others], so God has repaid me.” So they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.  
Jd0108 Then the sons of Judah fought against [Jebusite] Jerusalem and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.  
Jd0109 Afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negev (South country) and in the lowland.  
Jd0110 So Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba); and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.  
Jd0111 From there [the tribe of] Judah went against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher [city of books and scribes]).  
Jd0112 And Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will even give him my daughter Achsah as a wife.”  
Jd0113 Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife.  
Jd0114 When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to [allow her to] ask her father [Caleb] for a field. Then she [rode up to Caleb and] dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”  
Jd0115 She said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me the land of the Negev (South country), give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.  
Jd0116 The sons of [Jethro] the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the City of Palms (Jericho) with the sons of Judah, to the wilderness of Judah which is in the Negev (South country) near Arad; and they went and lived with the people.  
Jd0117 Then [the warriors of the tribe of] Judah went with [the warriors of the tribe of] Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites living in Zephath and utterly destroyed it. So the city was called Hormah (destruction).  
Jd0118 Also [the warriors of] Judah captured Gaza with its territory and Ashkelon with its territory and Ekron with its territory.  
Jd0119 The LORD was with Judah, and [the tribe of] Judah took possession of the hill country, but they could not dispossess and drive out those inhabiting the valley because they had iron chariots.  
Jd0120 Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak.  
Jd0121 But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.  
Jd0122 The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the LORD was with them.  
Jd0123 The house of Joseph spied out Bethel (now the name of the city was formerly Luz).  
Jd0124 The spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city and we will treat you kindly.”  
Jd0125 So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family go free.  
Jd0126 The man went into the land of the Hittites and built a city and named it Luz, which is its name to this day.  
Jd0127 But [the tribe of] Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites remained in that land.  
Jd0128 It happened when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.  
Jd0129 Neither did [the warriors of] Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer; so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.  
Jd0130 [The warriors of the tribe of] Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or of Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and were put to forced labor.  
Jd0131 [The warriors of the tribe of] Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob.  
Jd0132 So the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, because they did not drive them out.  
Jd0133 Neither did [the warriors of] Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth- shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but they lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth- anath became forced labor for them.  
Jd0134 Then the Amorites forced the sons of Dan [back] into the hill country, for they would not allow them to come down into the valley;  
Jd0135 yet the Amorites persisted in living on Mount Heres (the mountain of the sun), in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; but when the power of the house (descendants) of Joseph became strong and prevailed, they became forced labor.  
Jd0136 The border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela (rock) and upward.  
Jd0201 Now the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and led you to the land which I swore [to give] to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you,  
Jd0202 and as for you, you shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed Me; what is this that you have done?  
Jd0203 So I also said, ‘I will not drive your enemies out before you; but they will be like thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’”  
Jd0204 When the Angel of the LORD had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people raised their voices and wept.  
Jd0205 So they named that place Bochim (weepers); and there they offered sacrifices to the LORD.  
Jd0206 And when Joshua had sent the people away, the [tribes of the] Israelites went each to his inheritance, to take possession of the land.  
Jd0207 The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel.  
Jd0208 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.  
Jd0209 And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.  
Jd0210 Also, all [the people of] that generation were gathered to their fathers [in death]; and another generation arose after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the LORD, nor even the work which He had done for Israel.  
Jd0211 Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped and served the Baals,  
Jd0212 and they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them, and offended and provoked the LORD to anger.  
Jd0213 So they abandoned the LORD and served Baal [the pagan god of the Canaanites] and the Ashtaroth.  
Jd0214 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands (power) of plunderers who robbed them; and He sold them into the hands of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer stand [in opposition] before their enemies.  
Jd0215 Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil (misfortune), as the LORD had spoken, and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed.  
Jd0216 Then the LORD raised up judges who rescued them from the hands of those who robbed them.  
Jd0217 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the prostitute after other gods and they bowed down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers.  
Jd0218 When the LORD raised up judges for them, He was with the judge and He rescued them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.  
Jd0219 But when the judge died, they turned back and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, in following and serving other gods, and bowing down to them. They did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.  
Jd0220 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed (violated) My covenant (binding agreement) which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to My voice,  
Jd0221 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left [to be conquered] when he died,  
Jd0222 in order to test [the loyalty of] Israel by them, whether Israel will keep the way of the LORD to walk in it, as their fathers did, or not.”  
Jd0223 So the LORD allowed those nations to remain, not driving them out at once; and He did not give them into the hand of Joshua.  
Jd0301 Now these are the nations which the LORD left [in order] to test Israel by them (that is, all [the people of Israel] who had not [previously] experienced any of the wars in Canaan;  
Jd0302 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, at least those who had not experienced it previously).  
Jd0303 The remaining nations are: the five lords (governors) of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal- hermon to the entrance of Hamath.  
Jd0304 They were [allowed to remain] for the testing of Israel, to determine whether Israel would listen to and obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers (ancestors) through Moses.  
Jd0305 And the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites;  
Jd0306 and they took their daughters for themselves as wives and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their [pagan] gods.  
Jd0307 And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.  
Jd0308 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.  
Jd0309 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD [for help], the LORD raised up a man to rescue the people of Israel, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.  
Jd0310 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand, and he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.  
Jd0311 And the land was at rest [from oppression for] forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.  
Jd0312 Now the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, since they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD.  
Jd0313 And Eglon gathered to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and went and struck down Israel [in defeat], and they took possession of the City of Palm Trees (Jericho).  
Jd0314 And the Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.  
Jd0315 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD [for help], the LORD raised up a man to rescue them, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. And the Israelites sent a gift of tribute by him to Eglon king of Moab.  
Jd0316 Now Ehud made for himself a sword a cubit long, which had two edges, and he bound it on his right thigh under his robe.  
Jd0317 And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.  
Jd0318 And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried it.  
Jd0319 But Ehud himself turned back from the sculptured stones at Gilgal, [and he returned to Eglon] and said [to him], “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Eglon said “Keep silence.” And all who attended him left him.  
Jd0320 Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his [private] cool upper chamber, and Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And the king got up from his seat.  
Jd0321 Then Ehud reached out with his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.  
Jd0322 And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, because Ehud did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the refuse came out.  
Jd0323 Then Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the upper chamber behind him, and locked them.  
Jd0324 When Ehud departed, Eglon’s servants came. And when they saw that the doors of the upper room were locked, they said, “He is only relieving himself in the cool room.”  
Jd0325 They waited [a very long time] until they became embarrassed and uneasy, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. So [finally] they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor, dead.  
Jd0326 Now Ehud escaped while they lingered, and he passed beyond the sculptured stones and escaped to Seirah.  
Jd0327 When he had arrived, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was in front of them.  
Jd0328 And he said to them, “Pursue them, for the LORD has handed over your enemies the Moabites to you.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab and did not allow anyone to cross.  
Jd0329 They struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabite men, all strong, courageous men; not a man escaped.  
Jd0330 So Moab was subdued and humbled that day under the hand of Israel, and the land was at rest for eighty years.  
Jd0331 After Ehud came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistine men with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.  
Jd0401 But the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died.  
Jd0402 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.  
Jd0403 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD [for help], for Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots and had oppressed and tormented the sons of Israel severely for twenty years.  
Jd0404 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.  
Jd0405 She used to sit [to hear and decide disputes] under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.  
Jd0406 Now she sent word and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the LORD, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men [of war] from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun.  
Jd0407 I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his infantry to meet you at the river Kishon, and I will hand him over to you.’”  
Jd0408 Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”  
Jd0409 She said, “I will certainly go with you; nevertheless, the journey that you are about to take will not be for your honor and glory, because the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.  
Jd0410 And Barak summoned [the fighting men of the tribes of] Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up under his command; Deborah also went up with him.  
Jd0411 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the terebinth tree in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.  
Jd0412 When someone told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,  
Jd0413 Sisera called together all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.  
Jd0414 Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day when the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Has the LORD not gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.  
Jd0415 And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and [confused] all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera dismounted from his chariot and fled away on foot.  
Jd0416 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and the entire army of Sisera fell by the sword; not even one man was left.  
Jd0417 But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.  
Jd0418 Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me! Have no fear.” So he turned aside to her [and went] into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.  
Jd0419 And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink because I am thirsty.” And she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him.  
Jd0420 And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is there anyone here?’ tell him, ‘No.’”  
Jd0421 But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, and came up quietly to him and drove the peg through his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.  
Jd0422 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” And he entered [her tent] with her, and behold Sisera lay dead with the tent peg in his temple.  
Jd0423 So on that day God subdued and humbled Jabin king of Canaan before the sons of Israel.  
Jd0424 And the hand of the sons of Israel pressed down heavier and heavier on Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed him.  
Jd0501 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,  
Jd0502 “For the leaders who took the lead in Israel, For the people who volunteered [for battle], Bless the LORD!  
Jd0503 “Hear, O kings; listen, O rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.  
Jd0504 “LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Yes, the clouds dripped water.  
Jd0505 “The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, Yes, this Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.  
Jd0506 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways.  
Jd0507 “The villagers ceased to be; they ceased in Israel Until I, Deborah, arose, Until I arose, a mother in Israel.  
Jd0508 “They chose new gods; Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?  
Jd0509 “My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel, The volunteers among the people; Bless the LORD!  
Jd0510 “Sing of it, you who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, And you who walk by the way.  
Jd0511 “At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, The righteous acts toward His villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.  
Jd0512 “Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.  
Jd0513 “Then down marched the survivors to the nobles; The people of the LORD marched down for Me against the mighty.  
Jd0514 “From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down, After you, Benjamin, with your relatives; From Machir came down commanders and rulers, And from Zebulun those who handle the scepter of the [office of] scribe.  
Jd0515 “And the heads of Issachar came with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed at his heels; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.  
Jd0516 “Why [Reuben] did you linger among the sheepfolds, To hear the piping for the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.  
Jd0517 “Gilead remained beyond the Jordan; And why did Dan live as an alien on ships? Asher sat [still] on the seacoast, And remained by its landings. [These did not come to battle for God’s people.]  
Jd0518 “But Zebulun was a people who risked their lives to the [point of] death; Naphtali also, on the heights of the field.  
Jd0519 “The kings came and fought; Then the kings of Canaan fought At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. Spoils of silver they did not obtain.  
Jd0520 “From the heavens the stars fought, From their courses they fought against Sisera.  
Jd0521 “The torrent Kishon swept the enemy away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.  
Jd0522 “Then the horses’ hoofs beat [loudly] Because of the galloping—the galloping of his valiant and powerful steeds.  
Jd0523 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the messenger of the LORD, ‘Utterly curse its inhabitants; Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’  
Jd0524 “Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent.  
Jd0525 “Sisera asked for water and she gave him milk; She brought him curds in a magnificent bowl.  
Jd0526 “She reached out her [left] hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple.  
Jd0527 “He bowed, he fell, he lay [still] at her feet; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell dead.  
Jd0528 “Out of the window she looked down and lamented (cried out in a shrill voice), The mother of Sisera through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot delayed in coming? Why have the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?’  
Jd0529 “Her wise ladies answered her, Indeed, she repeated her words to herself,  
Jd0530 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? A maiden (concubine) or two for every man; A spoil of dyed garments for Sisera, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Two pieces of dyed garments embroidered for the neck of the plunderer?’  
Jd0531 “So let all Your enemies perish, O LORD; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.” And the land was at rest for forty years.  
Jd0601 Then the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.  
Jd0602 The [powerful] hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens (hideouts) which were in the mountains, and the caves and the [mountain] strongholds.  
Jd0603 For it was whenever Israel had sown [their seed] that the Midianites would come up with the Amalekites and the people of the east and go up against them.  
Jd0604 So they would camp against them and destroy the crops of the land as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey.  
Jd0605 For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, and they would come in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were innumerable. So they came into the land to devastate it.  
Jd0606 So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the Israelites cried out to the LORD [for help].  
Jd0607 Now it came about when they cried out to the LORD because of Midian,  
Jd0608 that the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites, and he said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery.  
Jd0609 And I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land,  
Jd0610 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.” But you have not listened to and obeyed My voice.’”  
Jd0611 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, and his son Gideon was beating wheat in the wine press [instead of the threshing floor] to [hide it and] save it from the Midianites.  
Jd0612 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O brave man.”  
Jd0613 But Gideon said to him, “Please my lord, if the LORD is with us, then why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wondrous works which our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”  
Jd0614 The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”  
Jd0615 But Gideon said to Him, “Please Lord, how am I to rescue Israel? Behold, my family is the least [significant] in Manasseh, and I am the youngest (smallest) in my father’s house.”  
Jd0616 The LORD answered him, “I will certainly be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as [if they were only] one man.”  
Jd0617 Gideon replied to Him, “If I have found any favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speaks with me.  
Jd0618 Please do not depart from here until I come back to You, and bring my offering and place it before You.” And He said, “I will wait until you return.”  
Jd0619 Then Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket and the broth in a pot, and he brought the food to Him under the oak (terebinth) and presented it.  
Jd0620 The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth [over them].” And he did so.  
Jd0621 Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in His hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.  
Jd0622 When Gideon realized [without any doubt] that He was the Angel of the LORD, he declared, “Oh no, Lord GOD! For now I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face [and I am doomed]!”  
Jd0623 The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die.”  
Jd0624 Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah, of the Abiezrites.  
Jd0625 Now on that same night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s bull, the second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it;  
Jd0626 and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this mountain stronghold [with stones laid down] in an orderly way. Then take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice using the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”  
Jd0627 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did just as the LORD had told him; but because he was too afraid of his father’s household (relatives) and the men of the city to do it during daylight, he did it at night.  
Jd0628 Early the next morning when the men of the city got up, they discovered that the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah which was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar which had been built.  
Jd0629 So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they searched about and inquired, they were told, “Gideon the son of Joash did it.”  
Jd0630 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, so that he may be executed, because he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah which was beside it.”  
Jd0631 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you plead for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads for Baal shall be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him defend himself, because someone has torn down his altar.”  
Jd0632 Therefore on that day he named Gideon Jerubbaal, meaning, “Let Baal plead,” because he had torn down his altar.  
Jd0633 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east assembled together; and they crossed over [the Jordan] and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.  
Jd0634 So the Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon [and empowered him]; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together [as a militia] to follow him.  
Jd0635 He sent messengers throughout [the tribe of] Manasseh, and the fighting men were also called together to follow him; and he sent messengers to [the tribes of] Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet them.  
Jd0636 Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to rescue Israel through me, as You have spoken,  
Jd0637 behold, I will put a fleece of [freshly sheared] wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground [around it], then I will know that You will rescue Israel through me, as You have said.”  
Jd0638 And it was so. When he got up early the next morning and squeezed the dew out of the fleece, he wrung from it a bowl full of water.  
Jd0639 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn against me, so that I may speak once more. Please let me make a test once more with the fleece; now let only the fleece be dry, and let there be dew on all the ground.”  
Jd0640 God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and there was dew on all the ground [around it].  
Jd0701 Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was north of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.  
Jd0702 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are too many people with you for Me to hand over Midian to them, otherwise Israel will boast [about themselves] against Me, saying, ‘My own power has rescued me.’  
Jd0703 So now, proclaim in the hearing of the people, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men returned [home], but ten thousand remained.  
Jd0704 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many people; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”  
Jd0705 So he brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels down to drink.”  
Jd0706 Now the number of those who lapped [the water], putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men, but all the rest of the people kneeled down to drink water.  
Jd0707 And the LORD told Gideon, “With the three hundred men who lapped I will rescue you, and will hand over the Midianites to you. Let all the other people go, each man to his home.”  
Jd0708 So the three hundred men took people’s provisions [for the journey] and their trumpets [made of rams’ horns] in their hands. And Gideon sent [away] all the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but kept the three hundred men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.  
Jd0709 Now on that same night the LORD said to Gideon, “Arise, go down against their camp, for I have given it into your hand.  
Jd0710 But if you are afraid to go down [by yourself], go with Purah your servant down to the camp,  
Jd0711 and you will hear what they say; and afterward you will have the courage to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the army that was in the camp.  
Jd0712 Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying [camped] in the valley, as countless as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.  
Jd0713 When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling a dream to his friend. And he said, “Listen carefully, I had a dream: there was a loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.”  
Jd0714 And his friend replied, “This [dream] is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has given Midian and the entire camp into his hand.”  
Jd0715 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down in worship. Then he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hand.”  
Jd0716 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers.  
Jd0717 And he said to them, “Look at me, then do likewise. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do.  
Jd0718 When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet (ram’s horn), then all around the camp you also blow the trumpets and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”  
Jd0719 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when the guards had just been changed, and they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands.  
Jd0720 When three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow, and they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!”  
Jd0721 Then each stood in his place around the camp; and the entire [Midianite] army ran, crying out as they fled.  
Jd0722 When Gideon’s men blew the three hundred trumpets, the LORD set the sword of one [Midianite] against another even throughout the whole army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.  
Jd0723 The men of Israel were summoned together from [the tribes of] Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.  
Jd0724 Then Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of [the tribe of] Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and take [control of] the waters before them [thereby cutting off the Midianites], as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan [River].” So all the men of Ephraim were assembled together and they took control of the waters, as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.  
Jd0725 Then the men of Ephraim took the two leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian; and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan.  
Jd0801 And the men of [the tribe of] Ephraim said to Gideon, “What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling us when you went to fight with Midian?” And they quarreled with him vehemently.  
Jd0802 But he said to them, “What have I done now [that is so significant] in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning (leftovers) of the grapes of [your tribe of] Ephraim better than the vintage (entire harvest) of [my clan of] Abiezer?  
Jd0803 God has given the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he made this statement.  
Jd0804 So Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over [the river], he and the three hundred men who were with him—exhausted, yet [still] pursuing [the enemy].  
Jd0805 He said to the men of Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who are following me since they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”  
Jd0806 But the leaders of Succoth said, “Are Zebah and Zalmunna already in your hands, that we should give bread to your army?”  
Jd0807 Gideon said, “For that [response], when the LORD has handed over Zebah and Zalmunna to me, I will thrash your bodies with the thorns and briars of the wilderness.”  
Jd0808 He went from there up to Penuel and spoke similarly to them; and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had answered.  
Jd0809 So Gideon said also to the men of Penuel, “When I come again in peace, I will tear down this tower.”  
Jd0810 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies, about fifteen thousand [fighting] men, all who were left of the entire army of the sons of the east; for a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had fallen.  
Jd0811 Gideon went up by the route of those who lived in tents to the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked their camp when the camp was unsuspecting.  
Jd0812 When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and terrified the entire army.  
Jd0813 Then Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres.  
Jd0814 He captured a young man of Succoth and questioned him. And the youth wrote down for him [the names of] the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.  
Jd0815 He came to the men of Succoth and said, “Look here, Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, ‘Are Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are exhausted?’”  
Jd0816 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briars, and with them he punished the men of Succoth.  
Jd0817 He tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.  
Jd0818 Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.”  
Jd0819 He said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As the LORD lives, if only you had let them live, I would not kill you.”  
Jd0820 So [to humiliate them] Gideon said to Jether his firstborn, “Stand up, and kill them!” But the youth did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still [just] a boy.  
Jd0821 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise up yourself and strike us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” So Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent amulets that were on their camels’ necks.  
Jd0822 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule [as king] over us, both you and your son, also your son’s son, for you have rescued us from the hand of Midian.”  
Jd0823 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”  
Jd0824 And Gideon said to them, “I would make a request of you, that each one of you give me an earring from his spoil.” For the Midianites had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites [who customarily wore them].  
Jd0825 They answered, “We will certainly give them to you.” And they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil.  
Jd0826 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was seventeen hundred shekels of gold, apart from the crescent amulets and pendants and the purple garments which were worn by the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains that were on their camels’ necks.  
Jd0827 Gideon made [all the golden earrings into] an ephod [a sacred, high priest’s garment], and put it in his city of Ophrah, and all Israel worshiped it as an idol there, and it became a trap for Gideon and his household.  
Jd0828 So Midian was subdued and humbled before the sons of Israel, and they no longer lifted up their heads [in pride]. And the land was at rest for forty years in the days of Gideon.  
Jd0829 Jerubbaal (Gideon) the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.  
Jd0830 Now Gideon had seventy sons born to him, because he had many wives.  
Jd0831 And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelech.  
Jd0832 Gideon the son of Joash died at a good advanced age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.  
Jd0833 Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the Israelites again played the prostitute with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god.  
Jd0834 And the Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side;  
Jd0835 nor did they show kindness to the family of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done for Israel.  
Jd0901 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and said to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father,  
Jd0902 “Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your own bone and flesh.”  
Jd0903 So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words concerning him so that all the leaders of Shechem could hear; and their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.”  
Jd0904 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and undisciplined men, and they followed (supported) him.  
Jd0905 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and murdered his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, [in a public execution] on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left alive, because he had hidden himself.  
Jd0906 All the men of Shechem and all of Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak (terebinth) of the pillar (memorial stone) at Shechem.  
Jd0907 When they told Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Hear me, O men of Shechem, so that God may hear you.  
Jd0908 Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’  
Jd0909 But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I give up my fatness by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’  
Jd0910 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’  
Jd0911 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’  
Jd0912 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’  
Jd0913 And the vine replied, ‘Should I give up my new wine, which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the trees?’  
Jd0914 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’  
Jd0915 So the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’  
Jd0916 “Now then, if you acted in truth and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved—  
Jd0917 for my father fought for you and risked his life and rescued you from the hand of Midian;  
Jd0918 but you have risen against my father’s house today and have murdered his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the people of Shechem, because he is your relative—  
Jd0919 if then you have acted in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.  
Jd0920 But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth- millo; and may fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.”  
Jd0921 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and lived there because of Abimelech his brother.  
Jd0922 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.  
Jd0923 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech,  
Jd0924 so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon) might come [on the guilty], and that their [innocent] blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who had killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who strengthened his hands (encouraged him) to kill his brothers.  
Jd0925 The leaders of Shechem set men in ambush against Abimelech on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.  
Jd0926 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and moved into Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem trusted him.  
Jd0927 They went out into the field, gathered the grapes of their vineyard and trod them, and held a festival; and they entered the house of their god, and they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.  
Jd0928 Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not [merely] the son of Jerubbaal and is Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father (founder) of Shechem. Why then should we serve Abimelech?  
Jd0929 If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech and say to him, ‘Increase [the size of] your army and come out [to fight].’”  
Jd0930 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.  
Jd0931 He sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and they are stirring up the city against you.  
Jd0932 Now then, get up during the night, you and the people who are with you, and set up an ambush in the field.  
Jd0933 Then in the morning, at sunrise, you will get up early and rush upon and attack the city; and when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.”  
Jd0934 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up during the night, and set up an ambush against Shechem, in four companies.  
Jd0935 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from the ambush.  
Jd0936 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops.” But Zebul said to him, “You are only seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.”  
Jd0937 Gaal spoke again and said, “Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company is coming by way of the sorcerers’ oak tree.”  
Jd0938 Then Zebul said to Gaal, “Where is your [boasting] mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!”  
Jd0939 So Gaal went out ahead of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.  
Jd0940 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate.  
Jd0941 Then Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.  
Jd0942 The next day the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech.  
Jd0943 So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the field; and he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. And he rose up against them and struck them down.  
Jd0944 Then Abimelech and the company with him advanced forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the two other companies attacked all who were in the field and killed them.  
Jd0945 Abimelech fought against the city that entire day. He took the city and killed the people who were in it; he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.  
Jd0946 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber (stronghold) of the temple of El-berith (the god of a covenant).  
Jd0947 Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were assembled together.  
Jd0948 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, picked it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the people with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do just as I have done.”  
Jd0949 So everyone of the people also cut down his branch and followed Abimelech, and they put the branches on top of the inner chamber and set it on fire over those inside, so that all the people in the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.  
Jd0950 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and camped against Thebez and took it.  
Jd0951 But there was a strong (fortified) tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.  
Jd0952 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it down with fire.  
Jd0953 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone [down] on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.  
Jd0954 Then he called quickly to the young man who was his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died.  
Jd0955 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.  
Jd0956 In this way God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father [Jerubbaal] by killing his seventy brothers.  
Jd0957 Also God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) came upon them.  
Jd1001 After Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel; and he lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.  
Jd1002 Tola judged Israel for twenty-three years; then he died and was buried in Shamir.  
Jd1003 After him, Jair the Gileadite arose, and he judged Israel for twenty-two years.  
Jd1004 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead that are called Havvoth-jair (towns of Jair) to this day.  
Jd1005 And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.  
Jd1006 Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; they served the Baals, the Ashtaroth (female deities), the gods of Aram (Syria), the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not serve Him.  
Jd1007 So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites,  
Jd1008 and they oppressed and crushed Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  
Jd1009 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.  
Jd1010 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD [for help], saying, “We have sinned against You, because we have abandoned (rejected) our God and have served the Baals.”  
Jd1011 The LORD said to the Israelites, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines?  
Jd1012 Also when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed and crushed you, you cried out to Me, and I rescued you from their hands.  
Jd1013 Yet you have abandoned (rejected) Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer rescue you.  
Jd1014 Go, cry out to the gods you have chosen; let them rescue you in your time of distress.”  
Jd1015 The Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please rescue us this day.”  
Jd1016 So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.  
Jd1017 Then the Ammonites were assembled together and they camped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah.  
Jd1018 The people, the leaders of Gilead (Israel) said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”  
Jd1101 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a brave warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.  
Jd1102 Gilead’s wife bore him sons, and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”  
Jd1103 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob; and worthless and unprincipled men gathered around Jephthah, and went out [on raids] with him.  
Jd1104 Now it happened after a while that the Ammonites fought against Israel.  
Jd1105 When the Ammonites fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob;  
Jd1106 and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, so that we may fight against the Ammonites.”  
Jd1107 But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me from the house of my father? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?”  
Jd1108 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “This is why we have turned to you now: that you may go with us and fight the Ammonites and become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”  
Jd1109 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back [home] to fight against the Ammonites and the LORD gives them over to me, will I [really] become your head?”  
Jd1110 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is the witness between us; be assured that we will do as you have said.”  
Jd1111 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah repeated everything that he had promised before the LORD at Mizpah.  
Jd1112 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What is [the problem] between you and me, that you have come against me to fight in my land?”  
Jd1113 The Ammonites’ king replied to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel took away my land when they came up from Egypt, from the [river] Arnon as far as the Jabbok and [east of] the Jordan; so now, return those lands peaceably.”  
Jd1114 But Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites,  
Jd1115 and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.  
Jd1116 For when they came up from Egypt, Israel walked through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh;  
Jd1117 then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your land,” but the king of Edom would not listen. Also they sent word to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.  
Jd1118 Then they went through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab, and they camped on the other side of the [river] Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the [northern] boundary of Moab.  
Jd1119 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your land to our place.”  
Jd1120 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered together all his people and camped at Jahaz and fought against Israel.  
Jd1121 The LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.  
Jd1122 They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness [westward] as far as the Jordan.  
Jd1123 And now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed and driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, so [why] should you possess it?  
Jd1124 Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And everything that the LORD our God dispossessed before us, we will possess.  
Jd1125 Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war against them?  
Jd1126 While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon for three hundred years, why did you not recover your lost lands during that time?  
Jd1127 So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me; may the LORD, the [righteous] Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.’”  
Jd1128 But the king of the Ammonites disregarded the message of Jephthah, which he sent to him.  
Jd1129 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.  
Jd1130 Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,  
Jd1131 then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”  
Jd1132 Then Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight with them; and the LORD gave them into his hand.  
Jd1133 And from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith he struck them, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim (brook by the vineyard), with a very great defeat. So the Ammonites were subdued and humbled before the Israelites.  
Jd1134 Then Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and this is what he saw: his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter.  
Jd1135 And when he saw her, he tore his clothes [in grief] and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me great disaster, and you are the cause of ruin to me; for I have made a vow to the LORD, and I cannot take it back.”  
Jd1136 And she said to him, “My father, you have made a vow to the LORD; do to me as you have vowed, since the LORD has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites.”  
Jd1137 And she said to her father, “Let this one thing be done for me; let me alone for two months, so that I may go to the mountains and weep over my virginity, I and my companions.”  
Jd1138 And he said, “Go.” So he sent her away for two months; and she left with her companions, and wept over her virginity on the mountains.  
Jd1139 At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her as he had vowed; and she had no relations with a man. It became a custom in Israel,  
Jd1140 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to tell the story of the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.  
Jd1201 The men of [the tribe of] Ephraim were summoned [to action], and they crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight with the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? [For that] we will burn your house down upon you.”  
Jd1202 And Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were in a major conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called you [for help], you did not rescue me from their hand.  
Jd1203 So when I saw that you were not coming to help me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. So why have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”  
Jd1204 Then Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and fought with [the tribe of] Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim, in the midst of [the tribes of] Ephraim and Manasseh.”  
Jd1205 And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan opposite the Ephraimites; and when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”  
Jd1206 they said to him, “Then say ‘Shibboleth.’” And he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites fell.  
Jd1207 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.  
Jd1208 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.  
Jd1209 He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters [-in-law] from outside for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years.  
Jd1210 Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.  
Jd1211 After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel for ten years.  
Jd1212 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.  
Jd1213 Now after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.  
Jd1214 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel for eight years.  
Jd1215 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.  
Jd1301 Now Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.  
Jd1302 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was infertile and had no children.  
Jd1303 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are infertile and have no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.  
Jd1304 Therefore, be careful not to drink wine or [any other] intoxicating drink, and do not eat anything [ceremonially] unclean.  
Jd1305 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite [dedicated] to God from birth; and he shall begin to rescue Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”  
Jd1306 Then the woman went and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the Angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask Him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.  
Jd1307 But He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or [any other] intoxicating drink, nor eat anything [ceremonially] unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.’”  
Jd1308 Then Manoah pleaded with the LORD and said, “O Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do for the boy who is to be born.”  
Jd1309 And God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the Angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her.  
Jd1310 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the Man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.”  
Jd1311 Then Manoah got up and followed his wife, and came to the Man and said to him, “Are you the Man who spoke to this woman?” He said, “I am.”  
Jd1312 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what shall be the boy’s manner of life, and his vocation?”  
Jd1313 The Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “The woman must pay attention to everything that I said to her.  
Jd1314 She may not eat anything that comes from the vine nor drink wine or [any other] intoxicating drink, nor eat anything [ceremonially] unclean. She shall observe everything that I commanded her.”  
Jd1315 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, “Please let us detain you and let us prepare a young goat for you [to eat].”  
Jd1316 The Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I will not eat your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” For Manoah did not know that he was the Angel of the LORD.  
Jd1317 Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that when your words come true, we may honor you?”  
Jd1318 But the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful (miraculous)?”  
Jd1319 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the LORD, and He performed miracles while Manoah and his wife looked on.  
Jd1320 For when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the Angel of the LORD ascended in the altar flame. When Manoah and his wife saw this they fell on their faces to the ground.  
Jd1321 The Angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah or his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the Angel of the LORD.  
Jd1322 So Manoah said to his wife, “We will certainly die, because we have seen God.”  
Jd1323 But his [sensible] wife said to him, “If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have announced such things as these at this time.”  
Jd1324 So the woman [in due time] gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the boy grew and the LORD blessed him.  
Jd1325 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at times in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.  
Jd1401 Samson went down to Timnah and at Timnah he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines.  
Jd1402 So he went back and told his father and his mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now get her for me as a wife.”  
Jd1403 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised (pagan) Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, because she looks pleasing to me.”  
Jd1404 His father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD, and that He was seeking an occasion [to take action] against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.  
Jd1405 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother [to arrange the marriage], and they came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and suddenly, a young lion came roaring toward him.  
Jd1406 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he tore the lion apart as one tears apart a young goat, and he had nothing at all in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.  
Jd1407 So he went down and talked with the woman; and she looked pleasing to Samson.  
Jd1408 When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.  
Jd1409 So he scraped the honey out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave them some, and they ate it; but he did not tell them he had taken the honey from the body of the lion.  
Jd1410 His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for that was the customary thing for young men to do.  
Jd1411 When the people saw him, they brought thirty companions (wedding attendants) to be with him.  
Jd1412 Then Samson said to them, “Let me now ask you a riddle; if you can tell me what it is within the seven days of the feast, and solve it, then I will give you thirty linen tunics (undergarments) and thirty changes of [outer] clothing.  
Jd1413 But if you are unable to tell me [the answer], then you shall give me thirty linen tunics (undergarments) and thirty changes of [outer] clothing.” And they said to him, “Ask your riddle, so that we may hear it.”  
Jd1414 So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” And they could not solve the riddle in three days.  
Jd1415 Then on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Persuade your husband to tell us [through you] the [answer to the] riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s household with fire. Have you invited us to make us poor? Is this not true?”  
Jd1416 So Samson’s wife wept before him and said, “You only hate me, you do not love me; you have asked my countrymen a riddle, and have not told [the answer] to me.” And he said to her, “Listen, I have not told my father or my mother [either], so [why] should I tell you?”  
Jd1417 However Samson’s wife wept before him seven days while their [wedding] feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so hard. Then she told the [answer to the] riddle to her countrymen.  
Jd1418 So the men of the city said to Samson on the seventh day before sundown, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle.”  
Jd1419 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of them and took their gear, and gave changes of clothes to those who had explained the riddle. And his anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.  
Jd1420 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.  
Jd1501 But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat [as a gift of reconciliation]; and he said, “I will go in to my wife in her room.” But her father would not allow him to go in.  
Jd1502 Her father said, “I really thought you utterly hated her; so I gave her to your companion. Is her younger sister not more beautiful than she? Please take her [as your wife] instead.”  
Jd1503 Samson said to them, “This time I shall be blameless in regard to the Philistines when I do them harm.”  
Jd1504 So Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches and turning the foxes tail to tail, he put a torch between each pair of tails.  
Jd1505 When he had set the torches ablaze, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and he burned up the heap of sheaves and the standing grain, along with the vineyards and olive groves.  
Jd1506 Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they were told, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took Samson’s wife and gave her to his [chief] companion [at the wedding feast].” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.  
Jd1507 Samson said to them, “If this is the way you act, be certain that I will take revenge on you, and [only] after that I will stop.”  
Jd1508 Then he struck them without mercy, a great slaughter; and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.  
Jd1509 Then the [army of the] Philistines came up and camped in [the tribal territory of] Judah, and overran Lehi (Jawbone).  
Jd1510 The men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” And they answered, “We have come up to bind Samson, in order to do to him as he has done to us.”  
Jd1511 Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Have you not known that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this that you have done to us?” He said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”  
Jd1512 They said to him, “We have come down to bind you, so that we may hand you over to the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not kill me.”  
Jd1513 So they said to him, “No, we will [only] bind you securely and place you into their hands; but we certainly will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock [of Etam].  
Jd1514 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and the ropes on his arms were like flax (linen) that had been burned, and his bonds dropped off his hands.  
Jd1515 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out his hand and took it and killed a thousand men with it.  
Jd1516 Then Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey, Heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men.”  
Jd1517 When he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone from his hand; and he named that place Ramath-lehi (hill of the jawbone).  
Jd1518 Then Samson was very thirsty, and he called out to the LORD and said, “You have given this great victory through the hand of Your servant, and now am I to die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised (pagans)?”  
Jd1519 So God split open the hollow place that was at Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his spirit (strength) returned and he was revived. Therefore he named it En-hakkore (spring which is calling), which is at Lehi to this day.  
Jd1520 And Samson judged Israel in the days of [occupation by] the Philistines for twenty years.  
Jd1601 Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and went in to her.  
Jd1602 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” So they surrounded the place and waited all night at the gate of the city to ambush him. They kept quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is light, we will kill him.”  
Jd1603 But Samson lay [resting] until midnight, then at midnight he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two door-posts, and pulled them up, [security] bar and all, and he put them on his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the hill which is opposite Hebron.  
Jd1604 After this he fell in love with a [Philistine] woman [living] in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.  
Jd1605 So the [five] lords (governors) of the Philistines came to her and said to her, “Persuade him, and see where his great strength lies and [find out] how we may overpower him so that we may bind him to subdue him. And each of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”  
Jd1606 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies and with what you may be bound and subdued.”  
Jd1607 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh cords (tendons) that have not been dried, then I will be weak and be like any [other] man.”  
Jd1608 Then the Philistine lords brought her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.  
Jd1609 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he broke the cords as a string of tow breaks when it touches fire. So [the secret of] his strength was not discovered.  
Jd1610 Then Delilah said to Samson, “See now, you have mocked me and told me lies; now please tell me [truthfully] how you may be bound.”  
Jd1611 He said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes that have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any [other] man.”  
Jd1612 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in the inner room. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like [sewing] thread.  
Jd1613 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies; tell me [truthfully] with what you may be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven braids of my hair with the web [and fasten it with a pin, then I will become weak and be like any other man.”  
Jd1614 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks (braids) of his hair and wove them into the web]. And she fastened it with the pin [of the loom] and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the [weaver’s] loom and the web.  
Jd1615 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me where your great strength lies.”  
Jd1616 When she pressured him day after day with her words and pleaded with him, he was annoyed to death.  
Jd1617 Then [finally] he told her everything that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never been used on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any [other] man.”  
Jd1618 Then Delilah realized that he had told her everything in his heart, so she sent and called for the Philistine lords, saying, “Come up this once, because he has told me everything in his heart.” Then the Philistine lords came up to her and brought the money [they had promised] in their hands.  
Jd1619 She made Samson sleep on her knees, and she called a man and had him shave off the seven braids of his head. Then she began to abuse Samson, and his strength left him.  
Jd1620 She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as I have time after time and shake myself free.” For Samson did not know that the LORD had departed from him.  
Jd1621 Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze chains; and he was forced to be a grinder [of grain into flour at the mill] in the prison.  
Jd1622 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved off.  
Jd1623 Now the Philistine lords gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands!”  
Jd1624 When the people saw Samson, they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has handed over our enemy to us, The ravager of our country, Who has killed many of us.”  
Jd1625 Now when they were in high spirits, they said, “Call for Samson, so that he may amuse us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.  
Jd1626 Then Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the [roof of the] house rests, so that I may lean against them.”  
Jd1627 Now the house was full of men and women; all the Philistine lords were there, and on the flat roof were about three thousand men and women who looked on while Samson was entertaining them.  
Jd1628 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this one time, O God, and let me take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.”  
Jd1629 Samson took hold of the two middle [support] pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, one with his right hand and the other with his left.  
Jd1630 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he stretched out with all his might [collapsing the support pillars], and the house fell on the lords and on all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.  
Jd1631 Then his brothers and his father’s entire [tribal] household came down, took him, and brought him up; and they buried him in the tomb of Manoah his father, [which was] between Zorah and Eshtaol. So Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.  
Jd1701 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.  
Jd1702 And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver which were taken from you, about which you cursed [the thief] and also spoke about in my hearing, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son before the LORD.”  
Jd1703 He returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother, and she said, “I had truly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son (in his name) to make an image [carved from wood and plated with silver] and a cast image [of solid silver]; so now, I will return it to you.”  
Jd1704 So when he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to the silversmith who made of it an image [of silver-plated wood] and a cast image [of solid silver]; and they were in the house of Micah.  
Jd1705 Now the man Micah had a house of gods (shrine), and he made an ephod and teraphim and dedicated and installed one of his sons, who became his [personal] priest.  
Jd1706 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.  
Jd1707 Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the family [of the tribe] of Judah, who was a Levite; and he was staying there [temporarily].  
Jd1708 Then the man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he could find a place; and as he journeyed, he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah.  
Jd1709 Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to stay wherever I can find a place.”  
Jd1710 And Micah said to him, “Live here with me and be a father and a [personal] priest to me, and I will give you ten pieces of silver each year, a supply of clothing, and your sustenance (room and board).” So the Levite went in.  
Jd1711 The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became to Micah like one of his sons.  
Jd1712 So Micah dedicated (installed) the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.  
Jd1713 Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will favor me and make me prosper because I have a Levite as my priest.”  
Jd1801 In those days there was no king in Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance [of land] for themselves to live in, for until then an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.  
Jd1802 So the sons of Dan sent from the total number of their [extended] family five brave men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout the land and to explore it; and they said to them, “Go, explore the land.” They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.  
Jd1803 When they passed near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?”  
Jd1804 And he said to them, “Micah has done this and that for me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest.”  
Jd1805 And they said to him, “Please ask of God, so that we may know whether our journey on which we are going will be successful.”  
Jd1806 The priest said to them, “Go in peace; the journey on which you are going is acceptable to the LORD.”  
Jd1807 Then the five men went on and came to Laish and saw the people who were there, [how they were] living securely in the style of the Sidonians, quiet and peaceful; and there was no oppressive magistrate in the land humiliating them in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.  
Jd1808 The five men came back [home] to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, “What do you have to report?”  
Jd1809 They said, “Arise, let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good (fertile). Will you sit still and do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, to enter, to take possession of the land.  
Jd1810 When you enter, you will come to people [feeling] safe and secure with a spacious land [widely extended on all sides]; for God has given it into your hands—a place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”  
Jd1811 Then from the [tribal] family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men armed with weapons of war set out.  
Jd1812 They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Therefore they have called that place Mahaneh-dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath-jearim.  
Jd1813 They went on from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.  
Jd1814 Then the five men who had gone to scout the country of Laish said to their relatives, “Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, teraphim, an image [of silver- plated wood], and a cast image [of solid silver]? Now therefore, consider what you should do.”  
Jd1815 So they turned in that direction and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and asked him how he was doing.  
Jd1816 Now the six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood at the entrance of the gate.  
Jd1817 Now the five men who had gone to scout the land went up and entered the house and took the image [of silver-plated wood], the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image [of solid silver], while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.  
Jd1818 When these [five men] went into Micah’s house and took the [plated] image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image, the priest asked them, “What are you doing?”  
Jd1819 They said to him, “Keep quiet, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be a priest to a tribe and family in Israel?”  
Jd1820 The priest’s heart was glad [to hear that], and he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the image, and went among the people.  
Jd1821 So they turned and left, and they put the children, the livestock, and the valuables and supplies in front of them.  
Jd1822 When they had gone some distance from the house of Micah, the men who were [living] in the houses near Micah’s house assembled [as a militia] and overtook the sons of Dan.  
Jd1823 They shouted to the Danites, who turned and said to Micah, “What is your reason for assembling [against us]?”  
Jd1824 He said, “You have taken away my gods which I have made, and the priest, and have gone away; what else do I have left? How can you say to me, ‘What is your reason?’”  
Jd1825 The sons of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice [of complaint] be heard among us, or else angry men will assault you and you will lose your life, along with the lives of [everyone in] your household.”  
Jd1826 Then the Danites went on their way; and Micah saw that they were too strong for him, so he turned and went back to his house.  
Jd1827 They took the [idolatrous] things that Micah had made, and his priest, and they came to Laish, to a people who were quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.  
Jd1828 And there was no one to rescue them because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley which belongs to Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city and lived in it.  
Jd1829 They named the city Dan, after Dan their forefather who was born to Israel (Jacob); however, the original name of the city was Laish.  
Jd1830 The [tribe of] the sons of Dan set up the image [of silver-plated wood] for themselves; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity and exile from the land.  
Jd1831 So they set up for themselves Micah’s [silver-plated wooden] image which he had made, and kept it throughout the time that the house (tabernacle) of God was at Shiloh.  
Jd1901 Now it happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite living [as an alien] in the most remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.  
Jd1902 But his concubine was unfaithful to him, and left him and went to her father’s house in Bethlehem of Judah, and stayed there for a period of four months.  
Jd1903 Then her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly and tenderly to her in order to bring her back, taking with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. So she brought him into her father’s house, and when the father of the girl saw him, he was happy to meet him.  
Jd1904 So his father-in-law, the girl’s father, detained him; and he stayed there with him for three days. So they ate and drank, and he lodged there.  
Jd1905 On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and the Levite prepared to leave; but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen yourself with a piece of bread, and afterward go your way.”  
Jd1906 So both men sat down and ate and drank together; and the girl’s father said to the man, “Please be willing to spend the night and enjoy yourself.”  
Jd1907 Then the man got up to leave, but his father-in-law urged him [strongly to remain]; so he spent the night there again.  
Jd1908 On the fifth day he got up early in the morning to leave, but the girl’s father said, “Please strengthen yourself, and wait until the end of the day.” So both of them ate.  
Jd1909 When the man and his concubine and his servant got up to leave, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day has drawn to a close; please spend the night. Look, now the day comes to an end; spend the night here and celebrate, enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow you may get up early for your journey and go home.”  
Jd1910 But the man was not willing to stay the night; so he got up and left and came to a place opposite Jebus (that is Jerusalem). With him were two saddled donkeys [and his servant] and his concubine.  
Jd1911 When they were near Jebus, the day was almost gone, and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let us turn aside into this Jebusite city and spend the night in it.”  
Jd1912 But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons (descendants) of Israel. We will go on as far as Gibeah.”  
Jd1913 And he said to his servant, “Come and let us approach one of these places: and we will spend the night in Gibeah or in Ramah.”  
Jd1914 So they passed by and went on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which belongs to [the tribe of] Benjamin,  
Jd1915 and they turned aside there to go in and spend the night in Gibeah. And the Levite went in and sat down in the open square of the city, because no man invited them into his house to spend the night.  
Jd1916 Then behold, there was an old man who was coming out of the field from his work at evening. He was from the hill country of Ephraim but was staying in Gibeah, and the men of the place were sons (descendants) of Benjamin.  
Jd1917 When he looked up, he saw the traveler [and his companions] in the city square; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”  
Jd1918 The Levite replied, “We are passing through from Bethlehem [in the territory] of Judah to the most remote part of the hill country of Ephraim; I am from there. I went to Bethlehem of Judah, but I am now going [home] to my house, and there is no man [in the city] who will take me into his house [for the night].  
Jd1919 Yet we have both straw and feed for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servant; there is no lack of anything.”  
Jd1920 Then the old man said, “Peace be to you. Only leave all your needs to me; and do not spend the night in the open square.”  
Jd1921 So he brought him into his house and fed the donkeys; and they washed their feet and ate and drank.  
Jd1922 While they were celebrating, behold, men of the city, certain worthless and evil men, surrounded the house, pounding on the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house so that we may have relations with him.”  
Jd1923 Then the man, the master of the house, went out and said to them, “No, my fellow citizens, please do not act so wickedly. Since this man has come to my house [as my guest], do not commit this sacrilege.  
Jd1924 Here is my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out now; abuse and humiliate them and do to them whatever you want, but do not commit this act of sacrilege against this man.”  
Jd1925 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took the Levite’s concubine and brought her outside to them; and they had relations with her and abused her all night until morning; and when daybreak came, they let her go.  
Jd1926 At daybreak the woman came and collapsed at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was [fully] light.  
Jd1927 When her master got up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, he saw his concubine lying at the door of the house, and her hands were on the threshold.  
Jd1928 He said to her, “Get up, and let us go.” But there was no answer [for she had died]. Then he put her [body] on the donkey; and the man left and went home.  
Jd1929 When he arrived at his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his [dead] concubine, he cut her [corpse] limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her [body parts] throughout all the territory of Israel.  
Jd1930 All who saw the dismembered parts said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, take counsel, and speak [your minds]!”  
Jd2001 Then all the sons of Israel from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], including the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.  
Jd2002 The chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand men on foot who drew the sword.  
Jd2003 (Now the Benjamites [in whose territory the crime was committed] heard that the [other tribes of the] sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, “How did this evil thing happen?”  
Jd2004 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, replied, “I had come with my concubine to spend the night in Gibeah, [a town] which belongs to [the tribe of] Benjamin.  
Jd2005 But the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they raped my concubine [so brutally] that she died.  
Jd2006 So I took my concubine and cut her [corpse] in pieces and sent her [body parts] throughout the land of the inheritance of Israel; for the men of Gibeah have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.  
Jd2007 Now then, all you sons of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here [regarding what should be done].”  
Jd2008 Then all the people stood [unified] as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his home [until this is settled].  
Jd2009 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it,  
Jd2010 and we will take ten men out of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to bring provisions for the men, so that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may punish them for all the despicable acts which they have committed in Israel.”  
Jd2011 So all the men of Israel assembled against the city, united as one man.  
Jd2012 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this evil thing that has been done among you?  
Jd2013 Now therefore, turn over the men [involved], the worthless and wicked men in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.  
Jd2014 Then the [tribe of the] sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the [other] sons of Israel.  
Jd2015 And the Benjamites assembled out of their cities at that time twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who assembled seven hundred chosen men.  
Jd2016 Out of all these people were seven hundred choice left-handed men; each one could sling stones at [a target no wider than] a hair and not miss.  
Jd2017 Then the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, assembled four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.  
Jd2018 The men of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and asked of God and said, “Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the sons [tribe] of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah [shall go up] first.”  
Jd2019 Then the [fighting men of the] sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah.  
Jd2020 The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and assembled in battle formation against them at Gibeah.  
Jd2021 The sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and struck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand [fighting] men of Israel.  
Jd2022 But the people, the [fighting] men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day.  
Jd2023 The sons of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked of the LORD, “Shall we advance again to battle against the sons of our brother Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against them.”  
Jd2024 So the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin the second day.  
Jd2025 And [the fighting men from the tribe of] Benjamin went out of Gibeah against them the second day and again struck to the ground the sons of Israel, eighteen thousand men, all of whom were swordsmen.  
Jd2026 Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; and they sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  
Jd2027 And the sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there [at Bethel] in those days,  
Jd2028 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I quit?” And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”  
Jd2029 So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.  
Jd2030 The [fighting men of the] sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and placed themselves in battle formation against Gibeah as at other times.  
Jd2031 The Benjamites went out against their army and were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.  
Jd2032 And the Benjamites said, “They are defeated before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee and lure them away from the city to the highways.”  
Jd2033 Then all the men of Israel got up from their places and placed themselves in battle formation at Baal-tamar; and the men of Israel [who were] in ambush rushed from their place in the plain of Maareh-geba.  
Jd2034 When the ten thousand choice [fighting] men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle was hard and fierce; but the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was about to strike them.  
Jd2035 And the LORD struck down [the tribe of] Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day, all of whom were swordsmen.  
Jd2036 So the Benjamites realized that they were defeated. Then men of Israel gave ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had placed against Gibeah.  
Jd2037 Then the men in ambush quickly rushed and attacked Gibeah; and the men in ambush also deployed and struck the entire city with the edge of the sword.  
Jd2038 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.  
Jd2039 So the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Certainly they are defeated before us as in the first battle!”  
Jd2040 But when the [signal] cloud began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the entire city went up in smoke to heaven.  
Jd2041 When the men of Israel turned back again, the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had fallen upon them.  
Jd2042 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel [and fled] toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle followed and overtook them. As the [fighting men of the] sons of Benjamin ran among them, the Israelites of the cities came out and destroyed them.  
Jd2043 They surrounded [the men of] Benjamin, pursued them relentlessly, and overtook them opposite Gibeah toward the east.  
Jd2044 Thus eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of these brave and able warriors.  
Jd2045 The survivors [of Benjamin] turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel caught five thousand of them on the roads and overtook them at Gidom and killed two thousand of them.  
Jd2046 So all of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, all of them brave and able warriors.  
Jd2047 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months.  
Jd2048 The men of Israel turned back against [the tribe of] the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city [of Gibeah] and the livestock and all that they found. They also set on fire all the [surrounding] towns which they found.  
Jd2101 Now the men of Israel had sworn [an oath] at Mizpah, “None of us shall give his daughter in marriage to [a man of] Benjamin.”  
Jd2102 So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.  
Jd2103 They said, “O LORD, God of Israel, why has this come about in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel?”  
Jd2104 And the next day the people got up early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  
Jd2105 Then the sons of Israel said, “Which one from all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?” For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall certainly be put to death.”  
Jd2106 And the sons of Israel felt sorry [and had compassion] for their brother Benjamin and said, “One tribe has been cut off from Israel today.  
Jd2107 What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn [an oath] by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?”  
Jd2108 And they said, “Which one is there of the tribes from Israel that did not come up to Mizpah to the LORD?” And behold, [it was discovered that] no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly.  
Jd2109 For when the people were assembled, behold, there was not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.  
Jd2110 And the congregation sent twelve thousand of the most courageous men there, and commanded them saying, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the sword, including the women and the children.  
Jd2111 And this is the thing that you shall do; you shall utterly destroy every male and every woman who is not a virgin.”  
Jd2112 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.  
Jd2113 Then the whole congregation sent word to the [surviving] sons of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.  
Jd2114 So [the survivors of] Benjamin returned at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the women of Jabesh-gilead; but there were not enough [to provide wives] for them.  
Jd2115 And the people were sorry [and had compassion] for [the survivors of the tribe of] Benjamin because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.  
Jd2116 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those [men] who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”  
Jd2117 They said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be wiped out from Israel.  
Jd2118 But we cannot give them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel had sworn [an oath], “Cursed is he who gives a wife to [a man from the tribe of] Benjamin.”  
Jd2119 So they said, “Listen, there is the yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south side of Lebonah.”  
Jd2120 So they instructed the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go, set an ambush in the vineyards,  
Jd2121 and watch; if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then you shall come out of the vineyards and each of you shall catch his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of [the tribe of] Benjamin.  
Jd2122 When their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we shall say to them, ‘Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take a wife for each man of Benjamin in battle, nor did you give wives to them, for that would have made you guilty [of breaking your oath].’”  
Jd2123 So the sons of [the tribe of] Benjamin did as instructed and took wives according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried away. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and rebuilt the towns and lived in them.  
Jd2124 The sons of Israel departed from there at that time, each man to his tribe and family, and each man went from there to his inheritance.  
Jd2125 In those days [when the judges governed] there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.  
Ru0101 In the days when the judges governed [Israel], there was a famine in the land [of Canaan]. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live temporarily in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons.  
Ru0102 The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went to the country of Moab and stayed there.  
Ru0103 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left [a widow] with her two sons.  
Ru0104 They took wives from the Moabite women; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there about ten years;  
Ru0105 and then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so the woman [Naomi] was left without her two sons and her husband.  
Ru0106 Then she set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the LORD had taken care of His people [of Judah] in giving them food.  
Ru0107 So she left the place where she was living, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to the land of Judah.  
Ru0108 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you return to your mother’s house. May the LORD show kindness to you as you have shown kindness to the dead and to me.  
Ru0109 May the LORD grant that you find rest, each one in the home of her husband.” Then she kissed them [goodbye], and they wept aloud.  
Ru0110 And they said to her, “No, we will go with you to your people [in Judah].”  
Ru0111 But Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters, why should you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that may become your husbands?  
Ru0112 Go back, my daughters, go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, and if I actually had a husband tonight and even gave birth to sons,  
Ru0113 would you wait until they were grown? Would you go without marrying? No, my daughters; for it is much more difficult for me than for you, because the LORD’S hand has gone against me.”  
Ru0114 Then they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [goodbye], but Ruth clung to her.  
Ru0115 Then Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; turn back and follow your sister-in-law.”  
Ru0116 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.  
Ru0117 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do the same to me [as He has done to you], and more also, if anything but death separates me from you.”  
Ru0118 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.  
Ru0119 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women asked, “Is this Naomi?”  
Ru0120 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi (sweetness); call me Mara (bitter), for the Almighty has caused me great grief and bitterness.  
Ru0121 I left full [with a husband and two sons], but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”  
Ru0122 So Naomi returned from the country of Moab, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter- in-law. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.  
Ru0201 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband, a man of great wealth and influence, from the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.  
Ru0202 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one [of the reapers] in whose sight I may find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go, my daughter.”  
Ru0203 So Ruth went and picked up the leftover grain in a field after the reapers; and she happened to stop at the plot of land belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.  
Ru0204 It was then that Boaz came back from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”  
Ru0205 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”  
Ru0206 The servant in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.  
Ru0207 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued [gathering grain] from early morning until now, except when she sat [resting] for a little while in the [field] house.”  
Ru0208 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but stay here close by my maids.  
Ru0209 Watch which field they reap, and follow behind them. I have commanded the servants not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go to the [water] jars and drink from what the servants draw.”  
Ru0210 Then she kneeled face downward, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should notice me, when I am a foreigner?”  
Ru0211 Boaz answered her, “I have been made fully aware of everything that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you did not know before.  
Ru0212 May the LORD repay you for your kindness, and may your reward be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”  
Ru0213 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not as one of your maidservants.”  
Ru0214 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here and eat some bread and dip your bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate until she was satisfied and she had some left [for Naomi].  
Ru0215 When she got up to glean, Boaz ordered his servants, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.  
Ru0216 Also you shall purposely pull out for her some stalks [of grain] from the sheaves and leave them so that she may collect them, and do not rebuke her.”  
Ru0217 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.  
Ru0218 She picked it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. Ruth also took out and gave to Naomi what she had saved after she [had eaten and] was satisfied.  
Ru0219 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”  
Ru0220 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the LORD who has not ceased His kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is one of our closest relatives, one who has the right to redeem us.”  
Ru0221 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘Stay close to my servants until they have harvested my entire crop.’”  
Ru0222 Naomi said to Ruth, “It is good, my daughter, for you to go out [to work] with his maids, so that others do not assault you in another field.”  
Ru0223 So she stayed close to the maids of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.  
Ru0301 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to Ruth, “My daughter, shall I not look for security and a home for you, so that it may be well with you?  
Ru0302 Now Boaz, with whose maids you were [working], is he not our relative? See now, he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight.  
Ru0303 So wash and anoint yourself [with olive oil], then put on your [best] clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but stay out of the man’s sight until he has finished eating and drinking.  
Ru0304 When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying, and go and uncover his feet and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”  
Ru0305 Ruth answered her, “I will do everything that you say.”  
Ru0306 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had told her.  
Ru0307 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was happy, he went to lie down at the end of the stack of grain. Then Ruth came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.  
Ru0308 In the middle of the night the man was startled and he turned over, and found a woman lying at his feet.  
Ru0309 So he said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth your maid. Spread the hem of your garment over me, for you are a close relative and redeemer.”  
Ru0310 Then he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made your last kindness better than the first; for you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.  
Ru0311 Now, my daughter, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask, since all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.  
Ru0312 It is true that I am your close relative and redeemer; however, there is a relative closer [to you] than I.  
Ru0313 Spend the night [here], and in the morning if he will redeem you, fine; let him do it. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”  
Ru0314 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but got up before anyone could recognize another; Boaz said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor [last night].”  
Ru0315 He also said, “Give me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” So Ruth held it and he measured out six measures of barley [into it] and placed it on her. And she went into the city.  
Ru0316 When she came home, her mother-in-law said, “How did it go, my daughter?” And Ruth told her everything that the man had done for her.  
Ru0317 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley, and he said to me, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”  
Ru0318 Then Naomi said, “Sit and wait, my daughter, until you learn how this matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.”  
Ru0401 Then Boaz went up to the city gate [where business and legal matters were settled] and sat down, and then the close relative (redeemer) of whom Boaz had spoken came by. He said to him, “Come over here, friend, and sit down.” So he came and sat down.  
Ru0402 Then Boaz took ten men from the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” And they sat down.  
Ru0403 He said to the closest relative (redeemer), “Naomi, who has returned from the country of Moab, must sell the plot of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.  
Ru0404 So I thought to let you hear of it, saying, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, then tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I am [next of kin] after you.’” And he said, “I will redeem it.”  
Ru0405 Then Boaz said, “The day that you buy the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance.”  
Ru0406 The closest relative (redeemer) said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because [by marrying a Moabitess] I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption (purchase) yourself, because I cannot redeem it.”  
Ru0407 Now formerly in Israel this was the custom concerning redeeming and exchanging property. To confirm a transaction, a man pulled off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the way of confirming and attesting in Israel.  
Ru0408 So, when the closest relative (redeemer) said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he pulled off his sandal [and gave it to Boaz to confirm the agreement].  
Ru0409 Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought everything that was Elimelech’s and everything that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi.  
Ru0410 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his birthplace. You are witnesses today.”  
Ru0411 All the people at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the household of Israel. May you achieve wealth and power in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.  
Ru0412 Further, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman.”  
Ru0413 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  
Ru0414 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer (grandson, as heir) today, and may his name become famous in Israel.  
Ru0415 May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”  
Ru0416 Then Naomi took the child and placed him in her lap, and she became his nurse.  
Ru0417 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son (grandson) has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed (worshiper). He is the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ].  
Ru0418 Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,  
Ru0419 Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab,  
Ru0420 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,  
Ru0421 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,  
Ru0422 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David [the king of Israel and the ancestor of Jesus Christ].  
1S0101 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, named Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.  
1S0102 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.  
1S0103 This man went up from his city each year to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests to the LORD there.  
1S0104 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions [of the sacrificial meat] to Peninnah his wife and all her sons and daughters.  
1S0105 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the LORD had given her no children.  
1S0106 Hannah’s rival provoked her bitterly, to irritate and embarrass her, because the LORD had left her childless.  
1S0107 So it happened year after year, whenever she went up to the house of the LORD, Peninnah provoked her; so she wept and would not eat.  
1S0108 Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you cry and why do you not eat? Why are you so sad and discontent? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”  
1S0109 So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the temple (tabernacle) of the LORD.  
1S0110 Hannah was greatly distressed, and she prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.  
1S0111 She made a vow, saying, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.”  
1S0112 Now it happened as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth.  
1S0113 Hannah was speaking in her heart (mind); only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli thought she was drunk.  
1S0114 Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Get rid of your wine.”  
1S0115 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman with a despairing spirit. I have not been drinking wine or any intoxicating drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.  
1S0116 Do not regard your maidservant as a wicked and worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and [bitter] provocation.”  
1S0117 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.”  
1S0118 Hannah said, “Let your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.  
1S0119 The family got up early the next morning, worshiped before the LORD, and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her [prayer].  
1S0120 It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”  
1S0121 Then the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow.  
1S0122 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; and then I will bring him, so that he may appear before the LORD and remain there as long as he lives.”  
1S0123 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only may the LORD establish and confirm His word.” So the woman remained [behind] and nursed her son until she weaned him.  
1S0124 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a leather bottle of wine [to pour over the burnt offering for a sweet fragrance], and she brought Samuel to the LORD’S house in Shiloh, although the child was young.  
1S0125 Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the child to Eli.  
1S0126 Hannah said, “Oh, my lord! As [surely as] your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood beside you here, praying to the LORD.  
1S0127 For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my request which I asked of Him.  
1S0128 Therefore I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And they worshiped the LORD there.  
1S0201 Hannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices and triumphs in the LORD; My horn (strength) is lifted up in the LORD, My mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.  
1S0202 “There is no one holy like the LORD, There is no one besides You, There is no Rock like our God.  
1S0203 “Do not go on boasting so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the LORD is a God of knowledge, And by Him actions are weighed (examined).  
1S0204 “The bows of the mighty are broken, But those who have stumbled equip themselves with strength.  
1S0205 “Those who were full hire themselves out for bread, But those who were hungry cease [to hunger]. Even the barren [woman] gives birth to seven, But she who has many children withers away.  
1S0206 “The LORD puts to death and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave].  
1S0207 “The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up.  
1S0208 “He raises up the poor from the dust, He lifts up the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor and glory; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He set the land on them.  
1S0209 “He guards the feet of His godly (faithful) ones, But the wicked ones are silenced and perish in darkness; For a man shall not prevail by might.  
1S0210 “The adversaries of the LORD will be broken to pieces; He will thunder against them in the heavens, The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; And He will give strength to His king, And will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”  
1S0211 Elkanah [and his wife Hannah] returned to Ramah to his house. But the child [Samuel] served the LORD under the guidance of Eli the priest.  
1S0212 The sons of Eli [Hophni and Phinehas] were worthless (dishonorable, unprincipled) men; they did not know [nor respect] the LORD  
1S0213 and the custom of the priests with [the sacrifices of] the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged [meat] fork in his hand;  
1S0214 then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; everything that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did in Shiloh to all [the sacrifices of] the Israelites who came there.  
1S0215 Also, before they burned (offered) the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest meat to roast, since he will not accept boiled meat from you, only raw.”  
1S0216 If the man said to him, “Certainly they are to burn (offer) the fat first, and then you may take as much as you want,” then the priest’s servant would say, “No! You shall give it to me now or I will take it by force.”  
1S0217 So the sin of the [two] young men [Hophni and Phinehas] was very great before the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD disrespectfully.  
1S0218 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a child dressed in a linen ephod [a sacred item of priestly clothing].  
1S0219 Moreover, his mother would make him a little robe and would bring it up to him each year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.  
1S0220 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she asked for which was dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would return to their own home.  
1S0221 And [the time came when] the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before the LORD.  
1S0222 Now Eli was very old; and he heard about everything that his sons were doing to all [the people of] Israel, and how they were lying with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).  
1S0223 Eli said to them, “Why do you do such things, the evil things that I hear from all these people?  
1S0224 No, my sons; for the report that I keep hearing from the passers-by among the LORD’S people is not good.  
1S0225 If one man does wrong and sins against another, God will intercede (arbitrate) for him; but if a man does wrong to the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, for it was the LORD’S will to put them to death.  
1S0226 But the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.  
1S0227 Then a man of God (prophet) came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Did I not plainly reveal Myself to the house of your father (ancestor) when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?  
1S0228 Moreover, I selected him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me. And [from then on] I gave to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel.  
1S0229 Why then do you kick at (despise) My sacrifice and My offering which I commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, by fattening yourselves with the choicest part of every offering of My people Israel?’  
1S0230 Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and that of [Aaron] your father would walk [in priestly service] before Me forever.’ But now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant and contemptible.  
1S0231 Behold, the time is coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.  
1S0232 You will look at the distress of My house (the tabernacle), in spite of all the good which God will do for Israel, and there will never again be an old man in your house.  
1S0233 Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar; your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul will grieve, and all those born in your house will die as men [in the prime of life].  
1S0234 This will be the sign to you which shall come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them shall die.  
1S0235 But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him a permanent and enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed forever.  
1S0236 And it will happen that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and say, “Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so I may eat a piece of bread.”’”  
1S0301 Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of the LORD under the supervision of Eli. The word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.  
1S0302 Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well).  
1S0303 and the [oil] lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was,  
1S0304 that the LORD called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”  
1S0305 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.  
1S0306 Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”  
1S0307 Now Samuel did not yet know [or personally experience] the LORD, and the word of the LORD was not yet revealed [directly] to him.  
1S0308 So the LORD called Samuel a third time. And he stood and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli understood that it was the LORD [who was] calling the boy.  
1S0309 So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and it shall be that if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  
1S0310 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at the previous times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”  
1S0311 The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will ring.  
1S0312 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I have spoken concerning his house (family), from beginning to end.  
1S0313 Now I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the sinful behavior which he knew [was happening], because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves [dishonoring and blaspheming God] and he did not rebuke them.  
1S0314 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the sinful behavior of Eli’s house (family) shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”  
1S0315 So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD’S house. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.  
1S0316 But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he answered, “Here I am.”  
1S0317 Then Eli said, “What is it that He said to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do the same to you, and more also, if you hide from me anything of all that He said to you.”  
1S0318 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the LORD; may He do what seems good to Him.”  
1S0319 Now Samuel grew; and the LORD was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled].  
1S0320 And all Israel from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south] knew that Samuel was appointed as a prophet of the LORD.  
1S0321 And the LORD continued to appear in Shiloh, for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.  
1S0401 And the word of [the LORD through] Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and they camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped at Aphek.  
1S0402 The Philistines assembled in battle formation to meet Israel, and when the battle was over, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.  
1S0403 When the people (soldiers) came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, so that He may come among us and save us from the hand of our enemies.”  
1S0404 So the people sent word to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of the covenant of God.  
1S0405 So it happened that as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all [the people of] Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth resounded.  
1S0406 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.  
1S0407 The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe [disaster is coming] to us! For nothing like this has happened before.  
1S0408 Woe to us! Who will rescue us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.  
1S0409 Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, so that you do not become servants to the Hebrews, as they have been servants to you; act like men and fight!”  
1S0410 So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated and every man fled to his tent. It was a very great defeat, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.  
1S0411 Also the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed.  
1S0412 Now a man [from the tribe] of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh that same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head [as signs of mourning over the disaster].  
1S0413 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road, keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. When the man arrived to report [the news] in the city, everyone in the city cried out [to God, for help].  
1S0414 When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he asked, “What is the noise of this uproar?” And the man came hurriedly and told Eli.  
1S0415 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes were dim so that he could not see.  
1S0416 The man said to Eli, “I have come from the battle line. Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.” Eli said, “How did things go, my son?”  
1S0417 The messenger replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.”  
1S0418 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backwards by the side of the [city] gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.  
1S0419 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was pregnant, and was about to give birth; so when she heard the news that the ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, because her [labor] pains began.  
1S0420 And about the time of her death [following the sudden birth] the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.” But she did not answer or pay any attention.  
1S0421 And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has left Israel,” because the ark of God had been taken and because of [the deaths of] her father-in-law and her husband.  
1S0422 She said, “The glory has left Israel, for the ark of God has been taken.”  
1S0501 Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.  
1S0502 They took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it beside [the image of] Dagon [their chief idol].  
1S0503 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.  
1S0504 But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had [again] fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and his head and both palms of his hands were [lying] cut off on the threshold; only the trunk [portion] of [the idol of] Dagon was left on him.  
1S0505 This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who enter Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.  
1S0506 Then the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He caused them to be dumbfounded and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.  
1S0507 When the men of Ashdod saw what had happened, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”  
1S0508 So they sent word and gathered all the lords (governors) of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel there.  
1S0509 But it happened that after they had taken it to Gath, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing an extremely great panic [because of the deaths from the plague], for He struck the people of the city, both young and old, and tumors broke out on them.  
1S0510 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel [from Gath] to us, to kill us and our people.”  
1S0511 So they sent word and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel; let it be returned to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy (severe) there.  
1S0512 The men who had not died were stricken with tumors and the cry of the city [for help] went up to heaven.  
1S0601 Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines for seven months.  
1S0602 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners (seers), saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Let us know how we can send it back to its place.”  
1S0603 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty [without a gift]; but be sure to return [it] to Him [together with] a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”  
1S0604 Then they said, “What shall the guilt offering be which we shall return to Him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords (governors) of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords.  
1S0605 So you shall make replicas of your tumors and of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand [of judgment] on you and your gods and your land.  
1S0606 Why then do you harden your hearts [allowing pride to cause your downfall] just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them and mocked them, did they not allow the people [of Israel] to go, and they departed?  
1S0607 Now then, make a new cart and prepare two milk cows on which a yoke has never been placed; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves back home, away from them.  
1S0608 Then take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a guilt offering in a box beside it. Then send it away [without a driver].  
1S0609 But watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then [you will know that] He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; this disaster happened to us by chance.”  
1S0610 And the men did so, and took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and corralled their calves at home.  
1S0611 They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the box containing the golden mice and the replicas of their tumors.  
1S0612 And the cows went straight toward Beth-shemesh along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn away to the right or the left. And the Philistine lords (governors) followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.  
1S0613 Now the men of Beth-shemesh were gathering their wheat harvest in the valley, and they looked up and saw the ark and rejoiced to see it.  
1S0614 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A large stone was there; and the men split up the wood of the cart [for firewood] and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.  
1S0615 The Levites had taken down the ark of the LORD and the box beside it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. And the men of Beth- shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices that day to the LORD.  
1S0616 When the five lords of the Philistines saw what happened, they returned to Ekron that day.  
1S0617 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath and one for Ekron [the five chief cities of the Philistines];  
1S0618 also the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and [unwalled] country villages. The large stone on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD remains a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.  
1S0619 The LORD struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down 50,070 men among the people, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.  
1S0620 The men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?”  
1S0621 So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”  
1S0701 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated Eleazar his son to care for the ark of the Lord.  
1S0702 And from that day the ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a very long time, for it was twenty years [until the reign of King David]; and all the house of Israel lamented (wailed) and grieved after the LORD.  
1S0703 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth (pagan goddesses) from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him only; and He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.”  
1S0704 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.  
1S0705 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel together at Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.”  
1S0706 So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.  
1S0707 Now when the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the lords (governors) of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Israelites heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.  
1S0708 And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, so that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”  
1S0709 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.  
1S0710 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines approached for the battle against Israel. Then the LORD thundered with a great voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated and fled before Israel.  
1S0711 And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as [the territory] below Beth-car.  
1S0712 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer (stone of help), saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”  
1S0713 So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore into Israelite territory. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.  
1S0714 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered the cities’ territory from the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.  
1S0715 Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.  
1S0716 He used to go annually on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.  
1S0717 Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there; and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.  
1S0801 And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.  
1S0802 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.  
1S0803 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.  
1S0804 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah  
1S0805 and said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us [and rule over us] like all the other nations.”  
1S0806 But their demand displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge and rule over us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD.  
1S0807 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.  
1S0808 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned (rejected) Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.  
1S0809 So now listen to their voice; only solemnly warn them and tell them the ways of the king who will reign over them.”  
1S0810 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.  
1S0811 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them for himself to his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.  
1S0812 He will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.  
1S0813 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.  
1S0814 He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.  
1S0815 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.  
1S0816 He will take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.  
1S0817 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his servants.  
1S0818 Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you on that day [because you have rejected Him as King].”  
1S0819 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,  
1S0820 so that we too may be like all the nations [around us], that our king may judge [and govern] us and go out before us and fight our battles.”  
1S0821 Samuel had heard all the words of the people and repeated them to the LORD.  
1S0822 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their request and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, each man to his own city.”  
1S0901 There was a man of [the tribe of] Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of influence and wealth.  
1S0902 Kish had a son named Saul, a choice and handsome man; among the sons of Israel there was not a man more handsome than he. From his shoulders and up he was [a head] taller than any of the people.  
1S0903 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off and were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.”  
1S0904 And they passed through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there and the land of the Benjamites, but they [still] did not find them.  
1S0905 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, let us return, otherwise my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and become anxious about us.”  
1S0906 The servant said to him, “Look here, in this city there is a man of God, and the man is held in honor; everything that he says comes true. Now let us go there; perhaps he can advise us about our journey [and tell us where we should go].”  
1S0907 Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go [to see him], what shall we bring to the man? For the bread from our sacks is gone and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have [to offer]?”  
1S0908 The servant replied again to Saul, “Here in my hand I have a quarter of a shekel of silver; I will give that to the man of God, and he will advise us as to [where we should go on] our journey [to find the donkeys].”  
1S0909 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he would say, “Come, let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet today was formerly called a seer.)  
1S0910 Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was living.  
1S0911 As they went up the hill to the city, they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer (prophet) here?”  
1S0912 They answered them, “He is; look, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today because the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.  
1S0913 As you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must ask the blessing on the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. So go up now, for about now you will find him.”  
1S0914 So they went up to the city. And as they came into the city, there was Samuel coming out toward them to go up to the high place.  
1S0915 Now a day before Saul came, the LORD had informed Samuel [of this], saying,  
1S0916 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him as leader over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon [the distress of] My people, because their cry [for help] has come to Me.”  
1S0917 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “There is the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall rule over My people [as their king].”  
1S0918 Then Saul approached Samuel in the [city] gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”  
1S0919 Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go on ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.  
1S0920 As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And for whom are all things that are desirable in Israel? Are they not for you and for all your father’s household (family)?”  
1S0921 Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not my family the smallest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken this way to me [as if I were very important]?”  
1S0922 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall [at the high place] and gave them a place [to sit] at the head of the persons—about thirty men—who were invited [while the rest ate outside].  
1S0923 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the [priests’] portion that I gave you, regarding which I told you, ‘Set it aside.’”  
1S0924 Then the cook lifted up the leg (thigh) with the meat that was on it [indicating that it was the priest’s honored portion] and placed it before Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved [for you]. Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, ever since I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.  
1S0925 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof [of his house].  
1S0926 They got up early [the next day]; and at dawn Samuel called Saul [who was sleeping] on the roof, saying, “Get up, so that I may send you on your way.” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside.  
1S0927 As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us so that he may pass by but you stand still now so that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”  
1S1001 Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has the LORD not anointed you as ruler over His inheritance (Israel)?  
1S1002 When you leave me today, you will meet two men beside Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; they will say to you, ‘The donkeys you went to look for have been found. And your father has stopped caring about them and is worried about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’  
1S1003 Then you will go on further from there, and you will come to the terebinth tree of Tabor, and three men going up to [sacrifice to] God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a jug of wine.  
1S1004 They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hand.  
1S1005 After that you will come to the hill of God where the garrison of the Philistines is; and when you come there to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place [of worship] with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, and they will be prophesying.  
1S1006 Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you mightily, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into another man.  
1S1007 When these signs come to you, do for yourself whatever the situation requires, for God is with you.  
1S1008 You shall go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will be coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You shall wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you must do.”  
1S1009 Then it happened when Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.  
1S1010 When they came to the hill [Gibeah], behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came on him mightily, and he prophesied [under divine guidance] among them.  
1S1011 Now when all who knew Saul previously saw that he actually prophesied now [by inspiration] with the prophets, the people said one to another, “What has happened to [Saul, who is nobody but] the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”  
1S1012 And a man from there answered, “But who is the father of the others?” So it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”  
1S1013 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place [of worship].  
1S1014 Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And Saul said, “To look for the donkeys. And when we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Samuel [for help].”  
1S1015 Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me, what did Samuel say to you?”  
1S1016 And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned.  
1S1017 Then Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah,  
1S1018 and he said to Israel, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought Israel up from Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’  
1S1019 But today you have rejected your God, who Himself saves you from all your disasters and distresses; yet you have said, ‘No! Set a king over us.’ Now then, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your families (clans).”  
1S1020 And when Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.  
1S1021 Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen by lot; but when they looked for him, he could not be found.  
1S1022 So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD answered, “He is there, hiding himself by the provisions and supplies.”  
1S1023 So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.  
1S1024 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people.” So all the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!”  
1S1025 Then Samuel told the people the requirements of the kingdom, and wrote them in a book and placed it before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home.  
1S1026 Saul also went home to Gibeah; and the brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him.  
1S1027 But some worthless men said, “How can this man save and rescue us?” And they regarded Saul with contempt and did not bring him a gift. But he ignored the insult and kept silent.  
1S1101 Now Nahash the Ammonite [king] went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty [of peace] with us and we will serve you.”  
1S1102 But Nahash the Ammonite told them, “I will make a treaty with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and make it a disgrace upon all Israel.”  
1S1103 The elders of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Give us seven days so that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will come out [and surrender] to you.”  
1S1104 Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news to the people; and all the people raised their voices and wept aloud.  
1S1105 Now Saul was coming out of the field behind the oxen, and he said, “What is the matter with the people that they are weeping?” So they told him about the report of the men of Jabesh.  
1S1106 The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became extremely angry.  
1S1107 He took a team of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out to follow Saul and Samuel, the same shall be done to his oxen.” Then fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out [united] as one man [with one purpose].  
1S1108 He assembled and counted them at Bezek; and the sons of Israel numbered 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000.  
1S1109 They said to the messengers who had come, “You shall say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have help [against the Ammonites].’” So the messengers came and reported this to the men of Jabesh; and they were overjoyed.  
1S1110 So the men of Jabesh said [to Nahash the Ammonite], “Tomorrow we will come out to you [to surrender], and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.”  
1S1111 The next morning Saul put the men into three companies; and they entered the [Ammonites’] camp during the [darkness of the early] morning watch and killed the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and the survivors were scattered, and no two of them were left together.  
1S1112 The people said to Samuel, “Who is the one who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, and we will put them to death.”  
1S1113 But Saul said, “No man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has brought victory to Israel.”  
1S1114 Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there restore the kingdom.”  
1S1115 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they also sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.  
1S1201 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in everything that you have said to me and have appointed a king over you.  
1S1202 And now, here is the king walking before you. As for me, I am old and gray, and here are my sons with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.  
1S1203 Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and [Saul] His anointed [if I have done someone wrong]. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited? Whom have I oppressed or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes [to the truth]? [Tell me and] I will restore it to you.”  
1S1204 They said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us or taken anything at all from a man’s hand.”  
1S1205 Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and [Saul] His anointed is a witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He is a witness.”  
1S1206 Then Samuel said to the people, “It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers (ancestors) up from the land of Egypt.  
1S1207 Now then, take your stand, so that I may plead and contend with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did for you and for your fathers.  
1S1208 When Jacob [and his sons] had come into Egypt [and later when the Egyptians oppressed them] and your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron who brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.  
1S1209 But when they forgot the LORD their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of Hazor’s army, and into the hand of the Philistines and of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.  
1S1210 They cried out to the LORD, saying, ‘We have sinned because we have abandoned (rejected) the Lord and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now rescue us from the hands of our enemies, and we will serve You.’  
1S1211 Then the LORD sent Jerubbaal (Gideon) and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel, and He rescued you from the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in security.  
1S1212 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites had come against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us’—although the LORD your God was your King.  
1S1213 Now therefore, here is [Saul] the king whom you have chosen, and for whom you asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you.  
1S1214 If you will fear the LORD [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the LORD your God [and it will be well].  
1S1215 But if you do not listen to the LORD’S voice, but rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you [to punish you], as it was against your fathers.  
1S1216 So now, take your stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes.  
1S1217 Is it not [the beginning of the] wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD and He will send thunder and rain; then you will know [without any doubt], and see that your evil which you have done is great in the sight of the LORD by asking for yourselves a king.”  
1S1218 So Samuel called to the LORD [in prayer], and He sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.  
1S1219 Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil—to ask for a king for ourselves.”  
1S1220 Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have [indeed] done all this evil; yet do not turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.  
1S1221 You must not turn away, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.  
1S1222 The LORD will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.  
1S1223 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.  
1S1224 Only fear the LORD [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.  
1S1225 But if you still do evil, both you and your king will be swept away [to destruction].”  
1S1301 Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty-two years over Israel.  
1S1302 Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel; of whom 2,000 were with him in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent the rest of the people away, each one to his own tent.  
1S1303 Jonathan attacked and defeated the Philistine garrison which was at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”  
1S1304 All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the Philistine garrison, and also that Israel had become despicable to the Philistines. And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.  
1S1305 Now the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops in multitude, like sand on the seashore. They came up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.  
1S1306 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation (for their troops were hard- pressed), they hid in caves, in thickets, in cellars, and in [dry] cisterns (pits).  
1S1307 Also some of the Hebrews had crossed the [river] Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling [in fear and anticipation].  
1S1308 Now Saul waited seven days, according to the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel had not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering away from Saul.  
1S1309 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].  
1S1310 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel finally came; Saul went out to meet and to welcome him.  
1S1311 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “Since I saw that the people were scattering away from me, and that you did not come within the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,  
1S1312 therefore, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked for the LORD’S favor [by making supplication to Him].’ So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”  
1S1313 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for [if you had obeyed] the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.  
1S1314 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man (David) after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as leader and ruler over His people, because you have not kept (obeyed) what the LORD commanded you.”  
1S1315 Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul assembled and counted the people who were still with him, [only] about six hundred [fighting] men.  
1S1316 Saul and his son Jonathan and the people with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped at Michmash.  
1S1317 And the raiding party came from the Philistine camp in three companies: one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual,  
1S1318 another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another toward the border overlooking the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.  
1S1319 Now no blacksmith (metal-worker) could be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.”  
1S1320 So all [the men of] Israel went down to the Philistines, each to get his plowshare, pick, axe, or sickle sharpened.  
1S1321 The fee [for sharpening] was a pim (two-thirds of a shekel) for the plowshares, the picks, the pitchforks, and the axes, and to straighten the goads (cattle prods).  
1S1322 So it came about on the day of battle that neither sword nor spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.  
1S1323 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass at Michmash.  
1S1401 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.  
1S1402 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron; and with him were about six hundred men,  
1S1403 and Ahijah the son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest at Shiloh, was wearing the ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.  
1S1404 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to cross over to get to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side; one [crag] was named Bozez, and the other, Seneh.  
1S1405 The one crag was on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.  
1S1406 Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, “Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”  
1S1407 And his armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is in your heart (mind); here I am with you in whatever you think [best].”  
1S1408 Jonathan said, “See now, we are going to cross over to the [Philistine] men and reveal ourselves to them.  
1S1409 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.  
1S1410 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will go up, for the LORD has handed them over to us; and this shall be the sign to us.”  
1S1411 When both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”  
1S1412 So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Climb up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel.”  
1S1413 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, his armor bearer following after him. The enemy fell before Jonathan [in combat], and his armor bearer killed some of them after him.  
1S1414 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a [plow] furrow in a plot of land [the area of which a yoke of oxen could plow in a day].  
1S1415 And there was trembling in the [Philistine] camp, in the field, and among all the people; even the garrison and the raiding party trembled [in fear], and the earth quaked and it became a trembling and terror from God.  
1S1416 Saul’s watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude melted away and they went here and there.  
1S1417 Then Saul said to the people with him, “Take a count and see who has left us.” When they had taken a count, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.  
1S1418 Saul said to Ahijah [the priest], “Bring the ark of God here.” For at that time the ark of God was with the sons of Israel.  
1S1419 While Saul talked to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued and increased, so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”  
1S1420 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and behold, every [Philistine] man’s sword was against his companion, in wild confusion.  
1S1421 Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.  
1S1422 When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them closely in the battle.  
1S1423 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven.  
1S1424 But the men of Israel were hard-pressed that day, because Saul had put the people under a curse, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people ate any food.  
1S1425 All the people of the land came to a forest, and there was honey on the ground.  
1S1426 When the people entered the forest, the honey was dripping, but no man put his hand to his mouth [to taste it], because the people feared the oath [of Saul].  
1S1427 But Jonathan had not heard when his father put the people under the oath. So he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into a honeycomb, and then he put his hand to his mouth, and his energy was restored.  
1S1428 But one of the people told him, “Your father strictly put the people under an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food today.’” And the people were exhausted [and hungry].  
1S1429 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land [with his foolish curse]. See how my energy is restored because I tasted a little of this honey.  
1S1430 How much better [it would have been] if only the people had eaten freely today from the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.”  
1S1431 They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very tired.  
1S1432 [When night came and the oath ended] the people rushed greedily upon the spoil. They took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and they ate them [raw] with the blood [still in them].  
1S1433 Then Saul was told, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating [the meat] with the blood.” And he said, “You have violated [the Law] and acted treacherously; roll a large stone to me today.”  
1S1434 Saul said, “Spread out among the people and tell them, ‘Each one of you bring me his ox or his sheep, and butcher it [properly] here and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating [the meat with] the blood.’” So that night each one brought his ox with him and butchered it there.  
1S1435 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.  
1S1436 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them [alive].” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” Then the priest said, “Let us approach God here.”  
1S1437 Saul asked [counsel] of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You hand them over to Israel?” But He did not answer him that day.  
1S1438 Then Saul said, “Come here, all you who are leaders of the people, and let us find out how this sin [causing God’s silence] happened today.  
1S1439 For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, for even if the guilt is in my son Jonathan, he shall most certainly die.” But not one of all the people answered him.  
1S1440 Then he said to all the Israelites, “You shall be on one side; I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”  
1S1441 Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot [identifying the transgressor].” Then Saul and Jonathan were selected [by lot], but the other men went free.  
1S1442 Saul said, “Cast [lots] between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.  
1S1443 Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!”  
1S1444 Saul answered, “May God do so [to me], and more also [if I do not keep my word], for you shall most certainly die, Jonathan.”  
1S1445 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan, who has brought about this great victory in Israel, be put to death? Far from it! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he was not put to death.  
1S1446 Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.  
1S1447 When Saul assumed control of the kingdom of Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: Moab, the sons (descendants) of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.  
1S1448 He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and rescued Israel from the hands of those who had plundered them.  
1S1449 Now Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. The names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal.  
1S1450 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of his army was named Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.  
1S1451 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.  
1S1452 Now the war against the Philistines was severe (brutal, relentless) all the days of Saul; and whenever Saul saw any mighty or courageous man, he recruited him for his staff.  
1S1501 Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now listen and pay close attention to the words of the Lord.  
1S1502 Thus says the LORD of hosts (armies), ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when Israel came up from Egypt.  
1S1503 Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”  
1S1504 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.  
1S1505 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley.  
1S1506 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, leave, go down from the Amalekites, so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they went up from Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  
1S1507 Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.  
1S1508 He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, though he totally destroyed all [the rest of] the people with the sword.  
1S1509 Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and everything that was good, and they were not willing to destroy them entirely; but everything that was undesirable or worthless they destroyed completely.  
1S1510 Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,  
1S1511 “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” Samuel was angry [over Saul’s failure] and he cried out to the LORD all night.  
1S1512 When Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, he was told, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up for himself a monument [commemorating his victory], then he turned and went on and went down to Gilgal.”  
1S1513 So Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD. I have carried out the command of the LORD.”  
1S1514 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”  
1S1515 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have destroyed completely.”  
1S1516 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” Saul said to him, “Speak.”  
1S1517 Samuel said, “Is it not true that even though you were small (insignificant) in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the LORD anointed you king over Israel,  
1S1518 and the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, totally destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’  
1S1519 Why did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but [instead] swooped down on the plunder [with shouts of victory] and did evil in the sight of the LORD?”  
1S1520 Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites.  
1S1521 But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things [that were] to be totally destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”  
1S1522 Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obedience to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.  
1S1523 “For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), And disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you as king.”  
1S1524 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.  
1S1525 Now, please, pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”  
1S1526 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”  
1S1527 As Samuel turned to go [away], Saul grabbed the hem of his robe [to stop him], and it tore.  
1S1528 So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.  
1S1529 Also the Splendor and Glory and Eminence of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”  
1S1530 Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”  
1S1531 So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.  
1S1532 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death has come to an end.”  
1S1533 Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.  
1S1534 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.  
1S1535 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.  
1S1601 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, when I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons.”  
1S1602 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’  
1S1603 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do [after that]; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate.”  
1S1604 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”  
1S1605 And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.  
1S1606 So it happened, when they had come, he looked at Eliab [the eldest son] and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.”  
1S1607 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  
1S1608 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”  
1S1609 Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen him either.”  
1S1610 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen [any of] these.”  
1S1611 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse replied, “There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; because we will not sit down [to eat the sacrificial meal] until he comes here.”  
1S1612 So Jesse sent word and brought him in. Now he had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. The LORD said [to Samuel], “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”  
1S1613 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.  
1S1614 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and terrified him.  
1S1615 Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.  
1S1616 Let our lord now command your servants who are here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.”  
1S1617 So Saul told his servants, “Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”  
1S1618 One of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a brave and competent man, a warrior, discerning (prudent, eloquent) in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.”  
1S1619 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the flock.”  
1S1620 Jesse took a donkey [loaded with] bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.  
1S1621 Then David came to Saul and attended him. Saul loved him greatly and [later] David became his armor bearer.  
1S1622 Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David be my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight.”  
1S1623 So it came about that whenever the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp and played it with his hand; so Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would leave him.  
1S1701 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle and were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah; and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.  
1S1702 Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and they camped in the Valley of Elah, and assembled in battle formation to meet the Philistines.  
1S1703 The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side and Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them.  
1S1704 Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.  
1S1705 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and wore a coat of scale-armor (overlapping metal plates) which weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze.  
1S1706 He had bronze shin protectors on his legs and a bronze javelin hung between his shoulders.  
1S1707 The [wooden] shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; the blade-head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And a shield-bearer walked in front of him.  
1S1708 Goliath stood and shouted to the battle lines of Israel, saying to them, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not the Philistine and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and have him come down to me.  
1S1709 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.”  
1S1710 Again the Philistine said, “I defy the battle lines of Israel this day; give me a man so that we may fight together.”  
1S1711 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.  
1S1712 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced in years among men.  
1S1713 His three older sons had followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who went to battle were Eliab, the firstborn; next, Abinadab; and third, Shammah.  
1S1714 David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul,  
1S1715 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s flock at Bethlehem.  
1S1716 The Philistine [Goliath] came out morning and evening, and took his stand for forty days.  
1S1717 Then Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread and run quickly to the camp to your brothers.  
1S1718 Also take these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of the unit. See how your brothers are doing and bring back news of them.  
1S1719 Now they are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”  
1S1720 So David got up early in the morning, left the flock with a keeper, picked up the provisions and went just as Jesse had directed him. And he came to the encampment as the army was going out in battle formation shouting the battle cry.  
1S1721 Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle formation, army against army.  
1S1722 Then David left his provisions in the care of the supply keeper, and ran to the ranks and came and greeted his brothers.  
1S1723 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words again; and David heard him.  
1S1724 When the men of Israel all saw the man, they fled from him, and were very frightened.  
1S1725 The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. The king will reward the man who kills him with great riches, and will give him his daughter [in marriage] and make his father’s house (family) free [from taxes and service] in Israel.”  
1S1726 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes the disgrace [of his taunting] from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God?”  
1S1727 The men told him, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”  
1S1728 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard what he said to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption (overconfidence) and the evil of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.”  
1S1729 But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a [harmless] question?”  
1S1730 Then David turned away from Eliab to someone else and asked the same question; and the people gave him the same answer as the first time.  
1S1731 When the words that David spoke were heard, the men reported them to Saul, and he sent for him.  
1S1732 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s courage fail because of him (Goliath). Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.”  
1S1733 Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him. For you are [only] a young man and he has been a warrior since his youth.”  
1S1734 But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  
1S1735 I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the lamb from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I seized it by its whiskers and struck and killed it.  
1S1736 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God.”  
1S1737 David said, “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.”  
1S1738 Then Saul dressed David in his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and put a coat of mail (armor) on him.  
1S1739 Then David fastened his sword over his armor and tried to walk, [but he could not,] because he was not used to them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, because I am not used to them.” So David took them off.  
1S1740 Then he took his [shepherd’s] staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones out of the stream bed, and put them in his shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch. With his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.  
1S1741 The Philistine came and approached David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.  
1S1742 When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he derided and disparaged him because he was [just] a young man, with a ruddy complexion, and a handsome appearance.  
1S1743 The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with [shepherd’s] staffs?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  
1S1744 The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.”  
1S1745 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.  
1S1746 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,  
1S1747 and that this entire assembly may know that the LORD does not save with the sword or with the spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will hand you over to us.”  
1S1748 When the Philistine rose and came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.  
1S1749 David put his hand into his bag and took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.  
1S1750 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck down the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.  
1S1751 So he ran and stood over the Philistine, grasped his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their [mighty] champion was dead, they fled.  
1S1752 The men of Israel and Judah stood with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance to the valley and the gates of Ekron. And the [fatally] wounded Philistines fell along the way to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.  
1S1753 The sons of Israel returned from their pursuit of the Philistines and plundered their camp.  
1S1754 Then David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.  
1S1755 When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” And Abner answered, “By your life, O king, I do not know.”  
1S1756 The king said, “Ask whose son the young man is.”  
1S1757 When David returned from killing [Goliath] the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.  
1S1758 Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”  
1S1801 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.  
1S1802 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.  
1S1803 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  
1S1804 Jonathan stripped himself of the outer robe that he was wearing and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword, his bow, and his belt.  
1S1805 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he acted wisely and prospered; and Saul appointed him over the men of war. And it pleased all the people and also Saul’s servants.  
1S1806 As they were coming [home], when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, [songs of] joy, and musical instruments.  
1S1807 The women sang as they played and danced, saying, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”  
1S1808 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”  
1S1809 Saul looked at David with suspicion [and jealously] from that day forward.  
1S1810 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul, and he raved [madly] inside his house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul’s hand.  
1S1811 Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.  
1S1812 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul.  
1S1813 So Saul had David removed from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he publicly associated with the people.  
1S1814 David acted wisely and prospered in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.  
1S1815 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he was afraid of him.  
1S1816 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he publicly associated with them.  
1S1817 Then Saul said to David, “Behold I will give you my older daughter Merab as a wife; only be brave for me and fight the LORD’S battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”  
1S1818 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”  
1S1819 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was [instead] given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.  
1S1820 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and when they told Saul, it pleased him.  
1S1821 Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare (bad influence, source of trouble) to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David for a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”  
1S1822 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Listen, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’”  
1S1823 So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it a trivial thing in your sight to become a king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and insignificant?”  
1S1824 The servants of Saul told him what David said.  
1S1825 Then Saul said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king wants no dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul’s intention was to cause David’s death at the hand of the Philistines.  
1S1826 When his servants told David these words, it pleased him to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time [for the marriage] arrived,  
1S1827 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistine men, and David brought their foreskins [as proof of death] and presented every one of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal, his [younger] daughter, as a wife.  
1S1828 When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, his daughter, loved him,  
1S1829 Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s constant enemy.  
1S1830 Then the Philistine commanders (princes) came out to battle, and it happened as often as they did, that David acted more wisely and had more success than all Saul’s servants. So his name was highly esteemed.  
1S1901 Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.  
1S1902 So he told David, “Saul my father is seeking to kill you. Now then, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.  
1S1903 As for me, I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you, and if I learn anything, then I will tell you.”  
1S1904 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.  
1S1905 For he took his life in his hand and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David without a cause?”  
1S1906 Saul listened to Jonathan and swore [an oath], “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”  
1S1907 So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence [serving him] as previously.  
1S1908 Then there was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with a great slaughter, and they fled before him.  
1S1909 Then an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.  
1S1910 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence, so that Saul only stuck the spear into the wall. Then David fled and escaped that night.  
1S1911 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch for him, so that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”  
1S1912 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled and escaped.  
1S1913 And Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.  
1S1914 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”  
1S1915 Then Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed [if necessary], so that I may kill him.”  
1S1916 When the messengers came in, there was the household idol on the bed with a quilt of goats’ hair at its head.  
1S1917 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”  
1S1918 So David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him everything that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.  
1S1919 Saul was told, “David is at Naioth in Ramah.”  
1S1920 Then Saul sent messengers to take David; but when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.  
1S1921 When Saul was informed, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again, the third time, and they prophesied as well.  
1S1922 Then Saul went to Ramah himself and came to the great well that is in Secu; and he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And he was told, “They are at Naioth [with the prophets] in Ramah.”  
1S1923 So he went on to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him too, and he went along continually prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.  
1S1924 He also took off his [royal] robes [and armor] and prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and night. So they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”  
1S2001 David fled from Naioth in Ramah and he came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? What is my sin before (against) your father, that he is seeking my life?”  
1S2002 Jonathan said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing important or insignificant without telling me. So why would he hide this thing from me? It is not so!”  
1S2003 But David vowed again, saying “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be worried.’ But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.”  
1S2004 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”  
1S2005 David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon [observance], and I should sit at the table to eat [the sacrificial meal] with the king; but let me go, so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.  
1S2006 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem, his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the entire family.’  
1S2007 If he says, ‘All right,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, then be certain that he has decided on evil.  
1S2008 Therefore show kindness to your servant, because you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is iniquity (guilt) in me, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father [to be killed]?”  
1S2009 Jonathan said, “Far be it from [happening to] you! In fact, if I indeed learn that my father has decided to harm you, would I not tell you about it?”  
1S2010 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”  
1S2011 Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field [to talk].” So they went out to the field.  
1S2012 Then Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward you, shall I not then send word to you and make it known to you?  
1S2013 But if it pleases my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan, and more if I do not let you know about it and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.  
1S2014 If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness and faithfulness of the LORD, so that I will not die?  
1S2015 You shall never cut off your lovingkindness and faithfulness from my house, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”  
1S2016 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. [He added,] “May the LORD require it at the hands of David’s enemies. [that is, hold them accountable for any harm they inflict on David].”  
1S2017 Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself.  
1S2018 Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon [festival], and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.  
1S2019 When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day [when my father tried to kill you], and shall stay by the stone Ezel.  
1S2020 I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a target.  
1S2021 And I will send a boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come [back to my father’s table]; for it is safe for you and there is no danger, as the LORD lives.  
1S2022 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the LORD has sent you away.  
1S2023 As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever [making sure that we each keep our word].”  
1S2024 So David hid in the field; and when the New Moon [festival] came, the king sat down to eat food.  
1S2025 The king sat on his seat as on previous occasions, on his seat by the wall; then Jonathan stood up, and Abner [his commander] sat down by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.  
1S2026 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “It is an incident [of some kind] and he is not [ceremonially] clean—surely he is unclean.”  
1S2027 But on the next day, the second day of the new moon, David’s place was empty [again]; and Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”  
1S2028 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem.  
1S2029 He said, ‘Please let me go because our family is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me slip away so that I may see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”  
1S2030 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a wayward, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse [over me] to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?  
1S2031 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you [as heir to the throne] nor your kingdom will be established. So now, send [someone] and bring him to me, for he must die.”  
1S2032 Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why must he be put to death? What has he done?”  
1S2033 Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down, so Jonathan knew [without any doubt] that his father had decided to put David to death.  
1S2034 Then Jonathan stood up from the table in the heat of anger, and ate no food on that second day of the new moon (month), for he grieved and worried about David because his father had dishonored him.  
1S2035 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the meeting with David, and a young boy was with him.  
1S2036 And he said to his boy, “Run, please find the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him.  
1S2037 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called to him, “Is the arrow not beyond you?”  
1S2038 And Jonathan called out after the boy, “Hurry, be quick, do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and came back to his master.  
1S2039 But the boy was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.  
1S2040 Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.”  
1S2041 As soon as the boy was gone, David got up from the south side [beside the mound of stones] and fell on his face to the ground [in submission and respect], and bowed three times. Then they kissed one another and wept together, but David wept more.  
1S2042 Jonathan told David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and yours forever.’” Then he stood and left, while Jonathan went into the city.  
1S2101 Then David went to Nob to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech came trembling [in fear] to meet David and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”  
1S2102 David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has told me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter for which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you. I have directed the young men to a certain place.’  
1S2103 Now what [food] do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”  
1S2104 The priest answered David, “There is no ordinary (unconsecrated) bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; [you may have it] if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”  
1S2105 David answered the priest, “Be assured that women have been kept from us in these three days since I set out, and the bodies of the young men were consecrated (ceremonially clean), although it was an ordinary (unconsecrated) journey; so how much more will their vessels be holy today?”  
1S2106 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.  
1S2107 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s shepherds.  
1S2108 David said to Ahimelech, “Do you not have a sword or spear here on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my [other] weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.”  
1S2109 Then the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you would take it for yourself, do so. For there is no other here except for it.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”  
1S2110 Then David arose and fled from Saul that day, and went to Achish king of Gath.  
1S2111 The servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing in praise of this one as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”  
1S2112 David took these words to heart and was greatly afraid of Achish king of Gath.  
1S2113 So [fearing for his life] he changed his behavior in their sight, and acted insanely in their hands, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard.  
1S2114 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see that the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me?  
1S2115 Do I lack madmen, that you bring this one to behave like a madman in my presence? Shall this one come into my house?”  
1S2201 So David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him.  
1S2202 Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.  
1S2203 And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother come [out of Judah] and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.”  
1S2204 Then he left them with the king of Moab; and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.  
1S2205 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.  
1S2206 But Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.  
1S2207 Saul said to his servants who were standing around him, “Listen now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse also give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and hundreds?  
1S2208 For all of you have conspired against me so that no one informs me when my son [Jonathan] makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you cares about me or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as he does this day?”  
1S2209 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s servants, replied, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech [the priest] the son of Ahitub.  
1S2210 Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”  
1S2211 Then the king sent someone to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king.  
1S2212 Then Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.” He replied, “Here I am [at your service], my lord.”  
1S2213 Saul said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so he would rebel against me by lying in ambush, as he does this day?”  
1S2214 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is as faithful and trustworthy as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and who is captain over your guard [and your confidant], and is honored in your house?  
1S2215 Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute any guilt to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all about this entire matter.”  
1S2216 But Saul said, “Be assured that you shall die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s household (extended family).”  
1S2217 And the king said to the guards who stood around him, “Turn around and kill the priests of the LORD, because their loyalty also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not inform me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to put out their hands to attack the LORD’S priests.  
1S2218 So the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and attack the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the [priest’s] linen ephod.  
1S2219 And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also he struck oxen and donkeys and sheep with the edge of the sword.  
1S2220 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to David.  
1S2221 Abiathar told David that Saul had murdered the LORD’S priests.  
1S2222 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul. I have brought about the death of everyone in your father’s household (extended family).  
1S2223 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, but you are safe with me.”  
1S2301 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering (robbing) the threshing floors [of the grain].”  
1S2302 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”  
1S2303 But David’s men said to him, “Listen, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the battle lines of the Philistines?”  
1S2304 Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will hand over the Philistines to you.”  
1S2305 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines; he drove away their cattle and struck them with a great slaughter. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.  
1S2306 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.  
1S2307 Now when Saul was informed that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has handed him over to me, for he shut himself in by entering a city that has double gates and bars.”  
1S2308 So Saul summoned all the people (soldiers) for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.  
1S2309 But David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”  
1S2310 Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul intends to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.  
1S2311 Will the men of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.”  
1S2312 Then David asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” The LORD said, “They will surrender you.”  
1S2313 Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and left Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.  
1S2314 David stayed in the wilderness in strongholds, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.  
1S2315 Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the Wilderness of Ziph [in the woods] at Horesh.  
1S2316 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went [into the woods] to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.  
1S2317 He said to him, “Do not be afraid; the hand of my father Saul will not find you. You will be king over Israel and I will be second in command to you; my father Saul knows this too.”  
1S2318 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; and David stayed [in the woods] at Horesh and Jonathan went to his house.  
1S2319 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?  
1S2320 Now then, O king, come down [to Ziph] in accordance with all your heart’s desire to do so [and capture him]; and our part shall be to hand him over to the king.”  
1S2321 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have had compassion on me.  
1S2322 Go now, be very persistent and investigate, and see where his haunt is and who has seen him there; for I am told he is very cunning.  
1S2323 So look, and take note of all the places where he hides and come back to me with the established facts, then I will go with you. If he is [anywhere] in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”  
1S2324 So they arose and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.  
1S2325 Then Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed [there] in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard it, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon.  
1S2326 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to capture them.  
1S2327 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have attacked the land.”  
1S2328 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.  
1S2329 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.  
1S2401 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the Wilderness of Engedi.”  
1S2402 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.  
1S2403 On the way he came to the sheepfolds where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave’s innermost recesses.  
1S2404 David’s men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will hand over your enemy to you, and you shall do to him as seems good to you.’” Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the hem (edge) of Saul’s robe.  
1S2405 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.  
1S2406 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to put out my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the LORD.”  
1S2407 So David strongly rebuked his men with these words and did not let them rise up against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave and went on his way.  
1S2408 Then David also got up afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and lay himself face down.  
1S2409 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David seeks to harm you?’  
1S2410 Behold, your eyes have seen today how the LORD had given you into my hand in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not reach out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’S anointed.’  
1S2411 Look, my father! Indeed, see the hem of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the hem of your robe and did not kill you, know and understand [without question] that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait to take my life.  
1S2412 May the LORD judge between me and you; and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.  
1S2413 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.  
1S2414 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue [with three thousand men]? A dead dog, a single flea?  
1S2415 May the LORD be the judge and render judgment between me and you; and may He see and plead my cause and vindicate me by saving me from your hand.”  
1S2416 When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept.  
1S2417 He said to David, “You are more righteous and upright [in God’s eyes] than I; for you have done good to me, but I have done evil to you.  
1S2418 You have declared today the good that you have done to me, for when the LORD put me into your hand, you did not kill me.  
1S2419 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? So may the LORD reward you with good in return for what you have done for me this day.  
1S2420 Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.  
1S2421 So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household (extended family).”  
1S2422 David gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the mountain stronghold.  
1S2501 Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him at his house in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.  
1S2502 Now there was a man in Maon whose business and possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel  
1S2503 (now the man’s name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings; he was a Calebite).  
1S2504 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.  
1S2505 So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name;  
1S2506 and this is what you shall say, ‘Have a long life! Peace be to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have.  
1S2507 Now I have heard that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us and we have not harmed them, nor were they missing anything all the time they were in Carmel.  
1S2508 Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your sight [and be well-treated], for we have come on a good (festive) day. Please, give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”  
1S2509 When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David; then they waited.  
1S2510 But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today, each of whom is breaking away from his master.  
1S2511 So should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”  
1S2512 So David’s young men made their way back and returned; and they came and told him everything that was said [to them by Nabal].  
1S2513 David said to his men, “Each man put on your sword.” So each man put on his sword. David also put on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David while two hundred stayed back with the provisions and supplies.  
1S2514 But one of Nabal’s young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Listen, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless (greet) our master, and he shouted at them [in contempt].  
1S2515 But David’s men were very good to us, and we were not harmed or treated badly, nor did we miss anything as long as we were with them, when we were in the fields.  
1S2516 They were a wall [of protection] to us both night and day, all the time that we were with them tending the sheep.  
1S2517 Now then, know this and consider what you should do, for evil is [already] planned against our master and against all his household; but he is such a worthless and wicked man that one cannot speak [reasonably] to him.”  
1S2518 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two jugs of wine, five sheep already prepared [for roasting], five measures of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.  
1S2519 She said to her young men (servants), “Go on ahead of me; behold, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.  
1S2520 It happened that as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by [way of] the hidden part of the mountain, that suddenly David and his men were coming down toward her, and she met them.  
1S2521 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected and guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missing of all that belonged to him; and he has repaid me evil for good.  
1S2522 May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave [alive] even one male of any who belong to him.”  
1S2523 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from the donkey, and kneeled face downward before David and bowed down to the ground [in respect].  
1S2524 Kneeling at his feet she said, “My lord, let the blame and guilt be on me alone. And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant.  
1S2525 Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal (fool) is his name and foolishness (stupidity) is with him; but I your maidservant did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.  
1S2526 So now, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, since the LORD has prevented you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord, be as [self- destructive as] Nabal.  
1S2527 Now this gift, which your maidservant has brought my lord, let it be given to the young men who accompany and follow my lord.  
1S2528 Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant; for the LORD will certainly make my lord a secure and enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days.  
1S2529 Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound in the [precious] bundle of the living with the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies—those He will hurl out as from the center of a sling.  
1S2530 And it will happen when the LORD does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken (promised) concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel,  
1S2531 that this [incident] will not cause grief or [bring] a troubled conscience to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord having avenged himself. When the LORD deals well with my lord, then remember [with favor] your maidservant.”  
1S2532 David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day.  
1S2533 And blessed be your discretion and discernment, and blessed be you, who has kept me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself by my own hand.  
1S2534 Nevertheless, as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, most certainly by the morning light there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.”  
1S2535 So David accepted what she had brought to him and said to her, “Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and have granted your request.”  
1S2536 Then Abigail came to Nabal, and he was holding a feast in his house [for the shearers], like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s mood was joyous because he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the morning light.  
1S2537 But in the morning, when Nabal was sober, and his wife told him these things, his heart died within him and he became [paralyzed and helpless] like a stone.  
1S2538 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died.  
1S2539 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach [suffered] at the hand of Nabal and has kept His servant from [retaliating with] evil. For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, proposing to take her as his wife.  
1S2540 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David sent us to you to take you [to him] to be his wife.”  
1S2541 And she stood and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is [ready to be] a maid to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”  
1S2542 Then Abigail quickly got up, and rode on a donkey, with five of her maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife.  
1S2543 David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives.  
1S2544 But Saul had given Michal his [younger] daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.  
1S2601 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?”  
1S2602 So Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, taking with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David [there] in the wilderness of Ziph.  
1S2603 Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road east of Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came into the wilderness after him,  
1S2604 David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming.  
1S2605 So David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped, and saw the spot where Saul lay, as well as Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying inside the circle of the camp, with the army camped around him.  
1S2606 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”  
1S2607 So David and Abishai went to the army during the night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him.  
1S2608 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now then, please let me strike him with the spear driving it to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.”  
1S2609 But David said to Abishai, “Do not kill him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’S anointed [king] and be guiltless (innocent)?”  
1S2610 David also said, “As the LORD lives, most certainly the LORD will strike him [in His own time and way], or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be carried off [dead].  
1S2611 The LORD forbid that I would put out my hand against the LORD’S anointed; but now take the spear that is by his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”  
1S2612 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they left, and no one saw or knew nor did anyone awaken, because they were all sound asleep, for a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.  
1S2613 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain at a distance, with a large area between them.  
1S2614 David called to the army and to Abner the son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls [and disturbs] the king?”  
1S2615 David said to Abner, “Are you not a [brave] man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came [into your camp] to kill the king your lord.  
1S2616 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you surely deserve to die, because you have not guarded your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”  
1S2617 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king!”  
1S2618 And David said, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?  
1S2619 Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let Him accept an offering [from me]; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, because they have driven me out this day to keep me from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’  
1S2620 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, just as when one hunts a [defenseless] partridge in the mountains.”  
1S2621 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Hear me, I have played the fool and have done a very great wrong [to you].”  
1S2622 David answered, “Look, here is the king’s spear! Now let one of the young men come over and get it.  
1S2623 The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD handed you over to me today, but I refused to put out my hand against the LORD’S anointed.  
1S2624 Now behold, just as your life was precious in my sight this day, so let my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may He rescue me from all distress.”  
1S2625 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will both accomplish much and certainly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.  
1S2701 But David said in his heart, “Now I will die one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me inside the borders of Israel, and I will escape from his hand [once and for all].”  
1S2702 So David and the six hundred men who were with him arose and crossed over to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.  
1S2703 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, [who was] Nabal’s widow.  
1S2704 When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.  
1S2705 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your sight, let me be given a place [of my own] in one of the cities in the country, so that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”  
1S2706 Then Achish gave David [the town of] Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.  
1S2707 The number of days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.  
1S2708 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites [the enemies of Israel that Joshua had failed to annihilate]; for they had inhabited the land from ancient times, as one comes to Shur even as far as the land of Egypt.  
1S2709 David attacked the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive, but he took the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing, and returned to Achish.  
1S2710 When Achish asked, “Where did you raid today?” David replied, “Against the Negev (the South country) of Judah, and against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.”  
1S2711 David did not leave a man or a woman alive to bring news to Gath, saying [to himself], “Otherwise they will tell about us, saying, ‘This is what David has done, and this has been his practice all the time that he has lived in the country of the Philistines.’”  
1S2712 Achish believed David, saying, “He has certainly become hated by his people in Israel; so he will always be my servant.”  
1S2801 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “Understand for certain that you and your men will go out with me to battle.”  
1S2802 David said to Achish, “All right, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard for life.”  
1S2803 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists (soothsayers) from the land.  
1S2804 The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all the Israelites and they camped at Gilboa.  
1S2805 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and badly shaken.  
1S2806 So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [used like lots by the priest to determine the will of God] or by prophets.  
1S2807 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium [between the living and the dead], so that I may go to her and ask her advice.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”  
1S2808 So Saul disguised himself by wearing different clothes, and he left with two men, and they came to the woman at night. He said to her, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up [from the dead] for me [the spirit] whom I shall name to you.”  
1S2809 But the woman said to him, “See here, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off (eliminated) those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. So why are you laying a trap for my life, to cause my death?”  
1S2810 Then Saul swore [an oath] to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”  
1S2811 So the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”  
1S2812 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”  
1S2813 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but [tell me] what do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine [superhuman] being coming up from the earth.”  
1S2814 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid respect [to him].  
1S2815 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and God has left me and no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you to make known to me what I should do.”  
1S2816 Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy?  
1S2817 The LORD has done [to you] just as He said through me [when I was with you]; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.  
1S2818 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.  
1S2819 Moreover, the LORD will also put Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me [among the dead]. Indeed, the LORD will put the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”  
1S2820 Then Saul immediately fell full length on the earth [floor of the medium’s house], and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; and he was thoroughly exhausted because he had not eaten all day and all night.  
1S2821 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled, and she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed you, and I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to everything you said to me.  
1S2822 So now, please listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you, and eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way.”  
1S2823 But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants together with the woman urged him, and he [finally] listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.  
1S2824 The woman had a fattened calf in the house; she quickly killed it, and took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread.  
1S2825 She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that night.  
1S2901 Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.  
1S2902 As the Philistine lords (governors) were proceeding on [marching] by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish [the king of Gath],  
1S2903 the Philistine commanders [having noticed David] said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish said to the Philistine commanders, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days and years, and I have found no fault in him from the day he deserted to me to this day?”  
1S2904 But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and they said to him, “Make this man return, so that he may go back to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, or in the battle he may [turn and] become our adversary. For how could David reconcile himself to his lord [Saul]? Would it not be with the heads of these [Philistine] men?  
1S2905 Is this not David, of whom they used to sing in dances, ‘Saul killed his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”  
1S2906 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been upright (righteous), and your behavior in the army is pleasing in my sight. For from the day you came to me to this day I have found no evil in you. Nevertheless, the [Philistine] lords do not approve of you.  
1S2907 So return now and go in peace [to your place], so that you do not displease the Philistine lords.”  
1S2908 David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day when I [first] came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”  
1S2909 Achish answered David, “I know that you are blameless in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’  
1S2910 So now, get up early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you, and as soon as you are up in the morning and have light, leave.”  
1S2911 So David and his men got up early to leave in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel [to fight against Israel].  
1S3001 Now it happened when David and his men came [home] to Ziklag on the third day, [they found] that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev (the South country) and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire;  
1S3002 and they had taken captive the women [and all] who were there, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off [to be used as slaves] and went on their way.  
1S3003 When David and his men came to the town, it was burned, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive.  
1S3004 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they were too exhausted to weep [any longer].  
1S3005 Now David’s two wives had been captured, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.  
1S3006 Further, David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. But David felt strengthened and encouraged in the LORD his God.  
1S3007 David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought him the ephod.  
1S3008 David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band [of raiders]? Will I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will certainly rescue [the captives].”  
1S3009 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor; there those [who could not continue] remained behind.  
1S3010 But David pursued [the Amalekites], he and four hundred men, for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor stayed behind.  
1S3011 They found an Egyptian [who had collapsed] in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they gave him water to drink,  
1S3012 and they gave him a piece of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins; and when he had eaten, his energy returned, for he had not eaten bread or had any water to drink for three days and three nights.  
1S3013 David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man from Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master abandoned me [as useless] when I fell sick three days ago.  
1S3014 We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”  
1S3015 Then David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band [of raiders]?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or turn me over to the hand of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”  
1S3016 When he brought David down, the Amalekites had disbanded and spread over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.  
1S3017 Then David [and his men] struck them down [in battle] from twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode camels and fled.  
1S3018 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives.  
1S3019 Nothing of theirs was missing whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David recovered it all.  
1S3020 So David captured all the flocks and herds [which the enemy had], and [the people] drove those animals before him and said, “This is David’s spoil.”  
1S3021 David came to the two hundred men who were so exhausted that they could not follow him and had been left at the brook Besor [with the provisions]. They went out to meet David and the people with him, and when he approached the people, he greeted them.  
1S3022 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will give them none of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may take his wife and children away and leave.”  
1S3023 David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and has handed over to us the band [of Amalekites] that came against us.  
1S3024 And who will listen to you in regard to this matter? For as is the share of him who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the provisions and supplies; they shall share alike.”  
1S3025 So from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.  
1S3026 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to the elders of Judah, his friends, saying, “Here is a blessing (gift) for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD:  
1S3027 For those in Bethel, Ramoth of the Negev, Jattir,  
1S3028 Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,  
1S3029 Racal, the cities of the Jerahmeelites, the cities of the Kenites,  
1S3030 Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach,  
1S3031 Hebron, and for [those elders in] all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.”  
1S3101 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.  
1S3102 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and they killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.  
1S3103 The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers.  
1S3104 Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised [Philistines] will come and pierce me through and abuse and mock me.” But his armor bearer would not, because he was terrified [of doing such a thing]. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.  
1S3105 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.  
1S3106 So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together on that day.  
1S3107 When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley [of Jezreel], and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the other men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; then the Philistines came and lived in them.  
1S3108 The next day, when the Philistines came to plunder the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.  
1S3109 So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his weapons and armor and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to bring the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.  
1S3110 And they put Saul’s weapons and armor in the temple of the Ashtaroth (female goddesses), and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.  
1S3111 When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,  
1S3112 all the brave men stood and walked all night, and they took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and cremated them there.  
1S3113 They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted [as a sign of mourning and respect] for seven days.  
2S0101 Now it happened after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that he stayed two days in Ziklag.  
2S0102 On the third day a man came [unexpectedly] from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head [as in mourning]. When he came to David, he bowed to the ground and lay himself face down [in an act of great respect and submission].  
2S0103 Then David asked him, “Where do you come from?” He said, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”  
2S0104 David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle. Also, many of the people have fallen and are dead; Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”  
2S0105 So David said to the young man who informed him, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”  
2S0106 And the young man who told him explained, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen [of the Philistines] were close behind him.  
2S0107 When he turned to look behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’  
2S0108 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’  
2S0109 He said to me, ‘Stand up facing me and kill me, for [terrible] agony has come over me, yet I still live [and I will be taken alive].’  
2S0110 So I stood facing him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”  
2S0111 Then David grasped his own clothes and tore them [in mourning]; so did all the men who were with him.  
2S0112 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan his son, and for the LORD’S people and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword [in battle].  
2S0113 David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner (resident alien, sojourner), an Amalekite.”  
2S0114 David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”  
2S0115 David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” So he struck the Amalekite and he died.  
2S0116 David said to the [fallen] man, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’S anointed.’”  
2S0117 Then David sang this dirge (funeral song) over Saul and his son Jonathan,  
2S0118 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah, the song of the bow. Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:  
2S0119 “Your glory and splendor, O Israel, is slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen!  
2S0120 “Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised (pagans) will exult.  
2S0121 “O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew or rain be upon you, nor fields with offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, [dry, cracked] not anointed with oil.  
2S0122 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty.  
2S0123 “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely and friends in their lives, And in their death they were not separated; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.  
2S0124 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.  
2S0125 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.  
2S0126 “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been a good friend to me. Your love toward me was more wonderful Than the love of women.  
2S0127 “How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war have perished!”  
2S0201 So it happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” And He said, “To Hebron.”  
2S0202 So David went up there [to Hebron] with his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel [in Judah].  
2S0203 And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.  
2S0204 Then the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. Then they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”  
2S0205 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD because you showed this graciousness and loyalty to Saul your lord (king), and buried him.  
2S0206 Now may the LORD show lovingkindness and truth and faithfulness to you. I too will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.  
2S0207 So now, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for your lord Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”  
2S0208 Now [Saul’s cousin] Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.  
2S0209 He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, even over all Israel [except Judah].  
2S0210 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. But the house of Judah followed David.  
2S0211 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.  
2S0212 Now Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.  
2S0213 Joab [David’s nephew] the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. They sat down, with one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.  
2S0214 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now stand and have a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them stand.”  
2S0215 So they stood up and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.  
2S0216 Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponents side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath- hazzurim [that is, the Field of Sides], which is in Gibeon.  
2S0217 There was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.  
2S0218 Three sons of Zeruiah [the half sister of David] were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as light and swift-footed as one of the [wild] gazelles in the field.  
2S0219 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left as he followed him.  
2S0220 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is I.”  
2S0221 So Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or to your left, and grab one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel was not willing to turn away from pursuing Abner.  
2S0222 Abner repeated again, “Turn away from following me. Why should I have to strike you to the ground? How would I be able to face Joab your brother [and look him in the eye]?”  
2S0223 But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner struck him in the abdomen with the butt end of his spear, and the spear came out his back; and he fell there and died on that spot. And it came about that everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died, stood still [and reflected].  
2S0224 But Joab and Abishai [Asahel’s brothers] pursued Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.  
2S0225 And the sons of [the tribe of] Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and took their stand on the top of a hill.  
2S0226 Then Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long [will it be] before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?”  
2S0227 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people certainly would have stopped pursuing their brothers in the morning.”  
2S0228 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.  
2S0229 Then Abner and his men went through the Arabah (desert region) all that night, crossed the Jordan, went through Bithron and walked the whole morning and came to Mahanaim [where Ish-bosheth ruled Israel].  
2S0230 Joab returned from pursuing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel.  
2S0231 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men; so that three hundred and sixty men died.  
2S0232 And they picked up [the body of] Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night and they arrived in Hebron at daybreak.  
2S0301 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker [to the point of being powerless].  
2S0302 Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;  
2S0303 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of [his wife] Maacah, daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur;  
2S0304 the fourth, Adonijah the son of [his wife] Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of [his wife] Abital;  
2S0305 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These [sons] were born to David in Hebron.  
2S0306 Now while war continued between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was proving himself strong in the house of Saul.  
2S0307 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”  
2S0308 Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head [a despicable traitor] that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty and kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, by not having you handed over to David; and yet you charge me today with guilt concerning this woman.  
2S0309 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David just as the LORD has sworn to him,  
2S0310 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south].”  
2S0311 And Ish-bosheth could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.  
2S0312 Then Abner sent messengers to David [who was] in his place [at Hebron], saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant (treaty) with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”  
2S0313 David said, “Good! I will make a covenant (treaty) with you, but I require one thing of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.”  
2S0314 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for [the price of] a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”  
2S0315 So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish [to whom Saul had given her].  
2S0316 But her husband went with her, weeping continually behind her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner told him, “Go, return.” And he did so.  
2S0317 Abner talked with the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.  
2S0318 Now then, do it [and make him king]! For the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’”  
2S0319 Abner also spoke to [the men of] Benjamin. Then he also went to tell David at Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to the entire house of Benjamin.  
2S0320 So Abner came to David at Hebron, and [brought] twenty men along with him. And David prepared a feast for Abner and the men with him.  
2S0321 Abner said to David, “Let me stand up and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant (treaty) with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.  
2S0322 Then the servants of David came with Joab from a raid and brought a great quantity of spoil with them; but Abner was not with David at Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.  
2S0323 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”  
2S0324 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why did you send him away, so that he is already gone?  
2S0325 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he [only] came to deceive you [with flattering words] and to learn of your going out and coming in, and to find out what you are doing.”  
2S0326 When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew nothing [about Joab’s action].  
2S0327 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died, to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.  
2S0328 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.  
2S0329 Let the guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house (family); and may there never disappear from the house of Joab one who suffers with a discharge or one who is a leper or one who walks with a crutch [being unfit for war], or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks food.”  
2S0330 So Joab and Abishai his brother murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.  
2S0331 Then David said to Joab and to all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.  
2S0332 They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.  
2S0333 And the king sang a dirge (funeral song) over Abner and said, “Should Abner [the great warrior] die as a fool dies?  
2S0334 “Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters; As a man falls before the wicked, so you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him.  
2S0335 All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.”  
2S0336 And all the people took notice of it and it pleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.  
2S0337 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.  
2S0338 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?  
2S0339 Today I am weak, though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer [Joab] in accordance with his wickedness!”  
2S0401 When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth [king of Israel], heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was horrified.  
2S0402 Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of [raiding] bands [of soldiers]. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the sons (tribe) of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of [the tribe of] Benjamin,  
2S0403 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been resident aliens there to this day).  
2S0404 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the news [of the deaths] of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. And the boy’s nurse picked him up and fled; but it happened that while she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.  
2S0405 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, left and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.  
2S0406 They came into the interior of the house as if to get wheat [for the soldiers], and they struck him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped [unnoticed].  
2S0407 Now when they entered the house he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They [not only] struck and killed him, [but] they also beheaded him. Then they took his head and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.  
2S0408 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Look, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the LORD has granted my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and on his descendants.”  
2S0409 David replied to Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every adversity,  
2S0410 when a man told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ thinking that he was bringing good news, I seized and killed him in Ziklag, to reward him for his news.  
2S0411 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous and just man in his own house on his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand and remove you from the earth?”  
2S0412 So David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them beside the pool in Hebron. But they took Ish-bosheth’s head and buried it in Hebron in the tomb of Abner [his relative].  
2S0501 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.  
2S0502 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out [to war] and brought Israel in [from battle]. And the LORD told you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over them.’”  
2S0503 So all the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed him king over Israel.  
2S0504 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.  
2S0505 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.  
2S0506 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You shall not enter here, for the blind and the lame [even the weakest among us] will turn you away”; they thought, “David cannot come in here [because the walls are impenetrable].”  
2S0507 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold (fortress) of Zion, that is, the City of David.  
2S0508 Then David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up through the [underground] water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, who are detested by David’s soul [because of their arrogance].” So [for that reason] they say, “The blind or the lame (Jebusites) shall not come into the [royal] house [of Israel].”  
2S0509 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. And he built all around [the surrounding area] from the Millo [fortification] and inward.  
2S0510 David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts (armies), was with him.  
2S0511 Now Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons; and they built a house (palace) for David.  
2S0512 And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.  
2S0513 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to him.  
2S0514 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,  
2S0515 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,  
2S0516 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.  
2S0517 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to look for him, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold.  
2S0518 Now the Philistines had come and spread out [for battle] in the Valley of Rephaim.  
2S0519 David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand them over to you.”  
2S0520 So David came to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” So he named that place Baal- perazim (master of breakthroughs).  
2S0521 The Philistines abandoned their [pagan] idols there, so David and his men took them away [to be burned].  
2S0522 The Philistines came up once again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.  
2S0523 When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.  
2S0524 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall pay attention and act promptly, for at that time the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”  
2S0525 David did just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.  
2S0601 Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  
2S0602 And David arose and went with all those who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim], to bring up from there [to Jerusalem] the ark of God which is called by the Name—the very Name of the LORD of hosts, who dwells enthroned above the cherubim.  
2S0603 They placed the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.  
2S0604 So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.  
2S0605 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating and dancing before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir or cypress wood, with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.  
2S0606 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out [with his hand] to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen [stumbled and] nearly overturned it.  
2S0607 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.  
2S0608 David became angry and grieved and offended because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzzah, and that place has been called Perez-uzzah (outburst against Uzzah) to this day.  
2S0609 So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”  
2S0610 David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the City of David with him; instead he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  
2S0611 So the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household (family).  
2S0612 Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing and gladness.  
2S0613 And when those who were carrying the ark of the LORD [by its poles] had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.  
2S0614 And David was dancing before the LORD with great enthusiasm, and David was wearing a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].  
2S0615 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing the ark of the LORD up [to the City of David] with shouts [of joy] and with the sound of the trumpet.  
2S0616 Then, as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified].  
2S0617 They brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  
2S0618 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts (armies),  
2S0619 and distributed to all the people, the entire multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to each a [ring-shaped] loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house.  
2S0620 Then David returned to bless his household. But [his wife] Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How glorious and distinguished was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself and stripped [off his kingly robes] in the eyes of his servants’ maids like one of the riffraff who shamelessly uncovers himself!”  
2S0621 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD [that I did this], who chose me above your father and all his house, to appoint me as ruler over Israel, the people of the LORD. Therefore I will celebrate [in pure enjoyment] before the LORD.  
2S0622 Yet I will demean myself even more than this, and will be humbled (abased) in my own sight [and yours, as I please], but by the maids whom you mentioned, by them I shall be held in honor.”  
2S0623 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.  
2S0701 When King David lived in his house (palace) and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,  
2S0702 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.”  
2S0703 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”  
2S0704 But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,  
2S0705 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Should you be the one to build Me a house in which to dwell?  
2S0706 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought the sons (descendants) of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.  
2S0707 Wherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, asking, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’  
2S0708 So now, say this to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.  
2S0709 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like that of the great men of the earth.  
2S0710 I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in a place of their own and not be disturbed again. The wicked will not afflict them again, as formerly,  
2S0711 even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that He will make a house (royal dynasty) for you.  
2S0712 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down [in death] with your fathers (ancestors), I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom.  
2S0713 He [is the one who] shall build a house for My Name and My Presence, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  
2S0714 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. When he commits iniquity (wrongdoing), I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of man.  
2S0715 But My lovingkindness and mercy will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.  
2S0716 Your house (royal dynasty) and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.”’”  
2S0717 Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all of this vision.  
2S0718 Then King David went in and sat [in prayer] before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house (family), that You have brought me this far?  
2S0719 Yet this was very insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of Your servant’s house (royal dynasty) in the distant future. And this is the law and custom of man, O Lord GOD.  
2S0720 What more can David say to You? For You know (acknowledge, choose) Your servant, O Lord GOD.  
2S0721 Because of Your word (promise), and in accordance with Your own heart, You have done all these great and astounding things to let Your servant know (understand).  
2S0722 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  
2S0723 What one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do great and awesome things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods?  
2S0724 You established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.  
2S0725 Now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word [of the covenant] that You have spoken in regard to Your servant and his house (royal dynasty); and do just as You have spoken,  
2S0726 so that Your Name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts (armies) is God over Israel;’ and may the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant David be established before You.  
2S0727 For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house (royal dynasty).’ For that reason Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.  
2S0728 And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.  
2S0729 Therefore now, may it please You to bless the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”  
2S0801 Now it came about after this that David defeated the Philistines and subdued (humbled) them, and he took control of Metheg-ammah [the main city] from the hand of the Philistines.  
2S0802 He defeated Moab, and measured them with a length of rope, making them lie down on the ground; he measured two lengths to [choose those to] put to death, and one full length to [choose those to] be kept alive. And the [surviving] Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.  
2S0803 Then David defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the River [Euphrates].  
2S0804 David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses (making them lame), but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.  
2S0805 When the Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Arameans.  
2S0806 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans in Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants and brought tribute. The LORD helped David wherever he went.  
2S0807 David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.  
2S0808 And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took an immense quantity of bronze.  
2S0809 When Toi king of Hamath heard about David’s defeat of all the forces of Hadadezer,  
2S0810 Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet and congratulate him for his battle and defeat of Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze [as gifts].  
2S0811 King David also dedicated these [gifts] to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he subdued:  
2S0812 from Aram (Syria), Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.  
2S0813 So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans (Syrians) in the Valley of Salt.  
2S0814 He put garrisons in Edom; in all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped him wherever he went.  
2S0815 So David reigned over all Israel, and continued to administer justice and righteousness for all his people.  
2S0816 Joab the son of Zeruiah was [commander] over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder (secretary);  
2S0817 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the [chief] priests, and Seraiah was the scribe;  
2S0818 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was [head] over both the Cherethites and Pelethites [the king’s bodyguards]; and David’s sons were chief [confidential] advisers (officials) [to the king].  
2S0901 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”  
2S0902 There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”  
2S0903 And the king said, “Is there no longer anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodness and graciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.”  
2S0904 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba replied to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.”  
2S0905 Then King David sent word and had him brought from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo- debar.  
2S0906 Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”  
2S0907 David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table.”  
2S0908 Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, “What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?”  
2S0909 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and to all his house (family).  
2S0910 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.  
2S0911 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do according to everything that my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.  
2S0912 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.  
2S0913 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. And he was lame in both feet.  
2S1001 Now it happened later that [Nahash] the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.  
2S1002 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father did to me.” So David sent [a letter along with] some of his servants to console him in regard to his father’s death; and David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites.  
2S1003 But the princes of the Ammonites [were suspicious and] said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?”  
2S1004 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their robes in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.  
2S1005 When David was informed, he sent [messengers] to meet them [before they reached Jerusalem], for the men were greatly ashamed and humiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”  
2S1006 When the Ammonites saw that they had become an object of hatred to David, they sent word and hired the Arameans (Syrians) of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men [to fight for them].  
2S1007 When David heard about it, he sent Joab and the entire army, the strong and brave men.  
2S1008 The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of the [city] gate, but the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were [stationed] by themselves in the field.  
2S1009 Now when Joab saw that the battlefront was against him in front and in the rear, he selected some of all the choice men in Israel and set them in battle formation to meet the Arameans (Syrians).  
2S1010 But he placed the rest of the men in the hand of his brother Abishai, and he placed them in battle formation to meet the Ammonites.  
2S1011 Joab said [to Abishai], “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come to help you.  
2S1012 Be courageous, and let us show ourselves courageous for the benefit of our people and the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”  
2S1013 So Joab and the people who were with him approached the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.  
2S1014 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab returned from battling against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.  
2S1015 When the Arameans saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered together.  
2S1016 Hadadezer sent word and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River [Euphrates]; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer led them.  
2S1017 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. Then the Arameans assembled in battle formation to meet David and fought against him.  
2S1018 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 horsemen, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.  
2S1019 When all the kings serving Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans (Syrians) were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.  
2S1101 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when the kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all [the fighting men of] Israel, and they destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.  
2S1102 One evening David got up from his couch and was walking on the [flat] roof of the king’s palace, and from there he saw a woman bathing; and she was very beautiful in appearance.  
2S1103 David sent word and inquired about the woman. Someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”  
2S1104 David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he lay with her. And when she was purified from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.  
2S1105 The woman conceived; and she sent word and told David, “I am pregnant.”  
2S1106 Then David sent word to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.  
2S1107 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the people were doing, and how the war was progressing.  
2S1108 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet (spend time at home).” Uriah left the king’s palace, and a gift from the king was sent out after him.  
2S1109 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king’s palace with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.  
2S1110 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not [just] come from a [long] journey? Why did you not go to your house?”  
2S1111 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in huts (temporary shelters), and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.”  
2S1112 Then David said to Uriah, “Stay here today as well, and tomorrow I will let you leave.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.  
2S1113 Now David called him [to dinner], and he ate and drank with him, so that he made Uriah drunk; in the evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, and [still] did not go down to his house.  
2S1114 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.  
2S1115 He wrote in the letter, “Put Uriah in the front line of the heaviest fighting and leave him, so that he may be struck down and die.”  
2S1116 So it happened that as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew the [enemy’s] valiant men were positioned.  
2S1117 And the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among the servants of David fell; Uriah the Hittite also died.  
2S1118 Then Joab sent word and informed David of all the events of the war.  
2S1119 And he commanded the messenger, “When you have finished reporting all the events of the war to the king,  
2S1120 then if the king becomes angry and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot [arrows] from the wall?  
2S1121 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth (Gideon)? Was it not a woman who threw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ Then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”  
2S1122 So the messenger left, and he came and told David everything that Joab had sent him to report.  
2S1123 The messenger said to David, “The men indeed prevailed against us and came out to us in the field, but we were on them and pushed them as far as the entrance of the [city] gate.  
2S1124 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”  
2S1125 Then David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab this, ‘Do not let this thing disturb you, for the sword devours one [side] as well as another. Strengthen your battle against the city and overthrow it’; and so encourage Joab.”  
2S1126 When Uriah’s wife [Bathsheba] heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for her husband.  
2S1127 And when the time of mourning was past, David sent word and had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done [with Bathsheba] was evil in the sight of the LORD.  
2S1201 And the LORD sent Nathan [the prophet] to David. He came and said to him, “There were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor.  
2S1202 “The rich man had a very large number of flocks and herds,  
2S1203 But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb Which he had purchased and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It ate his food, drank from his cup, it lay in his arms, And was like a daughter to him.  
2S1204 “Now a traveler (visitor) came to the rich man, And to avoid taking one from his own flock or herd To prepare [a meal] for the traveler who had come to him, He took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for his guest.”  
2S1205 Then David’s anger burned intensely against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.  
2S1206 He shall make restitution for the ewe lamb four times as much [as the lamb was worth], because he did this thing and had no compassion.”  
2S1207 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you as king over Israel, and I spared you from the hand of Saul.  
2S1208 I also gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your care and under your protection, and I gave you the house (royal dynasty) of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you much more!  
2S1209 Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife. You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.  
2S1210 Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’  
2S1211 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will stir up evil against you from your own household; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.  
2S1212 Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’”  
2S1213 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has allowed your sin to pass [without further punishment]; you shall not die.  
2S1214 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have given [a great] opportunity to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme [Him], the son that is born to you shall certainly die.”  
2S1215 Then Nathan went [back] to his home. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, and he was very sick.  
2S1216 David therefore appealed to God for the child [to be healed]; and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.  
2S1217 The elders of his household stood by him [in the night] to lift him up from the ground, but he was unwilling [to get up] and would not eat food with them.  
2S1218 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “While the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he would not listen to our voices. How then can we tell him the child is dead, since he might harm himself [or us]?”  
2S1219 But when David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David said to them, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”  
2S1220 Then David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself [with olive oil], changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came [back] to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate.  
2S1221 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive you fasted and wept, but when the child died, you got up and ate food.”  
2S1222 David said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me and the child may live.’  
2S1223 But now he is dead; why should I [continue to] fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him [when I die], but he will not return to me.”  
2S1224 David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. And the LORD loved the child;  
2S1225 and He sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah (beloved of the LORD) for the sake of the LORD [who loved the child].  
2S1226 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.  
2S1227 Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; I have even taken the city of waters.  
2S1228 So now, assemble the rest of the men, and camp against the city and capture it, or I will take the city myself, and it will be named after me.”  
2S1229 So David gathered all the men together and went to Rabbah, then fought against it and captured it.  
2S1230 And he took the crown of their king from his head; it weighed a talent of gold, and [set in it was] a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought the spoil out of the city in great amounts.  
2S1231 He also brought out the people who were there, and put them to [work with] the saws and sharp iron instruments and iron axes, and made them work at the brickkiln. And he did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the men returned to Jerusalem.  
2S1301 It happened afterwards that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon [her half brother] the son of David was in love with her.  
2S1302 Amnon was so frustrated because of his [half-] sister Tamar that he made himself sick, for she was a virgin, and Amnon thought it impossible for him to do anything to her.  
2S1303 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd (cunning) man.  
2S1304 He said to Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my [half-] brother Absalom’s sister.”  
2S1305 Jonadab said to him, “Go to bed and pretend you are sick; and when your father [David] comes to see you, say to him, ‘Just let my sister Tamar come and serve me food, and let her prepare it in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”  
2S1306 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”  
2S1307 Then David sent word to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare some food for him.”  
2S1308 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was in bed. And she took dough and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked them.  
2S1309 She took the pan and dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Have everyone leave me.” So everyone left him [except Tamar].  
2S1310 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her [half-] brother Amnon.  
2S1311 When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”  
2S1312 She replied, “No, my brother! Do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!  
2S1313 As for me, how could I get rid of my shame and disgrace? And you, you will be considered one of the fools in Israel. So now, just speak to the king [about taking me as your wife], for he will not withhold me from you.”  
2S1314 But he would not listen to her; and since he was stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.  
2S1315 Then Amnon became extremely hateful toward her, for his hatred toward her was greater than the love which he had for her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”  
2S1316 But she said, “No, because this wrong of sending me away is worse than the other that you have done to me!” But he would not listen to her.  
2S1317 Instead, he called his young man who was his personal servant and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence and bolt the door behind her.”  
2S1318 Now Tamar was wearing a [long-sleeved] robe of various colors; for that is how the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then Amnon’s personal servant took her out and bolted the door behind her.  
2S1319 So Tamar put dust on her head [in grief] and tore the long-sleeved robe which she had on, and she put her hand on her head and went away crying out [for help].  
2S1320 So her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? But now keep silent, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained secluded in her brother Absalom’s house.  
2S1321 Now when King David heard about all these things, he was very angry [but failed to take any action].  
2S1322 But Absalom did not speak to Amnon either good or bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.  
2S1323 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons [to a party].  
2S1324 Absalom came to [his father] the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”  
2S1325 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be a burden to you.” Although Absalom [strongly] urged David, still he would not go, but he gave him his blessing.  
2S1326 Then Absalom said, “If not, then at least let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”  
2S1327 But Absalom urged him [again], and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.  
2S1328 Now Absalom commanded his servants, “Notice carefully, when Amnon’s heart is joyous with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not be afraid; have I not commanded you myself [and in doing so have I not taken full responsibility for his death]? Be courageous and brave.”  
2S1329 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons got up, and every man mounted his mule and fled.  
2S1330 Now it happened while they were on the way [back home], that the [exaggerated] report came to David, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.”  
2S1331 Then the king stood and tore his clothes and lay on the ground [in mourning]; and all his servants were standing by with their clothes torn.  
2S1332 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, “Do not let my lord assume that all the king’s sons have been put to death; for only Amnon is dead. This act of revenge has been on Absalom’s mind since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar.  
2S1333 So now, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.”  
2S1334 Now Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch looked up, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.  
2S1335 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming. It has turned out just as your servant said.”  
2S1336 And when he finished speaking, the king’s sons came, and they raised their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.  
2S1337 But Absalom fled and went to [his mother’s father] Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.  
2S1338 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there for three years.  
2S1339 And the heart of King David longed to go to Absalom; for he was comforted regarding Amnon, since he was dead.  
2S1401 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom.  
2S1402 So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there and told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning clothes, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has for many days been in mourning for the dead.  
2S1403 Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.” So Joab told her what to say.  
2S1404 When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she bowed with her face to the ground and lay herself down, and said, “Help, O king.”  
2S1405 The king asked her, “What is the matter?” She said, “Truly I am a widow; my husband is dead.  
2S1406 Your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled and fought in the field. There was no one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him.  
2S1407 Now behold, the entire family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother, so that we may put him to death [to pay] for the life of his brother whom he killed and destroy the heir also.’ By doing this they will extinguish my coal that is left, leaving my husband without a name or a remnant (heir) on the face of the earth.”  
2S1408 Then David said to the woman, “Go to your home, and I will give orders concerning you.”  
2S1409 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, the guilt is on me and on my father’s house, but the king and his throne are guiltless.”  
2S1410 The king said, “If anyone speaks to you [about this matter], bring him to me [for judgment], and he will not touch you again.”  
2S1411 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And David said, “As the LORD lives, not a single hair [from the head] of your son shall fall to the ground.”  
2S1412 Then the woman said, “Please let your maidservant speak one more word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.”  
2S1413 The woman said, “Now why have you planned such a thing against God’s people? For in speaking this word the king is like a guilty man, in that the king does not bring back his banished one.  
2S1414 For we will certainly die and are like water that is spilled on the ground and cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not [simply] take away life, but devises plans so that the one who is banished is not driven away from Him.  
2S1415 Now I came to speak of this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. So your maidservant thought, ‘I will just speak to the king; perhaps the king will do what his maidservant requests.  
2S1416 For the king will hear and save his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God.’  
2S1417 Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be comforting, for my lord the king is as the angel of God to discern good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.’”  
2S1418 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.”  
2S1419 The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all of this?” And the woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. Indeed, it was your servant Joab who commanded me; he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.  
2S1420 In order to change the appearance of things [between Absalom and you, his father] your servant Joab did this thing. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”  
2S1421 Then the king said to Joab, “Listen, I will most certainly do this thing; now go, bring back the young man Absalom.”  
2S1422 Joab bowed his face toward the ground and lay himself down and blessed the king. Then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has done the request of his servant.”  
2S1423 So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.  
2S1424 However, the king said, “Let him go to his own house, and do not let him see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king’s face.  
2S1425 Now in all Israel there was no man as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised [for that]; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.  
2S1426 When he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of each year he cut it, because its weight was heavy on him) he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king’s weight.  
2S1427 To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a beautiful woman.  
2S1428 Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king’s face.  
2S1429 So Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him; even when he sent again a second time, he [still] would not come.  
2S1430 Therefore Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab’s property is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.  
2S1431 Then Joab took action and went to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”  
2S1432 Absalom answered Joab, “I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come [back] from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there.”’ Now then, let me see the king’s face, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.”  
2S1433 So Joab came to the king and told him. Then David called for Absalom, and he came to the king and bowed his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.  
2S1501 After this, Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men as runners before him.  
2S1502 He would get up early and stand beside the road to the gate [of the city, where court was held]; and when any man who had a dispute came to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”  
2S1503 Then Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man appointed as the king’s agent to listen to you.”  
2S1504 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were appointed judge in the land! Then every man who had a dispute could come to me and I would get justice for him.”  
2S1505 And whenever a man approached to bow down before him, he would put out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.  
2S1506 This is how Absalom dealt with everyone in Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.  
2S1507 And after four years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the LORD at Hebron [my birthplace].  
2S1508 For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram (Syria), ‘If the LORD will in fact bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord [by offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving].’”  
2S1509 And [David] the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.  
2S1510 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”  
2S1511 Then two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited [as guests to his sacrificial feast] went with Absalom. They went innocently and knew nothing [about his plan against David].  
2S1512 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom increased continually.  
2S1513 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”  
2S1514 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom! Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”  
2S1515 The king’s servants said to him, “Listen, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.”  
2S1516 So the king left, and all his household with him. But the king left behind ten women who were concubines to take care of the house (palace).  
2S1517 The king left, and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house.  
2S1518 All of David’s servants passed on beside him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites and the Gittites, six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king.  
2S1519 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us, too? Go back and stay with the king [of your own country], for you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place.  
2S1520 You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today while I go where I will? Return and take your brothers back with you also. May lovingkindness and faithfulness be with you.”  
2S1521 But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, most certainly wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or life, there will your servant be also.”  
2S1522 So David said to Ittai, “Go on and cross over [the Brook Kidron].” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.  
2S1523 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people crossed over. The king also crossed the Brook Kidron, and all the people went on toward the way of the wilderness [that lies between Jerusalem and the Jordan River].  
2S1524 Now Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar [the priest] came up [and officiated] until all the people had finished passing from the city.  
2S1525 Then the king told Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to [its rightful place in] the city [of Jerusalem, the capital]. If I find favor in the LORD’S sight, He will bring me back again and let me see both it and His dwelling place (habitation).  
2S1526 But if He should say, ‘I have no delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me what seems good to Him.”  
2S1527 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace [you and Abiathar], and your two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.  
2S1528 See, I am going to wait at the fords [of the Jordan] in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”  
2S1529 So Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.  
2S1530 And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot [in despair]. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.  
2S1531 David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O LORD, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”  
2S1532 It happened when David came to the summit [of the Mount of Olives], where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and dust on his head [as if in mourning].  
2S1533 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.  
2S1534 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in the past, so I will be your servant now;’ then you can thwart (make useless) the advice of Ahithophel for me.  
2S1535 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that every word you hear from the king’s palace, you shall report it to them.  
2S1536 Their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you hear.”  
2S1537 So Hushai, David’s friend, returned to the city, and [at about the same time] Absalom came into Jerusalem.  
2S1601 When David was a little past the summit [of the Mount of Olives], behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine.  
2S1602 The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household (family) to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weary in the wilderness.”  
2S1603 Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son [Mephibosheth]?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’”  
2S1604 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is [now] yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down [in honor and gratitude]; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord the king.”  
2S1605 When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was cursing continually as he came out.  
2S1606 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; yet all the people and all the warriors remained on his right and on his left.  
2S1607 This is what Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you worthless and useless man!  
2S1608 The LORD has returned upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”  
2S1609 Then Abishai [David’s nephew], the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why should this dead dog (despicable person) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.”  
2S1610 But the king said, “What business is this of yours, O sons of Zeruiah? If Shimei is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’”  
2S1611 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son [Absalom] who came from my own body, is seeking my life; how much more [reason] now [does] this Benjamite [have to curse me]? Let him alone and let him curse, for [it could be that] the LORD has told him [to do it].  
2S1612 Perhaps the LORD will look on the wrong done to me [by Shimei, if he is acting on his own]; and [in that case perhaps] the Lord will this day return good to me in place of his cursing.”  
2S1613 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei went along on the hillside close beside David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.  
2S1614 The king and all the people who were with him arrived [at the Jordan River] weary, and he refreshed himself there.  
2S1615 Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.  
2S1616 Now it happened when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”  
2S1617 Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”  
2S1618 Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen [as king], I will be his, and I will remain with him.  
2S1619 Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of David’s son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall serve in your presence.”  
2S1620 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?”  
2S1621 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened [by your boldness and audacity].”  
2S1622 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof [of the king’s palace], and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.  
2S1623 The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man had consulted the word of God; that is how all Ahithophel’s counsel was regarded by both David and Absalom.  
2S1701 Then, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.  
2S1702 I will strike while he is weary and exhausted, and terrify him; and all the people with him will flee [in terror]. Then I will attack the king alone,  
2S1703 and I will bring all the people [who follow David] back to you. The return of everyone depends on the [death of the] man you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace [and accept you as king].”  
2S1704 So the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.  
2S1705 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.”  
2S1706 When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has advised this [plan of action]. Should we do what he says? If not, you speak [and explain why not].”  
2S1707 So Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel has not given good advice this time.”  
2S1708 And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are brave men, and they are enraged and fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. Your father is a [shrewd] man of war, and will not spend the night with the people [knowing that you seek his life].  
2S1709 Behold, he has hidden himself [even] now in one of the ravines or in another place; and when some of your troops fall at the first attack, whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a defeat among the people who follow Absalom.’  
2S1710 And even the one who is brave, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart and melt away; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are brave men.  
2S1711 But I advise that all [the men of] Israel be summoned to you, from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], like the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that you personally go into battle.  
2S1712 So shall we come upon David in one of the places where he can be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls [unseen and unheard] on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left.  
2S1713 If he retreats into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the ravine until not even a pebble [of it] is found there.”  
2S1714 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster upon Absalom.  
2S1715 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “This is the advice that Ahithophel gave to Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is the advice that I have given.  
2S1716 Now then, send word quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords [on the west side of the Jordan] in the wilderness, but by all means cross over [to the east side of the river], or else the king and all the people with him will be destroyed [if Ahithophel is allowed by Absalom to lead an attack].’”  
2S1717 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz [the priests’ sons] were staying at En-rogel, and a maidservant [appearing to go for water] would go and tell them [what was happening], and they would go [secretly] and inform King David; for they could not [allow themselves to] be seen coming into the city [of Jerusalem].  
2S1718 But a boy saw them and told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and [with his permission] they went down into it.  
2S1719 And the woman [of the house] took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well and scattered grain on it; so nothing was discovered.  
2S1720 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have crossed over the brook.” When they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.  
2S1721 After they left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up out of the well and went and informed King David, and said to David, “Arise and cross over the Jordan River quickly, for Ahithophel has advised [an attack] against you.”  
2S1722 Then David and all the people who were with him departed and crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak, not even one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.  
2S1723 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.  
2S1724 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.  
2S1725 Absalom put Amasa in command of the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Israelite, who had married Abigail the daughter of Nahash, [the half sister of David and] the sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.  
2S1726 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.  
2S1727 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim  
2S1728 brought beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, broad beans, lentils, and [other] roasted grain,  
2S1729 honey, cream, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”  
2S1801 David numbered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.  
2S1802 Then David sent the army out, a third under the command of Joab, a third under Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the men, “I myself will certainly go out [to fight] with you.”  
2S1803 But the men said, “You should not go out [to battle with us]. For if in fact we retreat, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. So now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city [of Mahanaim].”  
2S1804 Then the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems best to you.” So the king stood beside the gate [of Mahanaim], and all the army went out in groups of hundreds and of thousands.  
2S1805 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the men heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.  
2S1806 So the men went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.  
2S1807 The men of Israel [who supported Absalom] were defeated there by the men of David, and a great slaughter took place there that day, 20,000 men.  
2S1808 For the battle there was spread out over the surface of the entire countryside, and the [hazards of the] forest devoured more men that day than did the sword.  
2S1809 Now Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a massive tree, and his head was caught in [the thick branches of] the tree; and he was left hanging [in midair] between heaven and earth, while the mule that had been under him kept going.  
2S1810 A certain man saw it and informed Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging in a tree.”  
2S1811 Joab said to the man who informed him, “You saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”  
2S1812 The man told Joab, “Even if I were to feel the weight of a thousand pieces of silver in my hands, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Protect the young man Absalom, for my sake.’  
2S1813 Otherwise, if I had acted treacherously against his life (for nothing is hidden from the king) you yourself would have taken sides against me.”  
2S1814 Joab said, “I will not waste time with you.” So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive [and caught] in the midst of the tree.  
2S1815 And ten young men, Joab’s armor bearers, surrounded and struck Absalom and killed him.  
2S1816 Then Joab blew the trumpet [to signal the end of the combat], and the men returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held them back.  
2S1817 They took [down the body of] Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest and set up a huge mound of stones over him. Then all Israel fled, everyone to his own tent.  
2S1818 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial pillar which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He named the memorial pillar after himself, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.  
2S1819 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, said, “Let me run and bring the king news that the LORD has vindicated him by rescuing him from [the power of] his enemies.”  
2S1820 But Joab told him, “You are not the man to carry news [to King David] today, but you shall carry news another day. On this day you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”  
2S1821 Then Joab said to the Cushite (Ethiopian), “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.  
2S1822 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why should you run, my son, seeing you will have no messenger’s reward for going [because you have only bad news]?”  
2S1823 “But whatever happens, Let me run.” So Joab said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain [of the Jordan River] and outran the Cushite.  
2S1824 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the lookout went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he raised his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.  
2S1825 The lookout called down and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, he has good news to tell.” And he came nearer and nearer.  
2S1826 Then the lookout saw another man running, and he called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look, another man running alone.” The king said, “He also is bringing good news.”  
2S1827 The lookout said, “I think the man in front runs like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man and is coming with good news.”  
2S1828 And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has handed over the men who lifted up their hands [to fight] against my lord the king.”  
2S1829 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great turmoil, but I do not know what it was about.”  
2S1830 The king told him, “Step aside; stand here.” And he stepped aside and stood still.  
2S1831 Behold, the Cushite (Ethiopian) arrived, and said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has vindicated you today by rescuing you from the hand (power) of all those who stood against you.”  
2S1832 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom [my son] safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all those who rise against you to do evil, be [dead] like that young man is.”  
2S1833 The king was deeply moved and went to the upper room over the gate and wept [in sorrow]. And this is what he said as he walked: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! How I wish that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”  
2S1901 It was told to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”  
2S1902 So the victory on that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said on that day, “The king grieves for his son.”  
2S1903 The people stole into the city [of Mahanaim] that day, as people who are humiliated and ashamed steal away when they retreat in battle.  
2S1904 But the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”  
2S1905 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put all your servants to shame who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines.  
2S1906 For you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have shown today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for today I know that if Absalom had lived and all the rest of us had died today, then you would be pleased.  
2S1907 So now stand up, go out and speak kindly and encouragingly to your servants; for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will stay with you tonight. And this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”  
2S1908 Then the king stood and sat at the gate [of Mahanaim]. And they told all the people, “The king is sitting at the gate,” and all the people came before the king. But Israel [Absalom’s troops] had fled, every man to his tent.  
2S1909 All the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king rescued us from the hands of our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.  
2S1910 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So now, why are you [leaders] doing nothing about bringing back the king?”  
2S1911 Then King David sent word to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house [in Jerusalem], since the word of all Israel has come to the king, and to his house?  
2S1912 You are my brothers (relatives, relations); you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’  
2S1913 Say to Amasa [the commander of Absalom’s troops], ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’”  
2S1914 In this way he changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your servants.”  
2S1915 So David returned and came to the Jordan. And [supporters from] Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king, to escort him across the Jordan.  
2S1916 Then Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men [from the tribe] of Judah to meet King David,  
2S1917 and a thousand men [from the tribe] of Benjamin with him. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him, rushed down to the Jordan before the king.  
2S1918 Then they [repeatedly] crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household (family), and to do what pleased him. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan,  
2S1919 and said to the king, “Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.  
2S1920 For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”  
2S1921 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’S anointed?”  
2S1922 David said, “What business is this of yours, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”  
2S1923 Therefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not be put to death.” And so the king gave him his promise.  
2S1924 Then Mephibosheth the [grand]son of Saul came down to meet the king, but he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace and safety.  
2S1925 And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”  
2S1926 He said, “My lord the king, my servant [Ziba] betrayed me; for I said, ‘Saddle a donkey for me so that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ for your servant is lame [but he took the donkeys and left without me].  
2S1927 Further, he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is like the angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.  
2S1928 For were not all of my father’s household (family) nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have to cry out anymore to the king [for help]?”  
2S1929 The king said to him, “Why speak anymore of your affairs? I have said, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’”  
2S1930 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has returned to his own house in safety and peace.”  
2S1931 Now Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went on to the Jordan with the king to escort him over the Jordan.  
2S1932 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great and wealthy man.  
2S1933 The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and I will provide for you in Jerusalem with me.”  
2S1934 But Barzillai said to the king, “How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?  
2S1935 I am this day eighty years old. Can I [be useful to advise you to] discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?  
2S1936 Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward?  
2S1937 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city [and be buried] by the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham [my son]; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”  
2S1938 The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you; and whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.”  
2S1939 So all the people crossed over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.  
2S1940 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel accompanied the king.  
2S1941 And all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our brothers (relatives), the men [from the tribe] of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan [instead of waiting for us to arrive]?”  
2S1942 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. So why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has anything been taken for us?”  
2S1943 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten [tribes’] shares in the king, and we have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt and ignore us [by rushing ahead]? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.  
2S2001 There happened to be there a worthless and wicked man named Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet [to call Israel to revolt] and said, “We have no portion in David And no inheritance in the son of Jesse, Every man to his tents, O Israel!”  
2S2002 So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah stayed faithfully with their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.  
2S2003 Then David came to his house (palace) at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to take care of the house, and placed them under guard and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were confined, and lived as widows until the day of their death.  
2S2004 Now the king said to Amasa [the commander of his army], “Summon the [fighting] men of Judah to me within three days, and be present here yourself.”  
2S2005 So Amasa went to summon [the fighting men of] Judah, but he delayed longer than the time which David had set for him.  
2S2006 And David said to Abishai [his nephew], “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find fortified cities for himself and escape from our sight.”  
2S2007 So Joab’s men went after him, along with [David’s bodyguards] the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the warriors; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.  
2S2008 When they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing his military uniform, and over it he had a belt with a sheathed sword strapped around his hips; and as he went forward, it fell out.  
2S2009 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it going well with you, my brother?” And with his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa by the beard [as if] to kiss him [in greeting].  
2S2010 But Amasa [who had replaced Joab as David’s commander] was off guard and not attentive to the sword in Joab’s hand. So Joab struck Amasa in the abdomen with the sword, spilling his intestines to the ground. Without another blow Amasa died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.  
2S2011 Now one of Joab’s young men stood by him and said, “Whoever favors Joab and is for David, let him follow Joab!”  
2S2012 But Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people who came by stopped [to look], he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by Amasa stopped.  
2S2013 When [the body of] Amasa was removed from the highway, everyone followed after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.  
2S2014 Now Joab went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they assembled and also went after Sheba.  
2S2015 And the army of Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth-maacah, and they built up an assault ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction to make the wall fall.  
2S2016 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Tell Joab, ‘Come here so that I may speak to you.’”  
2S2017 So when he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” He answered, “I am listening.”  
2S2018 Then she said, “In the past people used to say, ‘They will certainly ask advice at Abel,’ and so they settled the dispute.  
2S2019 I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up (devour) the inheritance of the LORD?”  
2S2020 Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me that I would swallow up or destroy!  
2S2021 That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand [in rebellion] against King David. Only hand him over, and I will leave the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.”  
2S2022 Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people [to inform them of the agreement]. And they beheaded Sheba the son of Bichri and threw his head [down] to Joab. So he blew the trumpet [signaling the end of the attack], and they dispersed from the city, every man to his own tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to [David] the king.  
2S2023 Now Joab was [commander] over the entire army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was [commander] over the Cherethites and Pelethites [the king’s bodyguards];  
2S2024 Adoram was over the forced labor; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;  
2S2025 Sheva was the scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;  
2S2026 also Ira the Jairite was a priest to David.  
2S2101 There was famine in the days of David for three consecutive years; and David sought the presence (face) of the LORD [asking the reason]. The LORD replied, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”  
2S2102 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons (descendants) of Israel but of the remnant (survivors) of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn [an oath] to [spare] them, but Saul in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah had sought to strike down the Gibeonites).  
2S2103 So David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? How can I make it good so that you will bless the LORD’S inheritance (Israel)?”  
2S2104 The Gibeonites said to him, “We will not accept silver or gold belonging to Saul or his household (descendants); nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” David said, “I will do for you whatever you say.”  
2S2105 So they said to the king, “The man who consumed us and planned to exterminate us from remaining in any territory of Israel,  
2S2106 let seven men [chosen] from his sons (descendants) be given to us and we will hang them before the LORD [that is, put them on display, impaled with broken legs and arms] in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen one of the LORD.” And the king said, “I will give them.”  
2S2107 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’S oath that was between David and Saul’s son Jonathan.  
2S2108 So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.  
2S2109 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD, and the seven died together. They were put to death in the first days of the grain harvest, the beginning of the barley harvest [in the spring].  
2S2110 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest [in the spring] until [the autumn] rain fell on them; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on their bodies by day, nor the beasts of the field [to feed on them] by night.  
2S2111 David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.  
2S2112 Then David went and took the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the open square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day when the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa.  
2S2113 He brought up the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged [with their arms and legs broken].  
2S2114 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father; and they did all that the king commanded. After that, God was moved by prayer for the land.  
2S2115 Now the Philistines were at war again with Israel. David went down with his servants, and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.  
2S2116 Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels (six pounds) of bronze, was armed with a new sword, and he intended to kill David.  
2S2117 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to David’s aid, and struck and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men swore to him, “You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”  
2S2118 After this, there was war again with the Philistines at Gob (Gezer). At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph (Sippai), who was among the descendants of the giant.  
2S2119 There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, killed Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.  
2S2120 There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also was a descendant of the giants.  
2S2121 And when he taunted and defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him.  
2S2122 These four [warriors] were descended from the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hands of David and his servants.  
2S2201 David spoke the words of this song to the LORD when the LORD rescued him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  
2S2202 He said: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress [on the mountain] and my rescuer;  
2S2203 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, My Savior—You save me from violence.  
2S2204 “I call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.  
2S2205 “For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed and terrified me.  
2S2206 “The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.  
2S2207 “In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God, And from His temple [in the heavens] He heard my voice; My cry for help came into His ears.  
2S2208 “Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of the heavens trembled And were shaken, because He was angry.  
2S2209 “Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.  
2S2210 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down With thick darkness under His feet.  
2S2211 “He rode on a cherub and flew; He appeared upon the wings of the wind.  
2S2212 “He made darkness canopies around Him, A mass of waters, thick clouds of the skies.  
2S2213 “Out of the brightness before Him Coals of fire were set aflame.  
2S2214 “The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice.  
2S2215 “He sent out arrows and scattered them; Lightning, and confused them.  
2S2216 “The channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were uncovered At the rebuke of the LORD, At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.  
2S2217 “He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of great waters.  
2S2218 “He rescued me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.  
2S2219 “They came upon me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support.  
2S2220 “He also brought me out to an open place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.  
2S2221 “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.  
2S2222 “For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God.  
2S2223 “For all His judgments (legal decisions) were before me, And from His statutes I did not turn aside.  
2S2224 “I was also blameless before Him, And kept myself from wrongdoing.  
2S2225 “Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in His sight.  
2S2226 “With the loving and loyal You show Yourself loving and loyal, With the blameless You show Yourself blameless.  
2S2227 “With the pure You show Yourself pure, With the perverted You show Yourself astute.  
2S2228 “And You save the afflicted people; But Your eyes are on the haughty whom You abase (humiliate).  
2S2229 “For You, O LORD, are my lamp; The LORD illumines and dispels my darkness.  
2S2230 “For by You I can run upon a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.  
2S2231 “As for God, His way is blameless and perfect; The word of the LORD is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge and trust in Him.  
2S2232 “For who is God, besides the LORD? And who is a rock, besides our God?  
2S2233 “God is my strong fortress; He sets the blameless in His way.  
2S2234 “He makes my feet like the doe’s feet [firm and swift]; He sets me [secure and confident] on my high places.  
2S2235 “He trains my hands for war, So that my arms can bend (pull back) a bow of bronze.  
2S2236 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help and gentleness make me great.  
2S2237 “You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.  
2S2238 “I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed (eliminated).  
2S2239 “I consumed them and shattered them, so that they did not rise; They fell under my feet.  
2S2240 “For You have surrounded me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who stood against me.  
2S2241 “You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me [in retreat], And I destroyed those who hated me.  
2S2242 “They looked, but there was no savior for them— Even to the LORD [they looked], but He did not answer them.  
2S2243 “Then I beat them as [small as] the dust of the earth; I crushed and stamped them as the mire (dirt, mud) of the streets.  
2S2244 “You also have rescued me from strife with my [own] people; You have kept me as the head of the nations. People whom I have not known served me.  
2S2245 “Foreigners pretend obedience to me; As soon as they hear [me], they obey me.  
2S2246 “Foreigners lose heart; They come trembling out of their strongholds.  
2S2247 “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, And exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.  
2S2248 “It is God who executes vengeance for me, And brings down [and disciplines] the peoples under me,  
2S2249 Who also brings me out from my enemies. You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man.  
2S2250 “For this I will give thanks and praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.  
2S2251 “He is a tower of salvation and great deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his offspring forever.”  
2S2301 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel,  
2S2302 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.  
2S2303 “The God of Israel, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,  
2S2304 Is like the morning light when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the fresh grass springs out of the earth Through sunshine after rain.’  
2S2305 “Truly is not my house so [blessed] with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured. For will He not cause to grow and prosper All my salvation and my every wish? Will He not make it grow and prosper?  
2S2306 “But the wicked and worthless are all to be thrown away like thorns, Because they cannot be taken with the hand;  
2S2307 But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they are utterly burned and consumed by fire in their place.”  
2S2308 These are the names of the mighty men (warriors) whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains, also called Adino the Eznite (spear) because of the eight hundred men killed [by him] at one time.  
2S2309 Next to him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three mighty men with David when they taunted and defied the Philistines assembled there for battle, and the men of Israel had gone.  
2S2310 Eleazar stood up and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; the people returned after him only to take the spoil [of the slain].  
2S2311 Next to Eleazar was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines were gathered into an army where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people [of Israel] fled from the Philistines.  
2S2312 But he took his stand in the center of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.  
2S2313 Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David at harvest time in the cave of Adullam, while an army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.  
2S2314 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.  
2S2315 And David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”  
2S2316 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out [in worship] to the LORD.  
2S2317 And he said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should drink this. [Is it not the same as] the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.  
2S2318 Now Abishai the brother of Joab the son of Zeruiah was chief of the thirty. He wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and gained a reputation beside the three.  
2S2319 He was the most honored of the thirty, so he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three.  
2S2320 Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many notable acts, killed two [famous] warriors of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.  
2S2321 And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive and handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with his own spear.  
2S2322 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and gained a reputation beside the three mighty men.  
2S2323 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the [greatness of the] three. David appointed him over his guard.  
2S2324 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; then Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,  
2S2325 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,  
2S2326 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,  
2S2327 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,  
2S2328 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,  
2S2329 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites,  
2S2330 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,  
2S2331 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  
2S2332 Eliahba of Shaalbon, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,  
2S2333 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,  
2S2334 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel of Giloh,  
2S2335 Hezro (Hezrai) of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,  
2S2336 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,  
2S2337 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,  
2S2338 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,  
2S2339 Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.  
2S2401 Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He incited David against them to say, “Go, count [the people of] Israel and Judah.”  
2S2402 So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people.”  
2S2403 But Joab said to the king, “May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as there are, and let the eyes of my lord the king see it; but why does my lord the king want to do this thing?”  
2S2404 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So they went from the king’s presence to take a census of the people of Israel.  
2S2405 They crossed over the Jordan and camped in Aroer, on the south side of the city which is in the middle of the river valley [of the Arnon] toward Gad, and on toward Jazer.  
2S2406 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and they came to Dan- jaan and around to Sidon,  
2S2407 and they came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites, and they went out to the south of Judah, to Beersheba.  
2S2408 So when they had gone about through all the land [taking the census], they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.  
2S2409 And Joab gave the sum of the census of the people to the king. In Israel there were 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000.  
2S2410 But David’s heart (conscience) troubled him after he had counted the people. David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the sin of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”  
2S2411 When David got up in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,  
2S2412 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I am giving you three choices; select one of them for yourself, and I will do it to you.”’”  
2S2413 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies as they pursue you? Or shall there be three days of pestilence (plague) in your land? Now consider this and decide what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”  
2S2414 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hands of man.”  
2S2415 So the LORD sent a pestilence (plague) [lasting three days] upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.  
2S2416 When the [avenging] angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the disaster and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  
2S2417 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he spoke to the LORD and said, “Behold, I [alone] am the one who has sinned and done wrong; but these sheep (people of Israel), what have they done [to deserve this]? Please let Your hand be [only] against me and my father’s house (family).”  
2S2418 Then Gad [the prophet] came to David that day and said to him, “Go up, set up an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite [where you saw the angel].”  
2S2419 So David went up according to Gad’s word, as the LORD commanded.  
2S2420 Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and he went out and bowed before the king with his face toward the ground.  
2S2421 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be held back from the people.”  
2S2422 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for the burnt offering, and threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.  
2S2423 All of this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God be favorable to you.”  
2S2424 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will certainly buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing.” So David purchased the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.  
2S2425 David built an altar to the LORD there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was moved [to compassion] by [David’s] prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.  
1K0101 Now King David was old, advanced in years; they covered him with clothes, but he could not get warm.  
1K0102 So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king and let her attend him and become his nurse; let her lie against your chest, so that my lord the king may feel warm.”  
1K0103 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  
1K0104 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king was not intimate with her.  
1K0105 Then Adonijah the son of [David’s wife] Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I [the eldest living son] will be king.” So [following Absalom’s example] he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.  
1K0106 His father [David] had never rebuked him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” Adonijah was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.  
1K0107 He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.  
1K0108 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s most formidable warriors did not side with Adonijah [in his desire to become king].  
1K0109 Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened steers by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is beside [the well] En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants [to this feast].  
1K0110 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the most formidable warriors, or his brother Solomon.  
1K0111 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know about it?  
1K0112 Come now, please let me advise you and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.  
1K0113 Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’  
1K0114 Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”  
1K0115 So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Now the king was very old and weak, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king.  
1K0116 So Bathsheba bowed down and paid respect to the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?”  
1K0117 She said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’  
1K0118 But now, behold, Adonijah is [acting as] king; and now [as things stand], my lord the king, you do not know it.  
1K0119 He has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army [to a feast], but he did not invite your servant Solomon.  
1K0120 Now as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you [waiting for you] to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.  
1K0121 Otherwise it will come about when my lord the king lies down [in death] with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered political enemies.”  
1K0122 While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.  
1K0123 The king was told, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came before the king, he bowed before the king with his face to the ground.  
1K0124 Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?  
1K0125 Because he has gone down today [to En-Rogel] and has sacrificed oxen and fattened steers and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest [to this feast]; and [right now] they are eating and drinking in his presence; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’  
1K0126 But he has not invited me, your servant, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.  
1K0127 If this thing has been done by my lord the king, why have you not shown your servants who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”  
1K0128 King David answered, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.  
1K0129 Then the king swore an oath and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul from all distress,  
1K0130 even as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall certainly be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this very day.”  
1K0131 Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, and laid herself face down before the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”  
1K0132 Then King David said, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to me.” And they came before the king.  
1K0133 The king told them, “Take the servants of your lord with you and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to [the spring at] Gihon [in the Kidron Valley].  
1K0134 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  
1K0135 Then you shall come up [to Jerusalem] after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and he shall reign as king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”  
1K0136 Benaiah [the overseer of the king’s bodyguards], the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! (So be it!) May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so too.  
1K0137 Just as the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”  
1K0138 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites [the king’s bodyguards] went down [from Jerusalem] and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and brought him to [the spring at] Gihon.  
1K0139 Zadok the priest took a horn of [olive] oil from the [sacred] tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”  
1K0140 All the people went up after him, and they were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook and seemed to burst open with their [joyful] sound.  
1K0141 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the trumpet sound, he said, “Why is the city in such an uproar?”  
1K0142 While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a valiant and trustworthy man and you bring good news.”  
1K0143 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No, on the contrary, our lord King David has made Solomon king!  
1K0144 The king has sent him with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have had him ride on the king’s [own royal] mule.  
1K0145 Also, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there celebrating, so the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard.  
1K0146 Besides, Solomon has taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom.  
1K0147 Moreover, the king’s servants came to bless (congratulate) our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better (more famous) than your name and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king bowed himself [before God] upon the bed.  
1K0148 The king has also said this: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted one [of my descendants] to sit on my throne today and allowed my eyes to see it.’”  
1K0149 Then all Adonijah’s guests were terrified [of being branded as traitors] and stood up and left the feast, and each one went on his way.  
1K0150 And Adonijah feared Solomon, and he got up and went [to the tabernacle on Mt. Zion] and took hold of the horns of the altar [seeking asylum].  
1K0151 Now Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, and behold, he has grasped the horns of the altar [seeking God’s protection], saying, ‘King Solomon must swear to me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”  
1K0152 Solomon said, “If he [proves he] is a worthy man, not even one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”  
1K0153 So King Solomon sent [soldiers], and they brought Adonijah down from the altar [that was in front of the tabernacle]. And he came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”  
1K0201 When David’s time to die approached, he gave instructions to Solomon his son, saying,  
1K0202 “I am going the way of all the earth [as dust to dust]. Be strong and prove yourself a man.  
1K0203 Keep the charge of the LORD your God, [that is, fulfill your obligation to] walk in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His precepts, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in everything that you do and wherever you turn,  
1K0204 so that the LORD may fulfill His promise concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful regarding their way [of life], to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and mind and with all their soul, you shall not fail to have a man (descendant) on the throne of Israel.’  
1K0205 Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah [my sister] did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, [both of] whom he murdered; avenging the blood of war in [a time of] peace. And he put the [innocent] blood of war [of Abner and Amasa] on his belt that was around his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.  
1K0206 So act in accordance with your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in peace.  
1K0207 But be gracious and kind to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who [have the honor to] eat at your table; for they met me [with kindness] when I fled from your brother Absalom.  
1K0208 And look, you have with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim; he is the one who cursed me with a sinister curse the day I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan [on my return], and I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’  
1K0209 But now do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what to do to him, and you will bring his gray head down to Sheol [covered] with blood.”  
1K0210 So David lay down with his fathers [in death] and was buried in the City of David.  
1K0211 The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.  
1K0212 Then Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.  
1K0213 Now Adonijah the son of [David and] Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, “Do you come in peace?” And he said, “In peace.”  
1K0214 Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Speak.”  
1K0215 So he said, “You know that the kingdom belonged to me [as the eldest living son] and all Israel looked to me and expected me to be king. However, the kingdom has passed [from me] and became my brother’s, for it was his from the LORD.  
1K0216 So now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.”  
1K0217 He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you; ask that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”  
1K0218 Bathsheba replied, “Very well; I will speak to the king for you.”  
1K0219 So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat down on his throne; then he had a throne set for her, the king’s mother, and she sat on his right.  
1K0220 Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”  
1K0221 So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.”  
1K0222 King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask the kingdom for him also—since he is my older brother—[ask it] for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah [his supporters]!”  
1K0223 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, saying, “May God do the same to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not requested this [deplorable] thing against his own life.  
1K0224 So now, as the LORD lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house as He promised, Adonijah shall indeed be put to death today.”  
1K0225 So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he struck Adonijah and he died.  
1K0226 Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go to Anathoth to your own fields, for you certainly deserve to die; but I will not put you to death this day, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered everything that my father endured.”  
1K0227 So Solomon dismissed Abiathar [a descendant of Eli] from being priest to the LORD, fulfilling the word of the LORD, which He had spoken concerning the house (descendants) of Eli in Shiloh.  
1K0228 Now the news reached Joab, for Joab had supported and followed Adonijah, although he had not followed Absalom. So Joab fled to the [sacred] tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar [to seek asylum].  
1K0229 King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was at that moment beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.”  
1K0230 So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and told Joab, “This is what the king commands, ‘Come out of there.’” But Joab said, “No, for I will die here.” Then Benaiah brought word to the king again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”  
1K0231 The king said to him, “Do as he has said. Strike him down and bury him, so that you may remove from me and from my father’s house the innocent blood which Joab shed.  
1K0232 The LORD will return his bloody deeds upon his own head, because he struck down two men more righteous and honorable than he and killed them with the sword, without my father David knowing: Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.  
1K0233 So shall their blood return on the head of Joab and the heads of his descendants forever. But for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, may there be peace from the LORD forever.”  
1K0234 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up [to the tabernacle] and struck and killed Joab, and he was buried at his own house in the wilderness [of Judah].  
1K0235 The king appointed Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s place, and appointed Zadok the priest in place of Abiathar.  
1K0236 Now the king sent word and called for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there. Do not go from there to any other place.  
1K0237 For on the day you leave and cross over the Brook Kidron, know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.”  
1K0238 Shimei said to the king, “The word (ruling) is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.  
1K0239 But it happened after three years, that two of Shimei’s servants ran away to Achish the son of Maacah, the king of Gath. And Shimei was told, “Behold, your [runaway] servants are in Gath.”  
1K0240 So Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to [King] Achish to look for his servants. And Shimei went and brought them back from Gath.  
1K0241 Now Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had returned.  
1K0242 So the king sent word and called for Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the LORD and solemnly warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you leave [Jerusalem] and go anywhere, you shall surely die’? And you said to me, ‘The word (ruling) I have heard is good.’  
1K0243 Why then have you not kept the oath of the LORD, and the command which I gave you?”  
1K0244 The king also said to Shimei, “You are aware in your own heart of all the evil you did to my father David; so the LORD shall return your evil on your own head.  
1K0245 But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.”  
1K0246 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck down Shimei, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.  
1K0301 Now Solomon became a son-in-law to Pharaoh king of Egypt [and formed an alliance] by taking Pharaoh’s daughter [in marriage]. He brought her to the City of David [where she remained temporarily] until he had finished building his own house (palace) and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.  
1K0302 But [in the meantime] the people were still sacrificing [to God] on the high places (hilltops) [as the pagans did to their idols], for there was no [permanent] house yet built for the Name of the LORD.  
1K0303 Now Solomon loved the LORD, walking [at first] in the statutes of David his father, except [for the fact that] he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places [ignoring the law that required all sacrifices to be offered at the tabernacle].  
1K0304 The king went to Gibeon [near Jerusalem, where the tabernacle and the bronze altar stood] to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.  
1K0305 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask [Me] what I shall give you.”  
1K0306 Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great lovingkindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great lovingkindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today.  
1K0307 So now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of David my father; and as for me, I am but a little boy [in wisdom and experience]; I do not know how to go out or come in [that is, how to conduct business as a king].  
1K0308 Your servant is among Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.  
1K0309 So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?”  
1K0310 Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.  
1K0311 God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself a long life nor for wealth, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize justice,  
1K0312 behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart (mind), so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall anyone equal to you arise after you.  
1K0313 I have also given you what you have not asked, both wealth and honor, so that there will not be anyone equal to you among the kings, for all your days.  
1K0314 If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and My commandments, as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days.”  
1K0315 Then Solomon awoke, and he realized that it was a dream. He came [back] to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he prepared a feast for all his servants.  
1K0316 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.  
1K0317 And the one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house.  
1K0318 And on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were [alone] together; no one else was with us in the house, just we two.  
1K0319 Now this woman’s son died during the night, because she lay on him [and smothered him].  
1K0320 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from [his place] beside me while your maidservant was asleep, and laid him on her bosom, and laid her dead son on my bosom.  
1K0321 When I got up in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead. But when I examined him carefully in the morning, behold, it was not my son, the one whom I had borne.”  
1K0322 Then the other woman said, “No! For my son is the one who is living, and your son is the dead one.” But the first woman said, “No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.” [This is how] they were speaking before the king.  
1K0323 Then the king said, “This woman says, ‘This is my son, the one who is alive, and your son is the dead one’; and the other woman says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the one who is alive.’”  
1K0324 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.  
1K0325 Then the king said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to the one [woman] and half to the other.”  
1K0326 Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply moved over her son, “O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; cut him!”  
1K0327 Then the king said, “Give the first woman [who is pleading for his life] the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”  
1K0328 When all [the people of] Israel heard about the judgment which the king had made, they [were in awe and reverently] feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was within him to administer justice.  
1K0401 King Solomon was king over all [the people of] Israel.  
1K0402 These were his [chief] officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the high priest;  
1K0403 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha, were scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder [of important events];  
1K0404 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;  
1K0405 Azariah the son of Nathan was in charge of the deputies; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and was the king’s friend [and trusted advisor];  
1K0406 Ahishar was in charge of the household (palace); and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.  
1K0407 Solomon had twelve deputies over all Israel, who secured provisions for the king and his household; each man had to provide for a month in the year.  
1K0408 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of [the tribe of] Ephraim;  
1K0409 Ben-deker in Makaz and Shaalbim and Beth-shemesh and Elon-beth-hanan;  
1K0410 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher);  
1K0411 Ben-abinadab, in all the hills of Dor (Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, was his wife);  
1K0412 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah as far as beyond Jokmeam;  
1K0413 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead belonged to him, also the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);  
1K0414 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;  
1K0415 Ahimaaz, in [the tribe of] Naphtali (he also married Basemath, Solomon’s daughter);  
1K0416 Baana the son of Hushai, in [the tribe of] Asher and Bealoth;  
1K0417 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in [the tribe of] Issachar;  
1K0418 Shimei the son of Ela, in [the tribe of] Benjamin;  
1K0419 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land.  
1K0420 [The people of] Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand that is in abundance by the sea; they were eating and drinking and rejoicing.  
1K0421 Now Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the [Euphrates] River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute (money) and served Solomon all the days of his life.  
1K0422 Solomon’s food [for the royal household] for one day was thirty kors of finely milled flour, sixty kors of wheat flour,  
1K0423 ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep not counting fallow deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.  
1K0424 For he was ruling over everything west of the [Euphrates] River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the [Euphrates] River; and he had peace on all sides around him.  
1K0425 Judah and Israel lived in security, every man under his vine and fig tree [in peace and prosperity], from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], during all the days of Solomon.  
1K0426 Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.  
1K0427 Those deputies provided food for King Solomon and for all [the staff] who came to King Solomon’s table, each in his month; they let nothing be lacking.  
1K0428 They also brought the barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds (warhorses, chargers) to the place where it was needed, each man according to his assignment.  
1K0429 Now God gave Solomon [exceptional] wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand of the seashore.  
1K0430 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.  
1K0431 For he was wiser than all [other] men, [wiser] than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. His fame was known in all the surrounding nations.  
1K0432 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.  
1K0433 He spoke of trees, from the cedar which is in Lebanon to the hyssop [vine] that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and fish.  
1K0434 People came from all the peoples (nations) to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.  
1K0501 Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been a friend of David.  
1K0502 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,  
1K0503 “You know that David my father could not build a house (temple) for the Name (Presence) of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put his enemies under his feet.  
1K0504 But now that the LORD my God has given me rest [from war] on every side, there is neither adversary nor misfortune [confronting me].  
1K0505 Behold, I intend to build a house (temple) to the Name of the LORD my God, just as the LORD said to my father David: ‘Your son whom I will put on your throne in your place shall build the house for My Name and Presence.’  
1K0506 So now, command that they cut cedar trees from Lebanon for me, and my servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants. For you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the men of Sidon.”  
1K0507 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given David a wise son [to be king] over this great people.”  
1K0508 So Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message which you sent to me; I will do everything you wish concerning the cedar and cypress timber.  
1K0509 My servants will bring the logs down from Lebanon to the [Mediterranean] sea, and I will have them made into rafts to go by sea to the place (port) that you direct me; then I will have them broken up there, and you shall carry them away. Then you shall return the favor by providing food for my household.”  
1K0510 So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress timber he desired,  
1K0511 and Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 kors of wheat as food for his household, and 20 kors of pure [olive] oil. Solomon gave all these to Hiram each year.  
1K0512 The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.  
1K0513 King Solomon levied forced laborers from all Israel; and the forced laborers numbered 30,000 men.  
1K0514 He sent them to Lebanon, 10,000 a month in shifts; one month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced laborers.  
1K0515 Solomon had 70,000 burden bearers (transporters) and 80,000 stonemasons in the hill country [of Judah],  
1K0516 besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief deputies who were in charge of the project and who were in charge of the people doing the work.  
1K0517 The king gave orders, and they quarried great stones, valuable stones, to lay the foundation of the house (temple) with cut stones.  
1K0518 So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the men of Gebal cut and chiseled the stones, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house (temple).  
1K0601 Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv (April-May) which is the second month, that he began to build the Lord’s house (temple).  
1K0602 The length of the house which King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits (90 ft.), its width twenty (30 ft.), and its height thirty cubits (45 ft.).  
1K0603 The porch in front of the main room of the house (temple) was twenty cubits long, corresponding to the width of the house, and its depth in front of the house was ten cubits.  
1K0604 He also made framed (artistic) window openings for the house.  
1K0605 Against the wall of the house he built extensions around the walls of the house, around both the main room (Holy Place) and the Holy of Holies; and he made side chambers all around.  
1K0606 The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for he made offsets (niches) in the walls all around on the outside of the house so that the supporting beams would not be inserted into the walls of the house.  
1K0607 While it was being built, the house was built of stone prepared and finished (precut) at the quarry, and no hammer, axe, or iron tool of any kind was heard in the house while it was under construction.  
1K0608 The entrance to the lowest side chamber was on the right [or south] side of the house; and they would go up winding stairs to the middle [level], and from the middle to the third.  
1K0609 So Solomon built the house (temple) and finished it, and roofed the house with beams and boards of cedar.  
1K0610 Then he built the extensions [of rooms] against the entire house, each [story] five cubits high; and they were attached to the house with timbers of cedar.  
1K0611 Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,  
1K0612 “Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My precepts and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word (promises) with you which I made to David your father.  
1K0613 I will dwell among the sons (descendants) of Israel, and will not abandon My people Israel.”  
1K0614 So Solomon built the house (temple) and finished it.  
1K0615 He built the walls of the interior of the house [that is, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies] with boards of cedar, from the floor of the house to the rafters of the ceiling. He overlaid the interior with wood, and he overlaid the floor of the house with boards of cypress.  
1K0616 He built twenty cubits on the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling; he built its interior as the [inner] sanctuary, the Holy of Holies.  
1K0617 The [rest of the] house, that is, the temple in front of the Holy of Holies, was forty cubits long.  
1K0618 The cedar on the house within had wood carvings in the shape of gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was visible.  
1K0619 Then he prepared the Holy of Holies within the house in order to put the ark of the covenant of the LORD there.  
1K0620 The Holy of Holies was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in height (a cube), and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid the cedar altar [with gold].  
1K0621 Solomon overlaid the interior of the house with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across the front of the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary), and he overlaid it with gold.  
1K0622 Then he overlaid the entire house with gold, until the whole house was finished. He also overlaid the entire [incense] altar which was by the Holy of Holies with gold.  
1K0623 Within the Holy of Holies he made two cherubim (sculptured figures) of olive wood, each ten cubits high.  
1K0624 One wing of the cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing was also five cubits long; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.  
1K0625 The [wingspan of the] other cherub was also ten cubits. The measurements and cut (shape) of the two cherubim were the same;  
1K0626 the height of the one cherub was ten cubits, as was the other.  
1K0627 He put the cherubim [above the ark] inside the innermost room of the house, and their wings were spread out so that the wing of the one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; and their inner wings were touching each other in the middle of the house.  
1K0628 Solomon also overlaid the cherubim with gold.  
1K0629 He carved all the walls of the house all around with carved engravings of cherubim, palm-shaped decorations, and open flowers, [both] the inner and the outer sanctuaries.  
1K0630 He overlaid the floor of the house with gold, [both] the inner and outer sanctuaries.  
1K0631 For the entrance of the Holy of Holies he made two [folding] doors of olive wood, the lintel (header above the door) and five-sided doorposts (frames).  
1K0632 So he made two doors of olive wood, and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm- shaped decorations, and open flowers; and overlaid them with gold; and he hammered out overlays of gold on the cherubim and palm decorations.  
1K0633 Also he made for the entrance of the [outer] sanctuary (the Holy Place) four- sided doorposts (frames) of olive wood  
1K0634 and two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door turned on pivots and were folding, and the two leaves of the other door also turned on pivots.  
1K0635 He carved cherubim, palm-shaped decorations, and open flowers on the doors, and overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work.  
1K0636 He built the inner courtyard with three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams.  
1K0637 In the fourth year [of King Solomon’s reign] the foundation of the LORD’S house was laid, in the [second] month, Ziv (April-May).  
1K0638 In the eleventh year [of King Solomon’s reign] in the month of Bul (October-November), that is, the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts and in accordance with all its specifications. So he built it in seven years.  
1K0701 Now Solomon built his own house (palace) in thirteen years, and he finished all of his house [in that time].  
1K0702 He also built the House of the Forest of Lebanon; its length was a hundred cubits (150 ft.), its width fifty cubits (75 ft.), and its height thirty cubits (45 ft.), upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.  
1K0703 And it was covered with cedar [as a roof] on the supporting beams that were upon the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row.  
1K0704 There were artistic window frames in three rows, and window was opposite window in three tiers.  
1K0705 All the doorways and doorposts [and windows] had squared [artistic] frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers.  
1K0706 He also made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits (75 ft.) and its width thirty cubits (45 ft.). There was a porch in front, and pillars and a threshold in front of them.  
1K0707 He made the hall for the throne where he was to judge, the Hall of Judgment; it was paneled with cedar from [one] floor to [another] floor.  
1K0708 His house where he was to live, the other courtyard behind the hall, was of similar workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had married.  
1K0709 All these were of expensive stones, of stone cut according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside; even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great courtyard.  
1K0710 The foundation was of expensive stones, large stones, stones of ten cubits and stones of eight cubits.  
1K0711 And above [the foundation] were expensive stones, stones cut according to measure, and cedar.  
1K0712 So the great courtyard all around had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the inner courtyard of the house of the LORD, and the porch of the house.  
1K0713 Now King Solomon sent word and brought Hiram [a skilled craftsman] from Tyre.  
1K0714 He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Hiram was filled with wisdom, understanding, and skill for doing any [kind of] work in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and did all his [bronze] work.  
1K0715 He cast the two pillars of bronze; the one pillar was eighteen cubits high, and a [measuring] line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of both.  
1K0716 He also made two capitals (crowns) of cast bronze to put on the tops of the pillars; the height of one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.  
1K0717 There were nets of network (lattice-work) and twisted threads (wreaths) of chainwork for the capitals which were on the tops of the pillars, seven for one capital and seven for the other.  
1K0718 So Hiram made the pillars [in this manner], and two rows around on the one network to cover the capitals which were on the top of the pomegranates; and he did the same for the other capital.  
1K0719 The capitals which were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily work (design), four cubits.  
1K0720 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above and close to the rounded projection which was beside the network. There were two hundred pomegranates in rows around both capitals.  
1K0721 Hiram set up the pillars at the porch of the temple; he set up the right pillar and named it Jachin (may he establish), and he set up the left pillar and named it Boaz (in it is strength).  
1K0722 On the tops of the pillars was lily work (design). So the work of the pillars was finished.  
1K0723 Now he made the Sea (basin) of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, five cubits high and thirty cubits in circumference.  
1K0724 Under its brim were gourds encircling it ten to a cubit, completely surrounding the Sea; the gourds were in two rows, cast in one piece with it.  
1K0725 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three west, three south, and three east; the Sea was set on top of them, and all their rear parts pointed inward.  
1K0726 It was a hand width thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths.  
1K0727 Then Hiram made ten bronze stands [for smaller basins]; the length of each stand was four cubits, its width was four cubits and its height was three cubits.  
1K0728 This was the design of the stands: they had borders between the frames.  
1K0729 On the borders between the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the frames there was a pedestal above. Beneath the lions and oxen were borders of hanging work.  
1K0730 Now each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and its four feet had supports [for a basin]. Beneath the basin were cast supports with borders at each side.  
1K0731 Its opening inside the crown at the top measured a cubit, and its opening was round like the design of a pedestal, a cubit and a half. Also on its opening were carvings, and their borders were square, not round.  
1K0732 Underneath the borders were four wheels, and the axles of the wheels were on the stand. And the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.  
1K0733 The wheels were made like a chariot wheel: their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast.  
1K0734 Now there were four supports at the four corners of each stand; the supports were part of the stand itself.  
1K0735 On the top of the stand there was a circular piece half a cubit high, and on the top of the stand its supports and borders were part of it.  
1K0736 And on the surface of its supports and its borders Hiram engraved cherubim, lions, and palm-shaped decorations, according to the [available] space for each, with borders all around.  
1K0737 He made the ten stands like this: they all had one casting, one measure, and one form.  
1K0738 Then he made ten basins of bronze; each basin held forty baths and was four cubits, and there was one basin on each of the ten stands.  
1K0739 Then he placed the bases, five on the right [or south] side of the house and five on the left [or north] side; and he set the Sea [of cast metal] on the right side of the house toward the southeast.  
1K0740 Now Hiram made the basins and the shovels and the bowls. So Hiram finished all the work which he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD:  
1K0741 the two pillars and the [two] bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars;  
1K0742 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars;  
1K0743 the ten stands and the ten basins on the stands;  
1K0744 one Sea (basin), and the twelve oxen under the Sea;  
1K0745 the pails, the shovels, and the bowls; all these utensils which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of the LORD were of polished bronze.  
1K0746 In the plain of the Jordan [River] the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.  
1K0747 Solomon left all the utensils unweighed, because there were so many; the weight of the bronze could not be determined.  
1K0748 Solomon made all the [other] furniture which was in the house of the LORD: the [incense] altar of gold; the table of gold on which was the bread of the Presence;  
1K0749 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary); with the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold;  
1K0750 the cups, snuffers, bowls, spoons, firepans—of pure gold; and the hinges of gold [both] for the doors of the inner house, the Holy of Holies, and for the doors of the house, the main room [the Holy Place].  
1K0751 So all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was completed. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the utensils—and he put them in the treasuries of the LORD’S house.  
1K0801 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the City of David, which is Zion.  
1K0802 All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim (September-October), that is, the seventh month.  
1K0803 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests carried the ark.  
1K0804 They brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting and all the holy utensils that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.  
1K0805 King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, so many that they could not be counted or numbered.  
1K0806 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, into the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim.  
1K0807 For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its [carrying] poles from above.  
1K0808 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were visible from the Holy Place that was in front of the Holy of Holies, but they were not visible from the outside; they are there to this day (the date of this writing).  
1K0809 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb (Sinai), where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.  
1K0810 Now it happened that when the priests had come out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the LORD’S house,  
1K0811 so the priests could not stand [in their positions] to minister because of the cloud, for the glory and brilliance of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house (temple).  
1K0812 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness [of the cloud].  
1K0813 “I have certainly built You a lofty house, A place for You to dwell in forever.”  
1K0814 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.  
1K0815 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying,  
1K0816 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I did not choose a [particular] city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name (Presence) would be in it, but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’  
1K0817 Now it was [determined] in the heart of my father David to build a house (temple) for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  
1K0818 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you did well, in that it was in your heart.  
1K0819 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son, who shall be born to you, it is he who shall build it for My Name [and My Presence].’  
1K0820 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; I have risen in the place of my father David and have taken my seat on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and have built the house (temple) for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  
1K0821 There I have made a place [in the Holy of Holies] for the ark, in which is the covenant (solemn agreement) of the LORD, which He made with our fathers when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.”  
1K0822 Then Solomon stood [in the courtyard] before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.  
1K0823 He said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, who keeps the covenant and shows lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;  
1K0824 You who have kept what You promised to Your servant my father David. You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled Your word with Your hand, as it is this day.  
1K0825 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep for Your servant my father David that which You promised him when You said, ‘You shall not be without a man (descendant) to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way [of life] to walk before Me [according to my laws] as you have done.’  
1K0826 Now, O God of Israel, please let Your word which You have spoken to Your servant David my father be confirmed.  
1K0827 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!  
1K0828 Yet graciously consider the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the [loud] cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today;  
1K0829 that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My Name (Presence) shall be there,’ that You may listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.  
1K0830 Listen to the prayer of Your servant and of Your people Israel which they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven, Your dwelling place; hear and forgive.  
1K0831 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath [of innocence] and he comes to take the oath before Your altar in this house (temple),  
1K0832 then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his guilt on his own head, and justifying the righteous by rewarding him in accordance with his righteousness.  
1K0833 “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and then they turn to You again and praise Your Name and pray and ask for Your favor and compassion in this house (temple),  
1K0834 then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave their fathers.  
1K0835 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and praise Your name and turn from their sin when You afflict them,  
1K0836 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and of Your people Israel; indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk (live). And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.  
1K0837 “If there is famine in the land, or if there is pestilence (plague), blight, mildew, migratory locusts, or grasshoppers, if their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities, whatever affliction or plague, whatever sickness [there is],  
1K0838 whatever prayer or pleading is made by any individual, or by Your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart, and spreading his hands out toward this house;  
1K0839 then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to his ways, whose heart (mind) You know, for You and You alone know the hearts of all the children of men,  
1K0840 so that they may fear You [with reverence and awe] all the days that they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.  
1K0841 “Moreover, concerning a foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, but comes from a far (distant) country for the sake of Your name [to plead with You]  
1K0842 (for they will hear of Your great name, Your strong hand [of power], and outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house (temple),  
1K0843 hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls upon (prays to) You, so that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You [with reverence and awe], as do Your people Israel, and that they may know [without any doubt] that this house which I have built is called by Your name.  
1K0844 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way You send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city which You have chosen and the house that I have built for Your Name and Presence,  
1K0845 then hear in heaven their prayer and their pleading, and maintain their right and defend their cause.  
1K0846 “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the enemy’s land, [whether] far away or near;  
1K0847 if they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and they repent and pray to You in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong and we have acted wickedly;’  
1K0848 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, and they pray to You toward their land [of Israel] which You gave to their fathers, the city [of Jerusalem] which You have chosen, and the house which I have built for Your Name and Presence;  
1K0849 then hear their prayer and their supplication in heaven Your dwelling place, and maintain their right and defend their cause,  
1K0850 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You and all the transgressions which they have committed against You, and make them objects of compassion before their captors, that they will be merciful to them  
1K0851 (for they are Your people and Your heritage, whom You brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace [of slavery and oppression]),  
1K0852 that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and to the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them and be attentive to them whenever they call to You.  
1K0853 For You singled them out from all the peoples of the earth as Your heritage, just as You declared through Moses Your servant, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.”  
1K0854 When Solomon finished offering this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the LORD’S altar, where he had knelt down with his hands stretched toward heaven.  
1K0855 And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,  
1K0856 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, in accordance with everything that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke through Moses His servant.  
1K0857 May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us nor abandon us [to our enemies],  
1K0858 that He may guide our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways [following Him] and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers.  
1K0859 Let these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause and right of His servant and of His people Israel as each day requires,  
1K0860 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else.  
1K0861 Therefore, your hearts are to be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as [you are doing] today.”  
1K0862 Then the king and all [the people of] Israel with him [repeatedly] offered sacrifice before the LORD.  
1K0863 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD: 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house (temple) of the LORD.  
1K0864 On that same day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house (temple) of the LORD; for he offered there the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to hold [all] the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat of the peace offerings.  
1K0865 So at that time Solomon held the feast, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath [on the northern border of Israel] to the Brook of Egypt [at Israel’s southern border], before the LORD our God, for seven days and seven more days [beyond the prescribed period for the Feast of Booths], fourteen days in all.  
1K0866 On the eighth (fifteenth) day he sent the people away and they blessed the king. Then they went to their tents joyful and in good spirits because of all the goodness which the LORD had shown to David His servant and Israel His people.  
1K0901 Now it happened when Solomon had finished building the house (temple) of the LORD and the king’s house (palace), and all else which he was pleased to do,  
1K0902 that the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, just as He had appeared to him at Gibeon.  
1K0903 The LORD told him, “I have heard your prayer and supplication which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My Name and My Presence there forever. My eyes and My heart shall be there perpetually.  
1K0904 As for you, if you walk (live your life) before Me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, acting in accordance with everything that I have commanded you, and will keep My statutes and My precepts,  
1K0905 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised your father David, saying, ‘You shall not be without a man (descendant) on the throne of Israel.’  
1K0906 “But if you or your sons turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,  
1K0907 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and I will cast out of My sight the house which I have consecrated for My Name and Presence. Then Israel will become a proverb (a saying) and a byword (object of ridicule) among all the peoples.  
1K0908 This house (temple) will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be appalled and sneer and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?’  
1K0909 And they [who know] will say, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and they have chosen other gods and have worshiped and served them; that is the reason the LORD has brought on them all this adversity.’”  
1K0910 Now at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the temple of the LORD and the palace of the king  
1K0911 (Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with as much cedar and cypress timber [from Lebanon] and gold as he desired), at that time King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee (northern Israel).  
1K0912 So Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him.  
1K0913 He said, “What are these cities [good for] which you have given me, my brother?” So they have been called the land of Cabul (like nothing, unproductive) to this day.  
1K0914 And Hiram sent to the king 120 talents of gold.  
1K0915 Now this is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon conscripted to build the house of the LORD, his own house, the Millo (fortification), the wall of Jerusalem, [and the fortress cities of] Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.  
1K0916 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer, burned it with fire and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and he had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.  
1K0917 So Solomon rebuilt [and fortified] Gezer and Lower Beth-horon,  
1K0918 Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah,  
1K0919 and all the storage cities [for surplus provisions] which Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen, and whatever it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.  
1K0920 As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of the sons (descendants) of Israel,  
1K0921 their children who were left after them in the land, whom the Israelites were unable to completely destroy, from them Solomon levied (conscripted) forced laborers, even to this day (the date of this writing).  
1K0922 But Solomon did not make slaves of the sons of Israel; for they were men of war (soldiers), his servants, his officers, his captains, his chariot commanders, and his horsemen.  
1K0923 These were the chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, who ruled over the people doing the work.  
1K0924 As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter came up from the City of David to her house which Solomon had built for her, then he built the Millo (fortification).  
1K0925 Three times a year [during the major annual festivals] Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built to the LORD, and he burned incense with them before the LORD. So he finished the house [of the LORD].  
1K0926 King Solomon built a fleet of ships in Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds), in the land of Edom.  
1K0927 And Hiram [king of Tyre] sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who knew the sea, along with the servants of Solomon.  
1K0928 They came to Ophir and took four hundred and twenty talents of gold from there, and brought it to King Solomon.  
1K1001 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with riddles.  
1K1002 So she came to Jerusalem with a very large caravan (entourage), with camels carrying spices, a great quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about everything that was on her mind [to discover the extent of his wisdom].  
1K1003 Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king which he did not explain to her.  
1K1004 When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house (palace) which he had built,  
1K1005 the food on his table, the seating of his servants (court officials), the attendance of his waiters and their attire, his cupbearers, his stairway by which he went up to the house (temple) of the LORD, she was breathless and awed [by the wonder of it all].  
1K1006 Then she told the king, “The report which I heard in my own land about your words and wisdom is true!  
1K1007 I did not believe the report until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Behold, the half of it was not told to me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.  
1K1008 How blessed (fortunate, happy) are your men! How blessed are these your servants who stand continually before you, hearing your wisdom!  
1K1009 Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, He made you king to execute justice and righteousness.”  
1K1010 She gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again did such an abundance of spices come in [to Israel] as that which the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.  
1K1011 Also the ships of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood (sandalwood) and precious stones.  
1K1012 From the almug wood (sandalwood) the king made pillars for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and also lyres and harps for the singers. Such almug wood did not come in [to Israel] again, nor has it been seen to this day.  
1K1013 King Solomon [in turn] gave to the queen of Sheba everything that she wanted, whatever she asked, besides what he gave to her from his royal bounty. So she returned to her own country, she and her servants.  
1K1014 Now the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one [particular] year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,  
1K1015 besides the taxes from the traders and from the wares of the merchants, and [the tribute money] from all the kings of the Arabs (Bedouins) and the governors of the country.  
1K1016 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten (hammered) gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each shield.  
1K1017 He made three hundred smaller shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon [the king’s armory].  
1K1018 Also the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the finest gold.  
1K1019 The throne had six steps, and a round top was attached to the throne from the back. On either side of the seat were armrests, and two lions stood beside the armrests.  
1K1020 Twelve lions stood there, one on either end of each of the six steps; there was nothing like it made for any other kingdom.  
1K1021 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.  
1K1022 For the king had at sea the [large cargo] ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold, silver, ivory, monkeys, and peacocks.  
1K1023 So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in wealth and in wisdom.  
1K1024 All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his mind.  
1K1025 Every man brought a gift [of tribute]: articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.  
1K1026 Now Solomon collected chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.  
1K1027 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars as plentiful as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland.  
1K1028 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue, and the king’s merchants acquired them from Kue, for a price.  
1K1029 A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and in the same way they exported them, by the king’s merchants, to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Aram (Syria).  
1K1101 Now king Solomon [defiantly] loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,  
1K1102 from the very nations of whom the LORD said to the Israelites, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for the result will be that they will turn away your hearts to follow their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these in love.  
1K1103 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away [from God].  
1K1104 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not completely devoted to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.  
1K1105 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the [fertility] goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the horror (detestable idol) of the Ammonites.  
1K1106 Solomon did evil [things] in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as his father David had done.  
1K1107 Then Solomon built a high place for [worshiping] Chemosh the horror (detestable idol) of Moab, on the hill which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the horror (detestable idol) of the sons of Ammon.  
1K1108 And he did the same for all of his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.  
1K1109 So the LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,  
1K1110 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not follow other gods; but he did not observe (remember, obey) what the LORD had commanded.  
1K1111 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.  
1K1112 However, I will not do it in your lifetime, for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son (Rehoboam).  
1K1113 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe (Judah) to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”  
1K1114 Then the LORD stirred up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of royal descent in Edom.  
1K1115 For it came about, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury those killed [in battle] and had struck down every male in Edom  
1K1116 (for Joab and all [the army of] Israel stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom),  
1K1117 that Hadad escaped to Egypt, he and some Edomites from his father’s servants with him, while Hadad was [still] a little boy.  
1K1118 They set out from Midian [south of Edom] and came to Paran, and took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave [young] Hadad a house and ordered food and provisions for him and gave him land.  
1K1119 Hadad found great favor with Pharaoh, so that he gave Hadad in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.  
1K1120 The sister of Tahpenes gave birth to Genubath, Hadad’s son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.  
1K1121 But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David had died and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me leave, so that I may go to my own country.”  
1K1122 Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me that now you ask to go to your own country?” He replied, “Nothing; nevertheless you must let me go.”  
1K1123 God also stirred up another adversary for Solomon, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.  
1K1124 Rezon gathered men to himself and became leader of a marauding band, after David killed those in Zobah. They went to Damascus and stayed there and they reigned in Damascus.  
1K1125 So Rezon was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, along with the evil that Hadad inflicted. Rezon hated Israel and reigned over Aram (Syria).  
1K1126 Jeroboam, Solomon’s servant, the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king.  
1K1127 Now this is the reason why he rebelled against the king: Solomon built the Millo (fortification) and he repaired and closed the breach of the city of his father David.  
1K1128 The man Jeroboam was a brave warrior and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.  
1K1129 It came about at that time, when Jeroboam left Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road. Now Ahijah had covered himself with a new cloak; and the two of them were alone in the field.  
1K1130 Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.  
1K1131 He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes—  
1K1132 but he [and his descendants] shall have one tribe (Benjamin was annexed to Judah), for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel—  
1K1133 because they have abandoned Me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways and followed My commandments, doing what is right in My sight and keeping My statutes and My ordinances as did his father David.  
1K1134 However, I will not take the entire kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes.  
1K1135 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you: ten tribes.  
1K1136 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, so that My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put My Name and Presence.  
1K1137 I will take you [Jeroboam], and you shall reign over whatever your soul desires; and you shall be king over Israel (the ten northern tribes).  
1K1138 Then it shall be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, keeping and observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.  
1K1139 And in this way I will afflict the descendants of David for this (their sin), but not forever.’”  
1K1140 So Solomon attempted to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam set out and escaped to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.  
1K1141 The rest of the acts of Solomon—and all that he did, and his wisdom—are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?  
1K1142 The time Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.  
1K1143 And Solomon slept [in death] with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.  
1K1201 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.  
1K1202 Now when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard about it, he was living in Egypt (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon).  
1K1203 So they sent word and called for him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,  
1K1204 “Your father made our yoke (burden) heavy; so now lighten the hard labor and the heavy yoke your father imposed on us, and we will serve you.”  
1K1205 Rehoboam replied to them, “Leave for three days, then come back to me [for my decision].” So the people left.  
1K1206 King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served and advised his father Solomon while he was still alive and said, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”  
1K1207 They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant their request, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  
1K1208 But he ignored the advice which the elders gave him and consulted the young men who grew up with him and served him.  
1K1209 He said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke (burden) which your father put on us’?”  
1K1210 The young men who had grown up with him answered, “This is what you should say to this people who told you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but as for you, make our yoke lighter’—say this to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins [and my reign will be even more severe].  
1K1211 And now, whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”  
1K1212 Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had instructed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”  
1K1213 The king answered the people harshly and ignored the advice which the elders had given him,  
1K1214 and spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but as for me, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”  
1K1215 So the king did not listen to the people; for the situation was from the LORD, so that He might fulfill His word which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.  
1K1216 So when all [the ten northern tribes of] Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people replied to the king, saying, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; To your tents, O Israel! Look now after your own house, David!” Then Israel went back to their tents.  
1K1217 But as for the sons (descendants) of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah [including Benjamin], Rehoboam reigned over them.  
1K1218 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor [to represent him], and all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to escape to Jerusalem.  
1K1219 So Israel (the ten northern tribes) has rebelled against the house (royal line) of David to this day (the date of this writing).  
1K1220 It came about when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent word and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. None followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah [including Benjamin].  
1K1221 Now when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled all the [fighting men from the] house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.  
1K1222 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,  
1K1223 “Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all the house (fighting men) of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people,  
1K1224 ‘Thus says the LORD, “You shall not go up and fight against your brothers, the sons of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing has come about from Me.”’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and returned to go home, in accordance with the word of the LORD.  
1K1225 Then Jeroboam built Shechem [as his royal city] in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He went out from there and rebuilt Penuel [as a stronghold].  
1K1226 Jeroboam [doubted God’s promise to him and] said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.  
1K1227 If these people go up to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, then their heart will turn to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”  
1K1228 So the king took counsel [and followed bad advice] and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “It is too much for you to go [all the way] up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”  
1K1229 He set the one [golden calf] in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.  
1K1230 Now this thing became a sin [for Israel]; because the people went to worship before the one [or the other of them] as far as Dan.  
1K1231 And Jeroboam also made houses on high places, and he made priests from all people who were not of the sons (descendants) of Levi.  
1K1232 Jeroboam held a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast which is kept in Judah, and he went up to the altar; he did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.  
1K1233 So he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own heart [in defiance of God’s commandments]; and he held a feast for the Israelites and he went up to the altar to burn incense [in defiance of God’s law.]  
1K1301 Now behold, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word (command) of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing by the altar [which he had built] to burn incense.  
1K1302 The man cried out against the [idolatrous] altar by the word of the LORD, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you shall he sacrifice [the bodies of] the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’”  
1K1303 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’”  
1K1304 When the king heard the words which the man of God cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” And his hand which he had put out against him withered, so that he was unable to pull it back to himself.  
1K1305 The altar also was split apart and the ashes were poured out from the altar in accordance with the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.  
1K1306 The king answered and said to the man of God, “Please entreat [the favor of] the LORD your God and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it was before.  
1K1307 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”  
1K1308 But the man of God said to the king, “Even if you were to give me half your house (wealth), I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.  
1K1309 For I was commanded by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread or drink water, nor shall you return by the way you came.’”  
1K1310 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.  
1K1311 Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel; and his sons came and told him everything that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; they also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king.  
1K1312 Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” For his sons had seen which way the man of God who came from Judah had gone.  
1K1313 He said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” So they saddled the donkey for him and he rode away on it,  
1K1314 and he went after the man of God. And he found him sitting under an oak (terebinth) tree, and he said to him, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?” And he said, “I am.”  
1K1315 Then he said to him, “Come home with me and eat bread.”  
1K1316 He said, “I cannot return with you nor go in with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.  
1K1317 For I was told by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor shall you return by going the way that you came.’”  
1K1318 He answered him, “I too am a prophet, as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him.  
1K1319 So the man of God went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water.  
1K1320 Now it happened as they were sitting at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back.  
1K1321 And he cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you,  
1K1322 but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which the LORD said to you, “You shall not eat bread nor drink water”; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers (ancestors).’”  
1K1323 After the prophet of the house had eaten bread and after he had drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back.  
1K1324 Now when he had gone, a lion met him by the road and killed him, and his body was thrown in the road, with the donkey standing beside it; the lion was also standing beside the body.  
1K1325 And there were men passing by, and they saw the body thrown in the road, and the lion standing beside the body. So they came and told about it in the city [of Bethel] where the old prophet lived.  
1K1326 When the prophet who had brought him back from the road heard about it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”  
1K1327 And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it.  
1K1328 And he went and found the body thrown on the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body; the lion [miraculously] had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey.  
1K1329 Then the prophet picked up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back, and he came into the city (Bethel) of the old prophet to mourn and to bury him.  
1K1330 And he laid the body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!”  
1K1331 Then after he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I am dead, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.  
1K1332 For the words which he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria shall certainly come to pass.”  
1K1333 After this event, Jeroboam [still] did not turn from his evil way, but again made priests for the high places from among all the people. He ordained anyone who was willing, so that there would be priests for the high places.  
1K1334 And this thing (idol worship) became the sin of the house of Jeroboam to blot it out and eliminate it from the face of the earth.  
1K1401 At that time Abijah the son [and crown prince, heir] of Jeroboam became sick.  
1K1402 Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that people will not know that you are Jeroboam’s wife, and go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there, the one who told me that I would be king over this people.  
1K1403 Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a bottle of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”  
1K1404 Jeroboam’s wife did so. She got up and went [twenty miles] to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, because his eyes were dim from old age.  
1K1405 And the LORD said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you about her son, because he is sick. You shall say such and such to her, for when she arrives, she will pretend to be another woman.”  
1K1406 So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in the doorway, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another woman? For I have been sent to you [by God] with a harsh message.  
1K1407 Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over My people Israel,  
1K1408 and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you—but you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes,  
1K1409 but have done more evil than all [the kings] who were before you; for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back—  
1K1410 therefore behold, I am bringing evil on the house (royal line) of Jeroboam, and I will cut off (destroy) from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free, in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam as one sweeps away dung until it is all gone.  
1K1411 The dogs will eat [the carcass of] anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat [the carcass of] anyone who dies in the field, for the LORD has spoken it.”’  
1K1412 Now as for you (Jeroboam’s wife), arise, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child [Abijah] will die.  
1K1413 All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam’s family will come to [be placed in] the grave, because in him there was found something good and pleasing toward the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.  
1K1414 Moreover, the LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the house (royal line) of Jeroboam this day and from now on.  
1K1415 “The LORD will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and He will uproot Israel from this good land which He gave to their fathers, and He will scatter them beyond the [Euphrates] River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD to anger.  
1K1416 He will give up Israel because of the sins of Jeroboam which he has committed, and with which he has made Israel sin [by leading them into idolatry].”  
1K1417 So Jeroboam’s wife arose and left and came to Tirzah [the king’s residence]. As she was entering the threshold of the house, the child [Abijah] died.  
1K1418 And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet.  
1K1419 Now as for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he made war and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  
1K1420 The time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years, and he slept with his fathers [in death]; and Nadab his son reigned in his place.  
1K1421 Now Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel in which to put His Name (Presence). His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.  
1K1422 And [the people of] Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD. They provoked Him to jealousy more than all that their fathers had done, with their sins which they had committed.  
1K1423 For they also built for themselves high places [to worship idols] and sacred pillars and Asherim [for the goddess Asherah]. These were on every high hill and under every luxuriant tree.  
1K1424 There were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They committed all the repulsive acts of the nations which the LORD dispossessed before the Israelites.  
1K1425 Now in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt [Jeroboam’s brother-in-law] came up against Jerusalem.  
1K1426 He took away the treasures of the house (temple) of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything, he even took all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.  
1K1427 So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and handed them over to the captains of the palace guard who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.  
1K1428 And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guards would carry them and bring them back into the guardroom.  
1K1429 Now as for the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
1K1430 There was also war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.  
1K1431 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam (Abijah) his son became king in his place.  
1K1501 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.  
1K1502 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah [grand]daughter of Abishalom (Absalom).  
1K1503 He walked in all the sins [of idol worship] that his father [Rehoboam] committed before him; and his heart was not entirely devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father (forefather) David.  
1K1504 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp (descendant on the throne) in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem,  
1K1505 because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of [the betrayal of] Uriah the Hittite.  
1K1506 There was war between Rehoboam [Abijam’s father] and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.  
1K1507 Now as for the rest of the acts of Abijam and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.  
1K1508 Abijam slept with his fathers [in death] and they buried him in the City of David. Asa his son became king in his place.  
1K1509 So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king over Judah.  
1K1510 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His [great-grand]mother was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom (Absalom).  
1K1511 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father (forefather) David.  
1K1512 He expelled the male cult prostitutes (sodomites) from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers [Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijam] had made.  
1K1513 He also deposed his [great-grand]mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid (obscene, vulgar) image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her horrid image, and burned it by the Brook Kidron.  
1K1514 But the high places [of idol worship] were not removed. Nevertheless, Asa’s heart was entirely devoted to the LORD all his days.  
1K1515 He brought the things which his father had dedicated and the things which he had dedicated into the house of the LORD—silver, gold, and utensils and accessories.  
1K1516 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.  
1K1517 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah [north of Jerusalem], in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.  
1K1518 Then Asa took all the silver and gold left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the palace of the king and handed them over to his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram (Syria), who lived in Damascus, saying,  
1K1519 “Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”  
1K1520 So Ben-hadad listened to king Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth [the region of the Sea of Galilee], along with all the land of Naphtali.  
1K1521 When Baasha heard about it, he stopped fortifying Ramah and stayed in Tirzah.  
1K1522 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah—none was exempt—and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had built [the fortifications]. And King Asa built with them [border fortresses at] Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.  
1K1523 Now as for the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, everything that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But during the time of his old age he had a foot disease.  
1K1524 Asa slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David. Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.  
1K1525 Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.  
1K1526 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father [Jeroboam] and in his sin [of idolatry], with which he made Israel sin.  
1K1527 Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house (tribe) of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.  
1K1528 So Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.  
1K1529 As soon as he was king, Baasha struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave for Jeroboam anyone alive, but he destroyed them in accordance with the word of the LORD which He had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite—  
1K1530 because of the sins committed by Jeroboam and which he made Israel commit, and because he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.  
1K1531 Now as for the rest of Nadab’s acts and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K1532 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.  
1K1533 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah [the capital city], and reigned twenty-four years.  
1K1534 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin [of idolatry] with which he made Israel sin.  
1K1601 Now the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,  
1K1602 “Because I exalted you [Baasha] from the dust and made you leader over My people Israel, and you walked in the way of Jeroboam and made My people Israel sin, provoking Me to anger with their sins [of idol worship],  
1K1603 behold, I am going to sweep away Baasha and his household (family), and I will make your house (royal line) like that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.  
1K1604 The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat anyone belonging to him who dies in the field.”  
1K1605 Now as for the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K1606 Baasha slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in Tirzah. Elah his son became king in his place.  
1K1607 Moreover, the word of the LORD came against Baasha and his household through the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani, both for all the evil that Baasha did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands (idolatry), in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he [willingly] destroyed it (the family of Jeroboam).  
1K1608 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years.  
1K1609 His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against Elah. Now Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the [king’s] household in Tirzah.  
1K1610 Then Zimri came in and struck and killed Elah in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place.  
1K1611 When he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed the entire household of Baasha; he did not leave a single male [alive], either of his relatives or his friends.  
1K1612 Thus Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet,  
1K1613 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed, and made Israel commit, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.  
1K1614 Now as for the rest of the acts of Elah and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K1615 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned [over Israel] for seven days at Tirzah. Now the troops were camped against Gibbethon, [a city] which belonged to the Philistines,  
1K1616 and the people who were camped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and has also struck down the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.  
1K1617 Then Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.  
1K1618 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortress of the king’s palace; and while inside, he set fire to the king’s palace and died,  
1K1619 because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, by walking in the way of Jeroboam, and because of his sin he caused Israel to sin.  
1K1620 Now as for the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his [treasonous] conspiracy which he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K1621 Then the people of Israel were divided in half. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and the other half followed Omri.  
1K1622 But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.  
1K1623 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel and reigned for twelve years. He reigned six years at Tirzah.  
1K1624 Omri bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he built a city on the hill [and fortified it], and named the city which he built Samaria, after the owner of the hill, Shemer.  
1K1625 But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who came before him.  
1K1626 He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sin, which he made Israel commit, provoking the LORD God of Israel, [to anger] with their idols.  
1K1627 Now as for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might which he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K1628 So Omri slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in Samaria. Ahab his son became king in his place.  
1K1629 Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years.  
1K1630 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all [the kings] who were before him.  
1K1631 It came about, as if it had been a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.  
1K1632 So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.  
1K1633 Ahab also made the Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.  
1K1634 In his days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD, which He spoke through Joshua the son of Nun.  
1K1701 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”  
1K1702 And the word of the LORD came to him, saying,  
1K1703 “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan [River].  
1K1704 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to sustain you there [with food].”  
1K1705 So he went and did in accordance with the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  
1K1706 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he would drink from the brook.  
1K1707 It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.  
1K1708 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,  
1K1709 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”  
1K1710 So he set out and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks [for firewood]. He called out to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a jar, so that I may drink.”  
1K1711 As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”  
1K1712 But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar. See, I am gathering a few sticks so that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it [as our last meal] and die.”  
1K1713 Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. Just make me a little bread from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.  
1K1714 For this is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted nor shall the jar of oil be empty until the day that the LORD sends rain [again] on the face of the earth.’”  
1K1715 She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.  
1K1716 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.  
1K1717 It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.  
1K1718 So she said to Elijah, “What [problem] is there between you and me, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to mind and to put my son to death?”  
1K1719 He said to her, “Give me your son.” Then he took him from her arms and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed.  
1K1720 He called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You brought further tragedy to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?”  
1K1721 Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”  
1K1722 The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived.  
1K1723 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the [lower part of the] house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”  
1K1724 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”  
1K1801 Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”  
1K1802 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.  
1K1803 Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly;  
1K1804 for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)  
1K1805 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the sources of water and to all the streams; perhaps we may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”  
1K1806 So they divided the land between them to survey it. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.  
1K1807 As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him and fell face downward [out of respect] and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”  
1K1808 He answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”  
1K1809 But he said, “What sin have I committed, that you would hand over your servant to Ahab to put me to death?  
1K1810 As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent messengers to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you.  
1K1811 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah [is here].”’  
1K1812 And as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I come to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. Yet your servant has [reverently] feared the LORD from my youth.  
1K1813 Has it not been told to my lord [Elijah] what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred of the LORD’S prophets by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?  
1K1814 And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.”  
1K1815 Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to Ahab today.”  
1K1816 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.  
1K1817 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Are you the one who is bringing disaster on Israel?”  
1K1818 Elijah said, “I have not brought disaster on Israel, but you and your father’s household have, by abandoning (rejecting) the commandments of the LORD and by following the Baals.  
1K1819 Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of [the goddess] Asherah, who eat at [Queen] Jezebel’s table.”  
1K1820 So Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and assembled the [pagan] prophets together at Mount Carmel.  
1K1821 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word.  
1K1822 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone remain a prophet of the LORD, while Baal’s prophets are 450 men.  
1K1823 Now let them give us two oxen, and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.  
1K1824 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the god who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”  
1K1825 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”  
1K1826 So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear and answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made.  
1K1827 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!”  
1K1828 So they cried out with a loud voice [to get Baal’s attention] and cut themselves with swords and lances in accordance with their custom, until the blood flowed out on them.  
1K1829 As midday passed, they played the part of prophets and raved dramatically until the time for offering the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.  
1K1830 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him. And he repaired and rebuilt the [old] altar of the LORD that had been torn down [by Jezebel].  
1K1831 Then Elijah took twelve stones in accordance with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”  
1K1832 So with the stones Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. He made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two measures of seed.  
1K1833 Then he laid out the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.  
1K1834 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood.” And he said, “Do it the second time.” And they did it the second time. And he said, “Do it the third time.” And they did it a third time.  
1K1835 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.  
1K1836 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached [the altar] and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word.  
1K1837 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back [to You].”  
1K1838 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and even the stones and the dust; it also licked up the water in the trench.  
1K1839 When all the people saw it, they fell face downward; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”  
1K1840 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and [as God’s law required] killed them there.  
1K1841 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the roar of an abundance of rain.”  
1K1842 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down to the earth and put his face between his knees,  
1K1843 and he said to his servant, “Go up, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Elijah said, “Go back” seven times.  
1K1844 And at the seventh time the servant said, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And Elijah said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.’”  
1K1845 In a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there were heavy showers. And Ahab mounted and rode [his chariot] and went [inland] to Jezreel.  
1K1846 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah [giving him supernatural strength]. He girded up his loins and outran Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel [nearly twenty miles].  
1K1901 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.  
1K1902 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and even more, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the life of one of them.”  
1K1903 And Elijah was afraid and arose and ran for his life, and he came to Beersheba which belongs to Judah, and he left his servant there.  
1K1904 But he himself traveled a day’s journey into the wilderness, and he came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked [God] that he might die. He said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”  
1K1905 He lay down and slept under the juniper tree, and behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”  
1K1906 He looked, and by his head there was a bread cake baked on hot coal, and a pitcher of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.  
1K1907 Then the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Get up, and eat, for the journey is too long for you [without adequate sustenance].”  
1K1908 So he got up and ate and drank, and with the strength of that food he traveled forty days and nights to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.  
1K1909 There he came to a cave and spent the night in it; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  
1K1910 He said, “I have been very zealous (impassioned) for the LORD God of hosts (armies) [proclaiming what is rightfully and uniquely His]; for the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”  
1K1911 So He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by, and a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind, [there was] an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  
1K1912 After the earthquake, [there was] a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire, [there was] the sound of a gentle blowing.  
1K1913 When Elijah heard the sound, he wrapped his face in his mantle (cloak) and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  
1K1914 He said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts (armies), because the sons of Israel have abandoned (broken) Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek to take away my life.”  
1K1915 The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram (Syria);  
1K1916 and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.  
1K1917 It shall come about that Jehu shall put to death whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, and Elisha shall put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.  
1K1918 Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”  
1K1919 So Elijah departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his mantle (coat) on him.  
1K1920 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother [goodbye], then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go on back; for what have I done to [stop] you?”  
1K1921 So Elisha left him and went back. Then he took a pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their meat with the implements of the oxen [as fuel], and gave the meat to the people, and they ate. Then he stood and followed Elijah, and served him.  
1K2001 Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were [allied] with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria [Israel’s capital], and fought against it.  
1K2002 Then he sent messengers to the city to Ahab king of Israel; and he said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:  
1K2003 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your wives and your children, even the fairest, also are mine [as conditions of peace].’”  
1K2004 The king of Israel [conceded his defeat and] answered, “By your word, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”  
1K2005 The messengers returned and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I indeed sent word to you, saying, “You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children,”  
1K2006 but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants; and they will take with their hands (confiscate) whatever is desirable in your eyes and carry it away.’”  
1K2007 Then the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, “Please observe and see how this man is seeking our destruction. For he sent messengers to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”  
1K2008 All the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent [to this additional demand].”  
1K2009 So he said to Ben-hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Every demand you first sent to your servant I will do, but I cannot do this [additional] thing [as a condition of peace].’” And the messengers left; then they brought him word again.  
1K2010 Ben-hadad sent word to him and said, “May the gods do so to me, and more also, if there is enough dust left of Samaria for handfuls for all the [armed] people who follow me.”  
1K2011 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won].’”  
1K2012 When Ben-hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking in the temporary shelters, he said to his servants, “Station yourselves.” So they stationed themselves against the city [of Samaria].  
1K2013 Then a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Have you seen all this great army? Behold, I will hand them over to you, and you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’”  
1K2014 Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘By the young men [the attendants or bodyguards] of the governors of the districts.’” Then Ahab said, “Who shall begin the battle?” And he answered, “You.”  
1K2015 Then Ahab assembled and counted the young men of the governors of the districts, and there were 232. After them he assembled and counted all the people, all the sons of Israel, 7,000.  
1K2016 They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was getting drunk in the temporary shelters, he and the thirty-two kings who were helping him.  
1K2017 The young men of the governors of the districts went out first; and Ben-hadad sent men out and they told him, saying, “Men have come out of Samaria.”  
1K2018 And he said, “Whether they have come out for peace or for war, take them alive.”  
1K2019 So these young men of the governors of the districts went out of the city, and the army followed them.  
1K2020 And each one killed his man; and the Arameans (Syrians) fled and Israel pursued them. Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.  
1K2021 The king of Israel went out and struck [the riders of] the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.  
1K2022 Then the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the first of next year the king of Aram (Syria) will come up against you.”  
1K2023 Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Israel’s god is a god of the hills; that is why they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.  
1K2024 Do this: remove the [thirty-two allied] kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place,  
1K2025 and assemble an army like the army that you have lost in battle, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their words and did so.  
1K2026 At the first of the year [in spring], Ben-hadad assembled and counted the Arameans (Syrians) and went up to Aphek [east of the Sea of Galilee] to fight against Israel.  
1K2027 The sons of Israel were counted and given provisions, and they went to meet them. The Israelites camped before the enemy like two little flocks of goats [with everything against them, except God], and the Arameans filled the country.  
1K2028 A man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills, but He is not a god of the valleys,” I will give this great army into your hand, and you shall know [by experience] that I am the LORD.’”  
1K2029 So they camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle began, and the sons of Israel killed 100,000 of the Aramean foot soldiers in a single day.  
1K2030 But the rest ran to the city of Aphek, and the [city] wall fell on 27,000 of the men who were left. Ben-hadad escaped and came into the city, going into an inner chamber [to hide].  
1K2031 But his servants said to him, “We have heard that the kings of the house (royal line) of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our loins and ropes on our necks [as symbols of submission], and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.”  
1K2032 So they put sackcloth around their loins and ropes on their necks, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” And Ahab asked, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”  
1K2033 Now the men took it as a good omen, and quickly understanding his meaning said, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad lives.” Then the king said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot.  
1K2034 Ben-hadad [tempting him] said to him, “I will restore the cities which my father took from your father; and you may set up bazaars (shops) of your own in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” Then, Ahab replied, “I will let you go with this covenant (treaty).” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.  
1K2035 Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the LORD, “Please strike me.” But the man refused to strike him.  
1K2036 Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.” And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.  
1K2037 Then the prophet found another man and said, “Please strike me.” So the man struck him hard, wounding him.  
1K2038 So the prophet left and waited for King Ahab by the road, and disguised himself [as a wounded soldier] with a bandage over his eyes.  
1K2039 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the middle of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, then your life shall be required for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’  
1K2040 But while your servant was busy here and there, he [escaped and] was gone.” And the king of Israel said to him, “Such is your own judgment (verdict); you have determined it.”  
1K2041 Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and [Ahab] the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.  
1K2042 He said to the king, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have released from your hand the man [Ben-hadad] whom I had devoted to destruction, your life shall be required for his life, and your people for his people.’”  
1K2043 So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria.  
1K2101 Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, close beside the [winter] palace of Ahab king of Samaria;  
1K2102 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a garden of vegetables and herbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it, or, if you prefer, I will give you what it is worth in money.”  
1K2103 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid me that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.”  
1K2104 So Ahab [already upset by the Lord’s message] came into his house [feeling more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food.  
1K2105 Then Jezebel his wife came to him and asked him, “Why is your spirit so troubled that you have not eaten?”  
1K2106 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ But he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”  
1K2107 Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Get up, eat food, and let your heart rejoice; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”  
1K2108 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.  
1K2109 Now in the letters she wrote, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;  
1K2110 and seat two worthless and unprincipled men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”  
1K2111 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived there, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.  
1K2112 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.  
1K2113 Two worthless and unprincipled men came in and sat down opposite him; and they testified against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed and renounced God and the king.” Then they brought him outside the city and stoned him to death.  
1K2114 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”  
1K2115 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you, because Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”  
1K2116 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.  
1K2117 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,  
1K2118 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it.  
1K2119 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession [of the victim’s property]?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood as well.”’”  
1K2120 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.  
1K2121 Behold [says the LORD], I am bringing evil (catastrophe) on you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel;  
1K2122 and I will make your house (descendants) like that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for provoking Me to anger and making Israel sin.  
1K2123 The LORD also spoke in regard to Jezebel, saying, ‘The dogs will eat [the body of] Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’  
1K2124 The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, and the birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the field.”  
1K2125 There certainly was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.  
1K2126 He acted very repulsively in following idols, in accordance with everything the Amorites had done, whom the LORD expelled [from the land] before the sons of Israel.  
1K2127 Now when Ahab heard these words [of Elijah], he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning).  
1K2128 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,  
1K2129 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil (catastrophe) in his lifetime, but in his son’s days I will bring evil upon his house.”  
1K2201 Aram (Syria) and Israel continued without war for three years.  
1K2202 In the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.  
1K2203 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, yet we are still doing nothing to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?”  
1K2204 And Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”  
1K2205 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”  
1K2206 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or should I not?” And they said, “Go up, for the LORD has handed it over to the king.”  
1K2207 But Jehoshaphat [doubted and] said, “Is there not another prophet of the LORD here whom we may ask?”  
1K2208 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he never prophesies good news for me, but only evil.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say that [Micaiah only tells bad news].”  
1K2209 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.”  
1K2210 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their [royal] robes, [in an open place] at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.  
1K2211 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans (Syrians) until they are destroyed.’”  
1K2212 All the prophets were prophesying in the same way [to please Ahab], saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and be successful, for the LORD will hand it over to the king.”  
1K2213 Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Listen carefully, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable to the king. Please let your words be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”  
1K2214 But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will speak what the LORD says to me.”  
1K2215 So when he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead in battle, or shall we not?” And he answered him, “Go up and be successful, for the LORD will hand it over to the king.”  
1K2216 But the king [doubted him and] said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”  
1K2217 And he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered upon the mountains, Like sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”  
1K2218 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”  
1K2219 Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.  
1K2220 The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said this, while another said that.  
1K2221 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’  
1K2222 The LORD said to him, ‘How?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the LORD said, ‘You are to entice him and also succeed. Go and do so.’  
1K2223 Now then, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.”  
1K2224 But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah approached and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?”  
1K2225 Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day [of the king’s defeat] when you enter an inner room [looking for a place] to hide yourself.”  
1K2226 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,  
1K2227 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison, and feed him sparingly with the bread and water until I return safely.”’”  
1K2228 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, the LORD has not spoken by me.” Then he said, “Listen, all you people.”  
1K2229 So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.  
1K2230 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and enter the battle, but you put on your [royal] clothing.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.  
1K2231 Now the king of Aram (Syria) had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with [anyone, either] small or great, but with [Ahab] the king of Israel alone.”  
1K2232 When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “Surely it is the king of Israel.” They turned to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat shouted out [in fear].  
1K2233 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.  
1K2234 But one man drew a bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, because I have been seriously wounded.”  
1K2235 The battle raged that day, and [Ahab] the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans (Syrians). And in the evening he died, and the blood from his wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.  
1K2236 Then about sundown a resounding cry passed throughout the army, saying, “Every man to his city and every man to his own country!”  
1K2237 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.  
1K2238 They washed the chariot by the pool [on the outskirts] of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked up his blood, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He had spoken.  
1K2239 Now the rest of Ahab’s acts, and everything that he did, the ivory palace which he built and all the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
1K2240 So Ahab slept with his fathers [in death], and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.  
1K2241 Now Jehoshaphat the son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.  
1K2242 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty- five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.  
1K2243 He walked in all the ways of Asa his father, without turning from them, doing right in the sight of the LORD. However, the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.  
1K2244 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.  
1K2245 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, his might which he displayed and how he made war, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
1K2246 And the remnant of the sodomites (male cult prostitutes) who remained in the days of his father Asa, Jehoshaphat expelled from the land.  
1K2247 Now there was no king in Edom; a deputy (governor) was [serving as] king.  
1K2248 Jehoshaphat had [large cargo] ships of Tarshish constructed to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.  
1K2249 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” But Jehoshaphat was unwilling and refused.  
1K2250 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father David, and Jehoram his son became king in his place.  
1K2251 Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.  
1K2252 He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the [idolatrous] way of his father [Ahab] and of his mother [Jezebel], and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.  
1K2253 He served Baal and worshiped him, and he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, in accordance with everything that his father [Ahab] had done.  
2K0101 Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.  
2K0102 Ahaziah [the king of Israel] fell through the lattice (grid) in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became sick [from the injury]. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go, inquire of Baal- zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this sickness.”  
2K0103 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’  
2K0104 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You [Ahaziah] will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.’” So Elijah departed.  
2K0105 When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, “Why have you returned [so soon]?”  
2K0106 They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you and tell him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.’”’”  
2K0107 The king asked them, “What was the appearance of the man who came up to meet you and said these things to you?”  
2K0108 They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a [wide] leather band bound around his loins.” And Ahaziah said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”  
2K0109 Then the king sent to Elijah a captain of fifty with his fifty [fighting men to seize the prophet]. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of a hill. And the captain said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’”  
2K0110 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “So if I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty [fighting men].” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.  
2K0111 So King Ahaziah again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty [fighting men]. And he said to him, “Man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.’”  
2K0112 Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty [fighting men].” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.  
2K0113 So Ahaziah again sent a captain of a third fifty with his fifty [fighting men]. And the third captain of fifty went up and came bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him [for compassion] and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of your servants, these fifty, be precious in your sight.  
2K0114 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.”  
2K0115 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he stood and went down with him to the king.  
2K0116 Then Elijah said to Ahaziah, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Since you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?—therefore you will not leave the bed on which you lie, but will certainly die.’”  
2K0117 So Ahaziah [the son of King Ahab] died in accordance with the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And because he had no son, Jehoram [his younger brother] became king [of Israel, the northern kingdom] in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah [the southern kingdom].  
2K0118 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K0201 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal.  
2K0202 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.  
2K0203 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know it; be quiet [about it].”  
2K0204 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.  
2K0205 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; be quiet [about it].”  
2K0206 Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.  
2K0207 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood opposite them [to watch] at a distance; and the two of them stood by the Jordan.  
2K0208 And Elijah took his mantle (coat) and rolled it up and struck the waters, and they were divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.  
2K0209 And when they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”  
2K0210 He said, “You have asked for a difficult thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”  
2K0211 As they continued along and talked, behold, a chariot of fire with horses of fire [appeared suddenly and] separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  
2K0212 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” And he no longer saw Elijah. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces [in grief].  
2K0213 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell off him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.  
2K0214 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he too had struck the waters, they divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.  
2K0215 When the sons of the prophets who were [watching] opposite at Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him [in respect].  
2K0216 Then they said to Elisha, “Behold now, there are among your servants fifty strong men; please let them go and search for your master. It may be that the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”  
2K0217 But when they urged him until he was embarrassed [to refuse them], he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find Elijah.  
2K0218 They returned to Elisha while he was staying at Jericho; and he said to them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not go’?”  
2K0219 Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, this city is in a pleasant place, as my lord [Elisha] sees; but the water is bad and the land is barren.”  
2K0220 He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.  
2K0221 Then Elisha went to the spring of water and threw the salt in it and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I [not the salt] have purified and healed these waters; there shall no longer be death or barrenness because of it.’”  
2K0222 So the waters have been purified to this day, in accordance with the word spoken by Elisha.  
2K0223 Then Elisha went up from Jericho to Bethel. On the way, young boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”  
2K0224 When he turned around and looked at them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore to pieces forty-two of the boys.  
2K0225 Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.  
2K0301 Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.  
2K0302 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.  
2K0303 Nevertheless, he continued in the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.  
2K0304 Mesha the king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he used to pay [an annual tribute] to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.  
2K0305 But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.  
2K0306 So King Jehoram left Samaria at that time and assembled all [the fighting men of] Israel.  
2K0307 Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” And he replied, “I will go; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”  
2K0308 Jehoram said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoshaphat answered, “The way through the Wilderness of Edom.”  
2K0309 So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They made a circuit of seven days’ journey, but there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.  
2K0310 Then the king of Israel said, “We are doomed, for the LORD has called these three kings to be handed over to Moab.”  
2K0311 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here from whom we may inquire of the LORD?” One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water over Elijah’s hands.”  
2K0312 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to Elisha.  
2K0313 Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What business do you have with me? Go to the prophets of your [wicked] father [Ahab] and to the prophets of your [pagan] mother [Jezebel].” But the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to be handed over to Moab.”  
2K0314 Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you [king of Israel].  
2K0315 But now bring me a musician.” And it came about while the musician played, that the hand (power) of the LORD came upon Elisha.  
2K0316 He said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Make this valley (the Arabah) full of trenches.’  
2K0317 For thus says the LORD, ‘You will not see wind or rain, yet that valley will be filled with water, so you and your cattle and your other animals may drink.  
2K0318 This is but a simple thing in the sight of the LORD; He will also hand over the Moabites to you.  
2K0319 You shall strike every fortified city and every choice (principal) city, and cut down every good tree and stop up all sources of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.’”  
2K0320 It happened in the morning, when the sacrifice was offered, that suddenly water came [miraculously] from the area of Edom, and the country was filled with water.  
2K0321 Now all the Moabites heard that the [three] kings had come up to fight against them, and all who were able to put on armor, as well as those who were older, were summoned and stood [together in battle formation] at the border.  
2K0322 When they got up early the next morning, the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water across from them as red as blood.  
2K0323 And they said, “This is blood! Clearly the kings have fought together, and have killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil [and the plunder of the dead soldiers]!”  
2K0324 But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land, killing the Moabites [as they went].  
2K0325 They destroyed the [walls of the] cities, and each man threw a stone on every piece of good land, covering it [with stones]. And they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until they left nothing in Kir-hareseth [Moab’s capital city] but its stones. Then the [stone] slingers surrounded the city and destroyed it.  
2K0326 When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.  
2K0327 Then the king of Moab took his eldest son, who was to reign in his place, and offered him [publicly] as a burnt offering [to Chemosh] on the [city] wall [horrifying everyone]. And there was great wrath against Israel, and Israel’s allies [Judah and Edom] withdrew from King Jehoram and returned to their own land.  
2K0401 Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the LORD; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].”  
2K0402 Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?” She said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil.”  
2K0403 Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.  
2K0404 Then you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out [the oil you have] into all these containers, and you shall set aside each one when it is full.”  
2K0405 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing her the containers as she poured [the oil].  
2K0406 When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped [multiplying].  
2K0407 Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”  
2K0408 Now there came a day when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominent and influential woman, and she persuaded him to eat a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.  
2K0409 She said to her husband, “Behold, I sense that this is a holy man of God who frequently passes our way.  
2K0410 Please, let us make a small, fully-walled upper room [on the housetop] and put a bed there for him, with a table, a chair, and a lampstand. Then whenever he comes to visit us, he can turn in there.”  
2K0411 One day he came there and turned in to the upper room and lay down to rest.  
2K0412 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her and she stood before him.  
2K0413 Now he said to Gehazi, “Say to her now, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us; what can I do for you? Would you like to be mentioned to the king or to the captain of the army?’” She answered, “I live among my own people [in peace and security and need no special favors].”  
2K0414 Later Elisha said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son and her husband is old.”  
2K0415 He said, “Call her.” So Gehazi called her, and she [came and] stood in the doorway.  
2K0416 Elisha said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord. O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”  
2K0417 But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at that season the next year, just as Elisha had said to her.  
2K0418 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father, to the reapers.  
2K0419 But he said to his father, “My head, my head.” The man said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  
2K0420 When he had carried and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.  
2K0421 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door [of the small upper room] behind him and left.  
2K0422 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may run to the man of God and return.”  
2K0423 He said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It will be all right.”  
2K0424 Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Drive [the animal] fast; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”  
2K0425 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite woman.  
2K0426 Please run now to meet her and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she answered, “It is well.”  
2K0427 When she came to the mountain to the man of God, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is desperate and troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden the reason from me and has not told me.”  
2K0428 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not give me false hope’?”  
2K0429 Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins (prepare now!) and take my staff in your hand, and go [to the woman’s house]; if you meet any man [along the way], do not greet him and if a man greets you, do not [stop to] answer him; and lay my staff on the face of the boy [as soon as you reach the house].”  
2K0430 The mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So Elisha arose and followed her.  
2K0431 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response [from the boy]. So he turned back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened (revived).”  
2K0432 When Elisha came into the house, the child was dead and lying on his bed.  
2K0433 So he went in, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.  
2K0434 Then he went up and lay on the child and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself out on him and held him, the boy’s skin became warm.  
2K0435 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up [again] and stretched himself out on him; and the boy sneezed seven times and he opened his eyes.  
2K0436 Then Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”  
2K0437 She came and fell at his feet, bowing herself to the ground [in respect and gratitude]. Then she picked up her son and left.  
2K0438 Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot and cook stew for the sons of the prophets.”  
2K0439 Then one [of them] went into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, although they did not know what they were.  
2K0440 So they served it for the men to eat. But as they ate the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot.” And they could not eat it.  
2K0441 But he said, “Bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Serve it for the people so that they may eat.” Then there was nothing harmful in the pot.  
2K0442 Now [at another time] a man from Baal-shalisha came and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and fresh ears of grain [in the husk] in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give it to the people [affected by the famine] so that they may eat.”  
2K0443 His servant said, “How am I to set [only] this before a hundred [hungry] men?” He said, “Give it to the people so that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’”  
2K0444 So he set it before them, and they ate and left some, in accordance with the word of the LORD.  
2K0501 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was considered a great man by his king, and was highly respected because through Naaman the LORD had given victory to Aram (Syria). He was also a man of courage, but he was a leper.  
2K0502 The Arameans (Syrians) had gone out in bands [as raiders] and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife [as a servant].  
2K0503 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master [Naaman] were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”  
2K0504 Naaman went in and told his master [the king], “The girl who is from the land of Israel said such and such.”  
2K0505 Then the king of Aram (Syria) said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel (Jehoram the son of Ahab).” So he left and took with him ten talents of silver and 6,000 shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.  
2K0506 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “And now when this letter comes to you, I will have sent my servant Naaman to you, so that you may heal him of his leprosy.”  
2K0507 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes [in shock and outrage at the request] and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me [a request] to heal a man of his leprosy? Just consider [what he is asking] and see how he is seeking an opportunity [for a battle] with me.”  
2K0508 Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, asking, “Why have you torn your clothes? Just let Naaman come to me, and he shall know that there is a [true] prophet in Israel.”  
2K0509 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house.  
2K0510 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”  
2K0511 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’  
2K0512 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.  
2K0513 Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”  
2K0514 So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.  
2K0515 Then Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all the people in his group, and stood before him. He said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; so now accept a blessing and gift from your servant.”  
2K0516 But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will accept nothing.” He urged him to take it, but Elisha refused.  
2K0517 Naaman said, “If not, then please, let your servant be given a load of earth for a team of mules; for [from this day on] your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering nor a sacrifice to other gods, but only to the LORD, [the God of Israel].  
2K0518 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master [the king] goes into the house of [his god] Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this matter [of attending the king when he worships].”  
2K0519 Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed and was a good distance away from him,  
2K0520 when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “My master has spared this Naaman the Aramean (Syrian), by not accepting from him what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”  
2K0521 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”  
2K0522 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘Just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’”  
2K0523 Naaman said, “Please take two talents.” And he urged him [to accept], and tied up two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them in front of Gehazi.  
2K0524 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house [for safekeeping]; and he sent the men away, and they left.  
2K0525 Then he went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”  
2K0526 Elisha said to him, “Did my heart not go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a [proper] time to accept money and clothing and olive orchards and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants?  
2K0527 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So Gehazi departed from his presence, a leper as white as snow.  
2K0601 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look now, the place where we live near you is too small for us.  
2K0602 Please let us go to the Jordan [River] and let each man take from there a beam [for the building]; and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” And he answered, “Go.”  
2K0603 Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” So he answered, “I shall go.”  
2K0604 So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down [some of] the trees.  
2K0605 But it happened that as one was cutting down a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!”  
2K0606 The man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron [axe head] float.  
2K0607 He said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out with his hand and took it.  
2K0608 Now the king of Aram (Syria) was making war against Israel, and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp shall be in such and such a place.”  
2K0609 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Be careful not to pass by this place, because the Arameans are pulling back to there.”  
2K0610 Then the king of Israel sent word to the place about which Elisha had warned him; so he guarded himself there repeatedly.  
2K0611 Now the heart of the king of Aram (Syria) was enraged over this thing. He called his servants and said to them, “Will you not tell me which of us is helping the king of Israel?”  
2K0612 One of his servants said, “None [of us is helping him], my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”  
2K0613 So he said, “Go and see where he is, so that I may send [men] and seize him.” And he was told, “He is in Dothan.”  
2K0614 So he sent horses and chariots and a powerful army there. They came by night and surrounded the city.  
2K0615 The servant of the man of God got up early and went out, and behold, there was an army with horses and chariots encircling the city. Elisha’s servant said to him, “Oh no, my master! What are we to do?”  
2K0616 Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  
2K0617 Then Elisha prayed and said, “LORD, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.  
2K0618 When the Arameans came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people (nation) with blindness.” And God struck them with blindness, in accordance with Elisha’s request.  
2K0619 Then Elisha said to the Arameans, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.  
2K0620 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, so that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes and they saw. Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.  
2K0621 When the king of Israel (Jehoram) saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”  
2K0622 Elisha answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and bow? Serve them bread and water, so that they may eat and drink, and go back to their master [King Ben-hadad].”  
2K0623 So the king prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Aram did not come into the land of Israel again.  
2K0624 But it came about after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered his whole army together and went up and besieged Samaria.  
2K0625 Now there was a great famine in Samaria; and they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.  
2K0626 As the king of Israel (Jehoram) was passing by on the [city] wall a woman cried out to him, “Help, my lord, O king!”  
2K0627 He said, “If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I get you help? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?”  
2K0628 And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son so we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’  
2K0629 So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give your son so that we may eat him’; but she had hidden her son.”  
2K0630 When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes—now he was still walking along on the wall—and the people looked [at him], and he had on sackcloth underneath [his royal robe] next to his skin.  
2K0631 Then he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today!”  
2K0632 Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him [to behead Elisha]; but before the messenger arrived, Elisha told the elders, “Do you see how this son of [Jezebel] a murderer has sent [a man] to remove my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold it securely against him. Is not the sound of his master’s feet [just] behind him?”  
2K0633 While Elisha was still talking with them, the messenger came down to him [followed by the king] and the king said, “This evil [situation] is from the LORD! Why should I wait for [help from] the LORD any longer?”  
2K0701 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of finely-milled flour will sell for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’”  
2K0702 Then the royal officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “If the LORD should make windows in heaven [for the rain], could this thing take place?” Elisha said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but [because you doubt] you will not eat of it.”  
2K0703 Now four men who were lepers were at the entrance of the [city’s] gate; and they said to one another, “Why should we sit here until we die?  
2K0704 If we say, ‘We will enter the city’—then the famine is in the city and we will die there; and if we sit still here, we will also die. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans (Syrians). If they let us live, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”  
2K0705 So they got up at twilight to go to the Aramean camp. But when they came to the edge of the camp, there was no one there.  
2K0706 For the LORD had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, the sound of a great army. They had said to one another, “The king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come [and fight] against us.”  
2K0707 So the Arameans set out and fled during the twilight, and left their tents, horses, and donkeys, even left the camp just as it was, and fled for their lives.  
2K0708 When these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away from there silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. Then they went back and entered another tent and carried [some valuable things] from there also, and went and hid them.  
2K0709 Then they said one to another, “We are not doing the right thing. This is a day of good news, yet we are keeping silent. If we wait until the morning light, some punishment [for not reporting this now] will come on us. So now come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”  
2K0710 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, “We went to the camp of the Arameans (Syrians), and behold, there was no one there, nor the sound of man there—only the horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents [had been left] just as they were.”  
2K0711 Then the gatekeepers called out and it was reported to the king’s household inside [the city].  
2K0712 Then the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’”  
2K0713 One of his servants replied, “Please let some men take five of the horses which remain inside the city. Consider this: [if they are caught then at worst] they will be like all the people of Israel who are left in the city; [even if they are killed then] they will be like all the people of Israel who have already died. So let us send [them] and see [what happens].”  
2K0714 So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and see.”  
2K0715 They went after them to the Jordan, and all the road was entirely littered with clothing and equipment which the Arameans (Syrians) had thrown away when they hurriedly fled. And the messengers returned and told the king.  
2K0716 Then the people [of Israel] went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So [goods were so plentiful that] a measure of finely-milled flour [was sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in accordance with the word of the LORD [as spoken through Elisha].  
2K0717 Now the king had appointed the royal officer on whose arm he leaned to be in charge of the [city] gate; and the [starving] people trampled him at the gate [as they struggled to get through for food], and he died, just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to him.  
2K0718 It happened just as [Elisha] the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley will be sold for a shekel and a measure of finely-milled flour for a shekel tomorrow about this time at the gate of Samaria.”  
2K0719 The royal officer had answered the man of God and said, “Now behold, [even] if the LORD should make windows in heaven, could such a thing happen?” And Elisha had answered, “You will see it with your own eyes, but [because of your doubt] you will not eat it.”  
2K0720 And so it happened to him; for the people trampled him at the gate, and he died.  
2K0801 Now Elisha had said to the [Shunammite] woman whose son he had restored to life, “Prepare and go, you and your household, and stay temporarily wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and moreover, it will come on the land [and continue] for seven years.”  
2K0802 So the woman set out and did everything in accordance with the word of the man of God. She and her household went and stayed temporarily as foreigners in the land of the Philistines for seven years.  
2K0803 At the end of the seven years the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to appeal to the king [of Israel] for her house and for her land.  
2K0804 Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.”  
2K0805 And [just] as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.”  
2K0806 When the king asked the woman, she told him [everything]. So the king appointed for her a certain high official, saying, “Restore everything that was hers, including all the produce of the field since the day that she left the land until now.”  
2K0807 Now Elisha came to Damascus, and Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) was sick; and he was told, “The man of God has come here.”  
2K0808 And the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”  
2K0809 So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took a gift with him of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ loads; and he came and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, asking, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”  
2K0810 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You will certainly recover,’ but the LORD has shown me that he will certainly die.”  
2K0811 Elisha stared steadily at Hazael until he was embarrassed, and then the man of God wept.  
2K0812 Hazael said, “Why are you weeping, my lord?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons (descendants) of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to pieces, and rip up their pregnant women.”  
2K0813 Then Hazael said, “Surely not! For what is your servant, who is nothing more than a dog, that he would do this monstrous thing?” And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”  
2K0814 Then Hazael departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me you would certainly recover.”  
2K0815 But the next day Hazael took the bedspread and dipped it in water and covered the king’s face, so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.  
2K0816 Now in the fifth year of Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah became king.  
2K0817 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.  
2K0818 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for [Athaliah] the daughter of Ahab became his wife. He did evil in the sight of the LORD.  
2K0819 Yet for the sake of His servant David the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, since He had promised to give him a lamp (enthroned descendant) through his sons always.  
2K0820 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah, and set up a king over themselves.  
2K0821 So Jehoram [king of Judah] went over to Zair [in Edom] with all his chariots. He set out by night and struck down the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of his chariots; but the people [of his army] fled to their tents.  
2K0822 So Edom revolted against Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.  
2K0823 The rest of the acts of Jehoram and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K0824 Jehoram slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with them in the City of David. Ahaziah his son became king in his place.  
2K0825 In the twelfth year of Joram (Jehoram) the son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.  
2K0826 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.  
2K0827 He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.  
2K0828 Ahaziah went with Joram the son of Ahab to battle against Hazael king of Aram (Syria) in Ramoth-gilead; and the Arameans wounded Joram.  
2K0829 King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.  
2K0901 Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins (prepare for action), take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth-gilead.  
2K0902 When you arrive there, look for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and have him arise from among his brothers, and take him into an inner room.  
2K0903 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee and do not delay.”  
2K0904 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.  
2K0905 When he arrived, the captains of the army were sitting [outside]; and he said, “I have a message for you, O captain.” Jehu said, “To which one of us?” And he said, “For you, O captain.”  
2K0906 So Jehu got up, and they went into the house. And he poured the oil on Jehu’s head and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.  
2K0907 You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, [who have died] at the hands of Jezebel.  
2K0908 For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free, in Israel.  
2K0909 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.  
2K0910 And the dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.  
2K0911 When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know [very well] the man and his talk.”  
2K0912 And they said, “It is a lie; tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’”  
2K0913 Then they hurried and each man took his garment and placed it [as a cushion] under Jehu on the top of the [outside] stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”  
2K0914 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram [to dethrone and kill him]. Now Joram with all Israel was protecting Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram (Syria),  
2K0915 but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to heal from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said, “If this is your intent, let no one survive and leave the city (Ramoth-gilead) to go and tell of the plan in Jezreel [the capital].”  
2K0916 So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was lying there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.  
2K0917 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the crowd with Jehu as he approached, and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Send a horseman to meet them and have him ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’”  
2K0918 So the horseman went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger approached them, but he has not returned.”  
2K0919 Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who approached them and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Do you come in peace?’” Jehu replied, “What have you to do with peace? Rein in behind me.”  
2K0920 And the watchman reported, “He approached them, but he has not returned; and the driving [of the chariot] is like that of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”  
2K0921 Then Joram said, “Harness [the chariot].” When they harnessed his chariot horses, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and met him on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.  
2K0922 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Do you come in peace, Jehu?” And he answered, “What peace [can exist] as long as the fornications of your mother Jezebel and her sorceries are so many?”  
2K0923 So Joram reined [his chariot] around and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “Treachery and betrayal, Ahaziah!”  
2K0924 But Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his shoulders; and the arrow went out through his heart and he sank down in his chariot.  
2K0925 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him on the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for I remember when you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the LORD uttered this prophecy against him:  
2K0926 ‘I certainly saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will repay you on this property,’ says the LORD. Now then, pick him up and throw him into the property [of Naboth], in accordance with the word of the LORD.”  
2K0927 When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him too, [while he is] in the chariot.” So they shot him at the ascent to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there.  
2K0928 Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the City of David.  
2K0929 In the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.  
2K0930 So when Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked down from the [upper] window.  
2K0931 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, “Is it well, Zimri, your master’s murderer?”  
2K0932 Then Jehu raised his face toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three officials looked down at him.  
2K0933 And he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her underfoot.  
2K0934 When he came in, he ate and drank, and said, “See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.”  
2K0935 They went to bury her, but they found nothing left of her except the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.  
2K0936 So they returned and told Jehu. Then he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel.  
2K0937 The corpse of Jezebel will be like dung on the surface of the field in the property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”  
2K1001 Ahab had seventy sons [and grandsons] in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying,  
2K1002 “Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons (male descendants) are with you, as well as chariots and horses and a fortified city and weapons,  
2K1003 select the best and most capable of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s [royal] house.”  
2K1004 But they were extremely afraid and said, “Look, the two kings did not stand before Jehu; so how can we stand?”  
2K1005 And the one who was in charge of the household, and the one who was overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians [of the children] sent word to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants and we will do whatever you tell us, but we will not make any man king; do what is good in your eyes.”  
2K1006 Then Jehu wrote a second letter to them, saying, “If you are with me and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow about this time.” Now the [dead] king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them.  
2K1007 When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.  
2K1008 When a messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”  
2K1009 The next morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are just and innocent; behold, I conspired against [Joram] my master and killed him, but who killed all these?  
2K1010 Know then [without any doubt] that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done what He said through His servant Elijah.”  
2K1011 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his familiar friends and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.  
2K1012 And he set out and went to Samaria. On the way as he was at the place of the sand heaps [meeting place] for the shepherds,  
2K1013 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah; and we came down to greet the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother [Jezebel].”  
2K1014 Then Jehu said, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive and [later] slaughtered them at the well by the place of the sand heaps, forty-two men; he left none of them [alive].  
2K1015 When Jehu went on from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot.  
2K1016 And he said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD.” So he had Jehonadab in his chariot.  
2K1017 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed everyone who remained of Ahab’s family in Samaria, until he had destroyed all of them, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke to Elijah.  
2K1018 Jehu assembled all the people and said [in pretense] to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much [more].  
2K1019 Now, summon unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with trickery, in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.  
2K1020 Jehu said, “Consecrate a festive assembly (celebration) for Baal.” And they proclaimed it.  
2K1021 Then Jehu sent throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came; there was no one left who did not come. They went to the house (temple) of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other.  
2K1022 He said to the man in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” And he brought the garments out to them.  
2K1023 Then Jehu with Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the house of Baal; and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search carefully and see that there are no servants of the LORD here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”  
2K1024 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside for himself and said, “If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, the one who lets him go shall forfeit his own life for that man’s life.”  
2K1025 Then it came about, as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guards and to the royal officers, “Go in and kill them; let no one come out.” And they killed them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the royal officers threw their bodies out, and went to the inner room of the house of Baal.  
2K1026 They brought out the sacred pillars (obelisks) of the house of Baal and burned them.  
2K1027 They also tore down the sacred pillar of Baal and tore down the house of Baal, and made it into a latrine [forever unclean] to this day.  
2K1028 Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel.  
2K1029 However, Jehu did not turn from the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, that is, [led them to worship] the golden calves which were at Bethel and Dan.  
2K1030 The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab in accordance with everything that was in My heart, your sons (descendants) shall sit on Israel’s throne to the fourth generation.”  
2K1031 But Jehu did not take care to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin.  
2K1032 So in those days the LORD began to cut off portions of Israel; Hazael [of Aram] defeated them throughout the territory of Israel:  
2K1033 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites and the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Arnon River, even Gilead and Bashan.  
2K1034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and everything that he did and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1035 Jehu slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son became king in his place.  
2K1036 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.  
2K1101 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah [king of Judah] saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.  
2K1102 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram [of Judah and half] sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were to be killed, and hid him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.  
2K1103 Joash was hidden with his nurse in the house (temple) of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.  
2K1104 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada [the priest, Jehosheba’s husband] sent for the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard and brought them to him to the house of the LORD. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s [hidden] son.  
2K1105 He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: a third of you who come in [reporting for duty] on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the king’s house  
2K1106 (a third shall also be at the [city] gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards); so you shall keep watch over the palace [from three posts] for defense.  
2K1107 Two units of you, all those who go out [off duty] on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house (temple) of the LORD for [the protection of] the king.  
2K1108 You shall surround the [young] king, each man with weapons in his hand; and whoever comes through the ranks shall be put to death. You are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”  
2K1109 The captains of hundreds acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and each of them took his men who were to come in (on duty) on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out (off duty) on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest.  
2K1110 The priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the LORD.  
2K1111 And the guards stood, each man with weapons in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the temple area, by the altar [in the courtyard] and by the temple [proper], all around the king.  
2K1112 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the Testimony [a copy of the Mosaic Law]; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”  
2K1113 When Athaliah heard the sound of the guards and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people.  
2K1114 When she looked, behold, there stood the [young] king [on the platform] by the pillar, as was customary [on such occasions], and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king; and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing the trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”  
2K1115 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds appointed over the army and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Let her not be put to death in the house (temple) of the LORD.”  
2K1116 So they seized her, and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house (palace), and she was put to death there.  
2K1117 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would be the LORD’S people—also between the king and the people [to be his subjects].  
2K1118 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They utterly smashed his altar and his images to pieces, and they put Mattan the priest of Baal to death in front of the altars. And [Jehoiada] the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.  
2K1119 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the Carites (royal bodyguards), the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought the [young] king down from the house of the LORD, and came by way of the guards’ gate to the king’s house. And [little] Joash sat on the throne of the kings.  
2K1120 So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city [of Jerusalem] was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.  
2K1121 Jehoash (Joash) was seven years old when he became king.  
2K1201 In the seventh year of Jehu [king of Israel], Jehoash became king [over Judah], and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.  
2K1202 Jehoash did right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.  
2K1203 Only the high places were not removed; the people were still sacrificing and burning incense [to the LORD] on the high places [rather than at the temple].  
2K1204 Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money for the dedicated things which is brought into the house of the LORD, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment [for all those bound by vows], and all the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house (temple) of the LORD,  
2K1205 let the priests receive such contributions for themselves, each from his acquaintance; and they shall repair any breach in the house of the LORD, wherever a breach is found.”  
2K1206 But it came about in the twenty-third year of [the reign of] King Jehoash, that the priests still had not repaired the damages of the LORD’S house.  
2K1207 Then King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and the [other] priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the damage of the house (temple)? Now then, do not take any more money from your acquaintances, but turn it all over for [the repair of] the damages of the house.” [You are no longer responsible for this work. I will take it into my own hands.]  
2K1208 So the priests agreed that they would receive no [more] money from the people, nor [be responsible to] repair the damages of the house.  
2K1209 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD; and the priests who guarded the door put in the chest all the money that was brought [by the people] into the house of the LORD.  
2K1210 And whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and tied it in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.  
2K1211 Then they gave the money, which was weighed out into the hands of those who were doing the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house (temple) of the LORD,  
2K1212 and to the masons and stonecutters, and to buy timber and hewn (cut) stone to repair any breach in the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for repairing the house.  
2K1213 However, there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, any gold containers or [other] silver containers, from the money that was brought into the house of the LORD;  
2K1214 but they gave that to those who did the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.  
2K1215 Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hands they placed the money to be paid to those who did the work, for they acted in good faith.  
2K1216 Money from the guilt offerings and money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD [for repairs]; it was for the priests.  
2K1217 Then Hazael king of Aram (Syria) went up, fought against Gath [in Philistia], and captured it. And Hazael resolved to go up to Jerusalem.  
2K1218 So Jehoash the king of Judah took all the sacred things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house (temple) of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Aram; and Hazael departed from Jerusalem.  
2K1219 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K1220 His servants arose and formed a conspiracy [against him] and struck down Joash [in revenge] at the house of Millo, [on the way] that goes down to Silla.  
2K1221 For Jozacar (Jozachar) the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him and he died; and they buried Joash with his fathers in the City of David. Amaziah his son became king in his place.  
2K1301 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.  
2K1302 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; he did not turn from them.  
2K1303 So the anger of the LORD was kindled and burned against Israel, and He handed them over time and again to Hazael the king of Aram (Syria), and of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.  
2K1304 But Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them.  
2K1305 Then the LORD gave Israel a savior [to rescue them and give them peace], so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons (descendants) of Israel lived in their tents as before.  
2K1306 Yet they did not turn from the [idolatrous] sins of the [royal] house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin; but walked in them. And the Asherah [set up by Ahab] also remained standing in Samaria [Israel’s capital].  
2K1307 For he left to Jehoahaz [king of Israel] an army of no more than fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 footmen, for the king of Aram (Ben-hadad) had destroyed them and made them like dust to be trampled.  
2K1308 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, everything that he did and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1309 Jehoahaz slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in Samaria; Joash his son became king in his place.  
2K1310 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash (Joash) the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.  
2K1311 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn away from all the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin; but he walked in them.  
2K1312 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, everything that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1313 Joash slept with his fathers [in death], and Jeroboam [II] sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.  
2K1314 Now Elisha had become sick with the illness by which he would die. And Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, “O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”  
2K1315 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows.  
2K1316 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” And he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.  
2K1317 And he said, “Open the window to the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And Elisha said, “The LORD’S arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram (Syria); for you will strike the Arameans in Aphek until you have destroyed them.”  
2K1318 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped.  
2K1319 So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.”  
2K1320 Elisha died, and they buried him. Now marauding bands of Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year.  
2K1321 And it happened that as a man was being buried [on an open bier], they saw a marauding band [coming]; and they threw the man into Elisha’s grave. But when the [body of the] man [was being let down and] touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.  
2K1322 Hazael the king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.  
2K1323 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned toward them for the sake of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He was unwilling to destroy them, and did not cast them from His presence until now.  
2K1324 Hazael king of Aram (Syria) died; Ben-hadad his son became king in his place.  
2K1325 Then Jehoash (Joash) the son of Jehoahaz recovered from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken from Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times Joash defeated Ben-hadad and recovered the cities of Israel.  
2K1401 In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah became king.  
2K1402 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.  
2K1403 He did right in the sight of the LORD, though not like David his father (ancestor). He acted in accordance with everything that his father Joash had done.  
2K1404 However, the high places were not removed; the people were still sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.  
2K1405 As soon as the kingdom was firmly in Amaziah’s hand, he executed his servants who had killed his father the king.  
2K1406 But he did not put the sons of the murderers to death, in compliance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor shall the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death [only] for his own sin.”  
2K1407 Amaziah killed 10,000 [men] of Edom in the Valley of Salt, and took Sela (rock) by war, and renamed it Joktheel, to this day.  
2K1408 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash (Joash) the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other [in combat].”  
2K1409 Jehoash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The [little] thorn-bush in Lebanon sent word to the [tall] cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son as wife.’ But a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn-bush.  
2K1410 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has lifted you up [in pride]. Enjoy your glory but stay at home; for why should you plunge into misery so that you, even you, would fall [at my hand], and Judah with you?”  
2K1411 But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other [in combat] at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.  
2K1412 Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.  
2K1413 Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah the king of Judah, the son of Jehoash (Joash), the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and broke through the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits (600 feet).  
2K1414 He seized all the gold and silver and all the utensils found in the house (temple) of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house, as well as hostages, and returned to Samaria.  
2K1415 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might and how he fought with Amaziah the king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1416 Jehoash slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam [II] became king in his place.  
2K1417 Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.  
2K1418 The rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K1419 Now a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and Amaziah fled [south] to Lachish; but they sent [men] after him to Lachish and killed him there.  
2K1420 Then they carried him on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the City of David.  
2K1421 And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was [only] sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.  
2K1422 He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king [his father Amaziah] slept with his fathers [in death].  
2K1423 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam [II] the son of Joash (Jehoash) king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty- one years.  
2K1424 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn from all the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam [I] the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.  
2K1425 Jeroboam restored Israel’s border from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah (Dead Sea), in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was from Gath-hepher.  
2K1426 For the LORD saw the affliction (suffering) of Israel as very bitter; there was no one left, bond or free, nor any helper for Israel.  
2K1427 But the LORD had not said that He would blot out the name of Israel from under the heavens, so He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam [II] the son of Joash [king of Israel].  
2K1428 The rest of the acts of Jeroboam [II], all that he did, his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus and Hamath for Israel, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1429 Jeroboam [II] slept with his fathers [in death], even with the kings of Israel. Zechariah his son became king in his place.  
2K1501 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam [II] king of Israel, Azariah (Uzziah) the son of Amaziah king of Judah became king.  
2K1502 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.  
2K1503 He did right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with all that his father Amaziah had done.  
2K1504 Only [the altars on] the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [instead of worshiping God at the temple].  
2K1505 And the LORD struck (afflicted) the king, and he was a leper until the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son was in charge of the household, judging the people of the land.  
2K1506 Now the rest of Azariah’s acts, and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K1507 Azariah slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. His son Jotham became king in his place.  
2K1508 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam [II] became king over Israel in Samaria for six months.  
2K1509 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam [I] the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.  
2K1510 But Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah and struck and killed him in the presence of the people and reigned in his place.  
2K1511 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  
2K1512 This is [the fulfillment of] the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons (descendants) shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.  
2K1513 Shallum the son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah (Azariah) king of Judah, and he reigned one month in Samaria.  
2K1514 For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah and came to Samaria, and struck and killed Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and became king in his place.  
2K1515 The rest of Shallum’s acts, and his conspiracy which he made, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  
2K1516 Then Menahem struck [the town of] Tiphsah and all who were in it and its borders from Tirzah; [he attacked it] because they did not surrender to him; so he struck it and ripped up all the women there who were pregnant.  
2K1517 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi became king over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.  
2K1518 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; for all his days he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.  
2K1519 Pul, [Tiglath-pileser III] king of Assyria, came against the land [of Israel], and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver [as a bribe], so that he might help him to strengthen his control of the kingdom.  
2K1520 Menahem exacted the money from Israel, from all the wealthy, influential men, fifty shekels of silver from each man to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.  
2K1521 Now the rest of Menahem’s acts, and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?  
2K1522 And Menahem slept with his fathers [in death]; his son Pekahiah became king in his place.  
2K1523 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Samaria.  
2K1524 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn from the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam [I] the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.  
2K1525 But Pekah the son of Remaliah, his officer, conspired against Pekahiah and struck him in Samaria, in the citadel of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with Pekah were fifty Gileadites. So he killed Pekahiah and became king in his place.  
2K1526 Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, all that he did, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  
2K1527 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah became king over Israel, and reigned twenty years in Samaria.  
2K1528 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn from the [idolatrous] sins of Jeroboam [I] the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin.  
2K1529 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of [the tribe of] Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria.  
2K1530 Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against Pekah the son of Remaliah [of Israel]; he struck and killed him, and became king in his place in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah [king of Judah].  
2K1531 Now the rest of Pekah’s acts, and everything that he did, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of Israel’s Kings.  
2K1532 In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah became king.  
2K1533 When he was twenty-five years old, he became king [over Judah], and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.  
2K1534 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his father Uzziah had done.  
2K1535 Only [the altars on] the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [rather than in the temple]. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD.  
2K1536 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of Judah’s Kings?  
2K1537 In those days the LORD began sending Rezin the king of Aram (Syria) and [Israel’s king] Pekah the son of Remaliah against Judah.  
2K1538 Jotham slept with his fathers [in death], and was buried with them in the City of David his father (ancestor). Ahaz his son became king in his place.  
2K1601 In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, became king.  
2K1602 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father (ancestor) David had done.  
2K1603 Instead he walked in the way of the [idolatrous] kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire [as a human sacrifice], in accordance with the repulsive [and idolatrous] practices of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.  
2K1604 He also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.  
2K1605 Then Rezin the king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to wage war. They besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome and conquer him.  
2K1606 At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath [in Edom] for Aram, and drove the Jews away from it. The Arameans came to Elath, and live there to this day.  
2K1607 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and son. Come up and rescue me from the hand of the kings of Aram and of Israel, who are rising up against me.”  
2K1608 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent a gift to the king of Assyria.  
2K1609 So the king of Assyria listened to him; and he went up against Damascus and captured it, and carried its people away into exile to Kir, and put Rezin [king of Aram] to death.  
2K1610 Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser the king of Assyria, and saw the pagan altar which was at Damascus. Then King Ahaz sent a model of the altar to Urijah the priest along with a [detailed] pattern for all its construction.  
2K1611 So Urijah the priest built an altar; in accordance with everything that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, that is how Urijah the priest made it before King Ahaz returned from Damascus.  
2K1612 When the king came from Damascus, he saw the altar; then the king approached the altar and offered [sacrifices] on it,  
2K1613 and burned his burnt offering and his grain offering, and poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar.  
2K1614 He brought the bronze altar, which was before the LORD, from the front of the house (temple), from between the [new] altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the [new] altar.  
2K1615 Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “Upon the great [new] altar, burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land and their grain offering and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on the new altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice. But the [old] bronze altar shall be kept for me to use to examine the sacrifices.”  
2K1616 Urijah the priest acted in accordance with everything that King Ahaz commanded.  
2K1617 Then King Ahaz cut away the frames of the basin stands [in the temple], and removed the basin from [each of] them; and he took down the [large] Sea from the bronze oxen which were under it, and put it on a plastered stone floor.  
2K1618 He removed from the house of the LORD the covered way for the Sabbath which they had built in the house, and the outer entrance of the king, because of the king of Assyria [who might confiscate them].  
2K1619 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K1620 So Ahaz slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with his fathers in the City of David; and his son Hezekiah became king in his place.  
2K1701 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned for nine years.  
2K1702 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel who came before him.  
2K1703 Shalmaneser [V] king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute (money).  
2K1704 But the king of Assyria discovered a conspiracy in Hoshea, who sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria arrested him and bound him in prison.  
2K1705 Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land [of Israel] and went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years.  
2K1706 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried [the people of] Israel into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and in Habor, by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.  
2K1707 Now this came about because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared [and worshiped] other gods  
2K1708 and walked in the customs of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons (descendants) of Israel, and in the pagan customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.  
2K1709 The Israelites ascribed things to the LORD their God which were not true. They built for themselves high places [of worship] in all their towns, from [the lonely] lookout tower to the [populous] fortified city.  
2K1710 They set up for themselves sacred pillars (memorial stones) and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree.  
2K1711 There they burned incense on all the high places, just as the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had deported before them; and they did evil and contemptible things, provoking the LORD [to anger].  
2K1712 And they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”  
2K1713 Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, in accordance with all the Law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.”  
2K1714 However they did not listen, but stiffened their necks as did their fathers who did not believe (trust in, rely on, remain steadfast to) the LORD their God.  
2K1715 They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers, as well as His warnings that he gave them. And they followed vanity [that is, false gods, idols] and became vain (empty-headed). They followed the [pagan practices of the] nations which surrounded them, although the LORD had commanded that they were not to do as they did.  
2K1716 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves cast images of two calves; and they made an Asherah [idol] and worshiped all the [starry] host of heaven and served Baal.  
2K1717 They made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire [as human sacrifices], and used divination [to foretell the future] and enchantments; and they sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.  
2K1718 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight; none [of the tribes] was left except the tribe of Judah.  
2K1719 Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God either, but walked in the customs which Israel introduced.  
2K1720 So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel (Jacob) and [repeatedly] afflicted them and handed them over to plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.  
2K1721 When He had torn Israel from the [royal] house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel away from following the LORD and made them commit a great sin.  
2K1722 For the Israelites walked in all the [idolatrous] sins which Jeroboam committed; they did not turn from them  
2K1723 until the LORD removed Israel from His sight, just as He had foretold through all His servants the prophets. So Israel went into exile from their own land to Assyria to this day [the date of this writing].  
2K1724 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons (people) of Israel. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.  
2K1725 Now when they began to live there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.  
2K1726 So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations whom you have sent into exile and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so He has sent lions among them, and they are killing them because they do not know the manner of [worship demanded by] the god of the land.”  
2K1727 Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Take back [to Samaria] one of the priests whom you brought from there, and have him go and live there; and have him teach the people the custom of the god of the land.”  
2K1728 So one of the priests whom they had exiled from Samaria came [back] and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear [and worship] the LORD.  
2K1729 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses (shrines) of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities where they lived.  
2K1730 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,  
2K1731 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.  
2K1732 They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.  
2K1733 They feared the LORD, yet served their own gods, following the custom of the nations from among whom they had been sent into exile.  
2K1734 To this day they act in accordance with their former [pagan] customs: they do not [really] fear the LORD, nor do they obey their statutes and ordinances, nor the law, nor the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons (descendants) of Jacob, whom He named Israel;  
2K1735 with whom the LORD had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them.  
2K1736 But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.  
2K1737 The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment which He wrote for you [by the hand of Moses], you shall observe and do forever. You shall not fear (worship, serve) other gods.  
2K1738 The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget; you shall not fear other gods.  
2K1739 But the LORD your God you shall fear [and worship]; then He will rescue you from the hands of all your enemies.”  
2K1740 However, they did not listen, but they acted in accordance with their former custom.  
2K1741 So these nations [superficially] feared the LORD; they also served their idols, as did their children and their children’s children, just as their fathers did, so do they to this day [the date of this writing].  
2K1801 Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.  
2K1802 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.  
2K1803 Hezekiah did right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that David his father (ancestor) had done.  
2K1804 He removed the high places [of pagan worship], broke down the images (memorial stones) and cut down the Asherim. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the Israelites had burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan [a bronze sculpture].  
2K1805 Hezekiah trusted in and relied confidently on the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.  
2K1806 For he clung to the LORD; he did not turn away from [faithfully] following Him, but he kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.  
2K1807 And the LORD was with Hezekiah; he was successful wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to serve him.  
2K1808 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza [the most distant city] and its borders, from the [isolated] lookout tower to the [populous] fortified city.  
2K1809 Now in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh of Hoshea the son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser the king of Assyria went up against Samaria and besieged it.  
2K1810 At the end of three years they captured it; in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Israel, Samaria was taken.  
2K1811 Then the king of Assyria sent Israel into exile to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of [the city of] Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,  
2K1812 because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but broke His covenant, everything that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would not listen nor do it.  
2K1813 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria went up against all the fortified cities of Judah [except Jerusalem] and captured them.  
2K1814 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.” So the king of Assyria imposed on Hezekiah king of Judah [a tribute tax of] three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.  
2K1815 Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house (temple) of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king’s house (palace).  
2K1816 At that time Hezekiah cut away the gold framework from the doors of the temple of the LORD and from the doorposts which he had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.  
2K1817 Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan and the Rab-saris and the Rabshakeh [his highest officials] with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem, and when they went up and arrived, they stood by the aqueduct of the upper pool, which is on the road of the Fuller’s Field.  
2K1818 When they called for the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the [king’s] household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the secretary went out to [meet] them.  
2K1819 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What is [the reason for] this confidence that you have?  
2K1820 You say (but they are only empty words) ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?  
2K1821 Now pay attention: you are relying on Egypt, on that staff of crushed reed; if a man leans on it, it will only go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust and rely on him.  
2K1822 But if you tell me, ‘We trust in and rely on the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, and has said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship [only] before this altar in Jerusalem’?  
2K1823 Now then, make a bargain with my lord the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if on your part you can put riders on them.  
2K1824 How then can you drive back even one official of the least of my master’s servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?  
2K1825 Now have I come up against this place to destroy it without the LORD’S approval? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”  
2K1826 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic (Syrian) language, because we understand it; and do not speak with us in the Judean (Hebrew) language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”  
2K1827 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to say these things? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, [who are doomed by the siege] to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine along with you?”  
2K1828 Then the Rabshakeh stood and shouted out with a loud voice in Judean (Hebrew), “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.  
2K1829 Thus says the king, ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you from my hand;  
2K1830 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in and rely on the LORD, saying, “The LORD will certainly rescue us, and this city [of Jerusalem] will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  
2K1831 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: “Surrender to me and come out to [meet] me, and every man may eat from his own vine and fig tree, and every man may drink the waters of his own well,  
2K1832 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, so that you may live and not die.” Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads and incites you, saying, “The LORD will rescue us!”  
2K1833 Has any one of the gods of the nations ever rescued his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?  
2K1834 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad [in Aram]? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah [in the valley of the Euphrates]? Have they rescued Samaria (Israel’s capital) from my hand?  
2K1835 Who among all the gods of the lands have rescued their lands from my hand, that the LORD would rescue Jerusalem from my hand?’”  
2K1836 But the people kept silent and did not answer him, for the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”  
2K1837 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the [royal] household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the secretary, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn [in grief and despair] and told him what the Rabshakeh had said.  
2K1901 When king Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and he covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house (temple) of the LORD.  
2K1902 Then he sent Eliakim who was in charge of his household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.  
2K1903 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This is a day of distress and anxiety, of punishment and humiliation; for children have come to [the time of their] birth and there is no strength to rescue them.  
2K1904 It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. So offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left [in Judah].’”  
2K1905 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.  
2K1906 Isaiah said to them, “Say this to your master: ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled (blasphemed) Me.  
2K1907 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’”  
2K1908 So the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah [a fortified city of Judah]; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.  
2K1909 When the king heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, “Behold, he has come out to make war against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,  
2K1910 “Say this to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by saying, “Jerusalem shall not be handed over to the king of Assyria.”  
2K1911 Listen, you have heard what the Assyrian kings have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be spared?  
2K1912 Did the gods of the nations whom my forefathers destroyed rescue them—Gozan and Haran [of Mesopotamia] and Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?  
2K1913 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad [of northern Syria], the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”  
2K1914 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house (temple) of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.  
2K1915 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim [of the ark in the temple], You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth.  
2K1916 O LORD, bend down Your ear and hear; LORD, open Your eyes and see; hear the [taunting] words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to taunt and defy the living God.  
2K1917 It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have devastated the nations and their lands  
2K1918 and have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not [real] gods but [only] the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they [could destroy them and] have destroyed them.  
2K1919 Now, O LORD our God, please, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know [without any doubt] that You alone, O LORD, are God.”  
2K1920 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘I have heard your prayer to Me regarding Sennacherib king of Assyria.’  
2K1921 This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: ‘The virgin daughter of Zion Has despised you and mocked you; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind you!  
2K1922 ‘Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!  
2K1923 ‘Through your messengers you have taunted and defied the Lord, And have said [boastfully], “With my many chariots I came up to the heights of the mountains, To the remotest parts of Lebanon; I cut down its tall cedar trees and its choicest cypress trees. I entered its most distant lodging, its densest forest.  
2K1924 “I dug wells and drank foreign waters, And with the sole of my feet I dried up All the rivers of [the Lower Nile of] Egypt.”  
2K1925 ‘Have you not heard [asks the God of Israel]? Long ago I did it; From ancient times I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, That you [king of Assyria] should [be My instrument to] turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.  
2K1926 ‘Therefore their inhabitants were powerless, They were shattered [in spirit] and put to shame; They were like plants of the field, the green herb, As grass on the housetops is scorched before it is grown up.  
2K1927 ‘But I [the LORD] know your sitting down [O Sennacherib], Your going out, your coming in, And your raging against Me.  
2K1928 ‘Because of your raging against Me, And because your arrogance and complacency have come up to My ears, I will put My hook in your nose, And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back [to Assyria] by the way that you came.  
2K1929 ‘Then this shall be the sign [of these things] to you [Hezekiah]: this year you will eat what grows of itself, in the second year what springs up voluntarily, and in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.  
2K1930 The survivors who remain of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.  
2K1931 For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem, and [a band of] survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this.  
2K1932 ‘Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: “He will not come to this city [Jerusalem] nor shoot an arrow there; nor will he come before it with a shield nor throw up a siege ramp against it.  
2K1933 By the way that he came, by the same way he will return, and he will not come into this city,”’ declares the LORD.  
2K1934 ‘For I will protect this city to save it, for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’”  
2K1935 Then it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down 185,000 [men] in the camp of the Assyrians; when the survivors got up early in the morning, behold, all [185,000] of them were dead.  
2K1936 So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and returned home, and lived at Nineveh.  
2K1937 It came about as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with a sword; and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.  
2K2001 In those days [when Sennacherib first invaded Judah] Hezekiah became deathly ill. The prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not recover.’”  
2K2002 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying,  
2K2003 “Please, O LORD, remember now [with compassion] how I have walked before You in faithfulness and truth and with a whole heart [entirely devoted to You], and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.  
2K2004 Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle courtyard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,  
2K2005 “Go back and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father (ancestor): “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. Behold, I am healing you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.  
2K2006 I will add fifteen years to your life and save you and this city [Jerusalem] from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’”  
2K2007 Then Isaiah said, “Bring a cake of figs. And they brought it and placed it on the [painful] inflammation, and he recovered.”  
2K2008 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will [completely] heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”  
2K2009 Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from the LORD, that He will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow [indicating the time of day] go forward ten steps, or go backward ten steps?”  
2K2010 Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to go forward ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps.”  
2K2011 So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow on the steps ten steps backward by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.  
2K2012 At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  
2K2013 Hezekiah listened to and welcomed them and [foolishly] showed them all his treasure house—the silver and gold and spices and precious oil and his armory and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house (palace) nor in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.  
2K2014 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say [that would cause you to do this for them]? From where have they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.”  
2K2015 Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house (palace). There is nothing in my treasuries that I have not shown them.”  
2K2016 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD.  
2K2017 ‘Behold, the time is coming when everything that is in your house, and that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD.  
2K2018 ‘And some of your sons (descendants) who will be born to you will be taken away [as captives]; and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”  
2K2019 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not good, if [at least] there will be peace and security in my lifetime?”  
2K2020 The rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the [Siloam] pool and the aqueduct and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K2021 Hezekiah slept with his fathers [in death], and Manasseh his son became king in his place.  
2K2101 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.  
2K2102 He did [great] evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with the [idolatrous] repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons (descendants) of Israel.  
2K2103 For he rebuilt the high places [for the worship of pagan gods] which his father Hezekiah had destroyed; and he set up altars for Baal and made an [image of] Asherah, just as Ahab king of Israel had done, and he worshiped all the [starry] host of heaven and served them.  
2K2104 And he built [pagan] altars in the house (temple) of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My Name (Presence).”  
2K2105 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD.  
2K2106 He made his son pass through the fire and burned him [as an offering to Molech]; he practiced witchcraft and divination, and dealt with mediums and soothsayers. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.  
2K2107 He made a carved image of the [goddess] Asherah and set it up in the house (temple), of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this house and in Jerusalem [in the tribe of Judah], which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My Name forever.  
2K2108 And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will be careful to act in accordance with everything that I have commanded them, and with all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.”  
2K2109 But they did not listen; and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons (descendants) of Israel.  
2K2110 Now the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying,  
2K2111 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these repulsive acts, having done more evil than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;  
2K2112 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing such catastrophe on Jerusalem and Judah, that everyone who hears of it, both of his ears will ring [from the shock].  
2K2113 I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem clean just as one wipes a [dirty] bowl clean, wiping it and turning it upside down.  
2K2114 I will abandon the remnant (remainder) of My inheritance and hand them over to their enemies; and they will become plunder and spoil to all their enemies,  
2K2115 because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger, since the day their fathers came from Egypt to this day.’”  
2K2116 Moreover, Manasseh shed a very great quantity of innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, by doing evil in the sight of the LORD.  
2K2117 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, everything that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K2118 Manasseh slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon became king in his place.  
2K2119 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.  
2K2120 He also did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done.  
2K2121 He walked in all the [evil] ways that his father had walked; and he served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them;  
2K2122 he abandoned the LORD, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.  
2K2123 But the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his own house (palace).  
2K2124 Then the people of the land [of Judah] killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.  
2K2125 Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K2126 He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and his son Josiah became king in his place.  
2K2201 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.  
2K2202 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father (ancestor) David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.  
2K2203 In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe to the house of the LORD, saying,  
2K2204 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count the entire amount of money brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.  
2K2205 And have them deliver it to the hands of the workmen who have been appointed over the house of the LORD, and have them give it to the workmen who are in the house of the LORD to repair the damages of the house—  
2K2206 that is, [have them give the money] to the carpenters and the builders and the masons—and to buy timber and cut stones to repair the house (temple).  
2K2207 However, no accounting shall be required of them for the money placed in their hands, because they act faithfully.”  
2K2208 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house (temple) of the LORD.” Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.  
2K2209 Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to him: “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have placed it in the hands of the workmen who have been appointed over the house of the LORD.”  
2K2210 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it [aloud] before the king.  
2K2211 Now when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.  
2K2212 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king, saying,  
2K2213 “Go, inquire of the LORD for my sake and for the sake of the people and for all Judah concerning the words of this book which has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD which has been kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to and obeyed the words of this book, so as to act in accordance with everything that is written concerning us.”  
2K2214 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (she was living in Jerusalem, in the Second Quarter [the new part of the city]); and they spoke to her.  
2K2215 She said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,  
2K2216 thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am bringing a catastrophe on this place (Judah) and on its inhabitants, [according to] all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.  
2K2217 Because they have abandoned (rejected) Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it will not be quenched.”’  
2K2218 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, you shall say this to him: ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard,  
2K2219 because your heart was tender (receptive, penitent) and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I said against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,” declares the LORD.  
2K2220 “Therefore, behold, [King Josiah,] I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be taken to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil (catastrophe) which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.  
2K2301 King Josiah sent word and they brought to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.  
2K2302 The king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house (temple) of the LORD.  
2K2303 The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.  
2K2304 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the doorkeepers to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles made for Baal, for [the goddess] Asherah, and for all the [starry] host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel [where Israel’s idolatry began].  
2K2305 He got rid of the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense [to pagan gods] in the high places in Judah’s cities and all around Jerusalem—also those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations [of the zodiac], and to all the [starry] host of heaven.  
2K2306 Josiah brought out the Asherah from the house of the LORD to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, and burned it there, and ground it to dust, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people [who had sacrificed to it].  
2K2307 And he tore down the houses of the [male] cult prostitutes, which were at the house (temple) of the LORD, where the women were weaving [tent] hangings for the Asherah [shrines].  
2K2308 Then Josiah brought all the [idolatrous] priests from the cities of Judah, and desecrated the high places where the priests had burned incense [to idols], from Geba to Beersheba, [that is, north to south]; and he tore down the high places of the gates which were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on one’s left at the city gate.  
2K2309 However, the priests of the high places were not allowed to go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem [to serve], but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.  
2K2310 Josiah also defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom), so that no man could make his son or his daughter pass through the fire [as a burnt offering] for Molech.  
2K2311 And he got rid of the horses that the kings of Judah had given [in worship] to the sun at the entrance of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, which was in the annex; and he burned the chariots of the sun.  
2K2312 The altars [dedicated to the starry host of heaven] which were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD, the king tore down; and he smashed them there and threw their dust into the Brook Kidron.  
2K2313 The king desecrated the high places which were opposite [east of] Jerusalem, which were on the right (south) of the mount of corruption which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the repulsiveness of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the repulsiveness of Moab, and for Milcom the repulsiveness of the sons (descendants) of Ammon.  
2K2314 He broke in pieces the sacred pillars (cultic memorial stones, images) and cut down the Asherim and replaced them with human bones [to desecrate the places forever].  
2K2315 Further, the altar that was at Bethel, the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he tore down. Then he demolished its stones, ground them to dust, and burned the Asherah.  
2K2316 And as Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent men and had the bones taken from the graves, and burned them on the altar and [thereby] desecrated it, in accordance with the word of the LORD which the man of God prophesied, who proclaimed these things [about this altar, naming Josiah before he was born].  
2K2317 Then Josiah said, “What is this monument (gravestone) that I see?” The men of the city told him, “It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done to the altar of Bethel.”  
2K2318 He said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.  
2K2319 Josiah also removed all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made provoking the LORD [to anger]; and he did to them just as he had done [to those] in Bethel.  
2K2320 All the priests of the high places who were there he slaughtered on the altars, and burned human bones on them [to desecrate the places forever]. Then he returned to Jerusalem.  
2K2321 Then the king commanded all the people, saying, “Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.”  
2K2322 Indeed, such a Passover as this had not been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah.  
2K2323 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover to the LORD was kept in Jerusalem.  
2K2324 Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the soothsayers and the teraphim (household gods) and the idols and all the repulsive things that were seen in Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he might fulfill the words of the law written in the book which Hilkiah the priest found in the house (temple) of the LORD.  
2K2325 Before him there was no king like Josiah who turned to the LORD with all his heart and all his soul and all his might, in accordance with all the Law of Moses; nor did anyone like him arise after him.  
2K2326 However, the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath which was kindled against Judah because of all the despicable acts with which Manasseh had provoked Him.  
2K2327 The LORD said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight, just as I have removed Israel; and will reject this city which I have chosen, this Jerusalem, and the house, of which I said, ‘My Name [and the pledge of My Presence] shall be there.’”  
2K2328 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K2329 In his days Pharaoh Neco (Necho) king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates [to help him fight Nabopolassar the king of Babylon]. King Josiah went out to meet him, but Pharaoh killed Josiah at Megiddo when he saw him.  
2K2330 Josiah’s servants carried his dead body in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him and made him king in his father’s place.  
2K2331 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned for [only] three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.  
2K2332 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his forefathers had done.  
2K2333 Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he would not reign in Jerusalem, and imposed a fine on the land of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.  
2K2334 Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt, where he died.  
2K2335 Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land to give the money as Pharaoh commanded. He collected the silver and gold from the people of the land, from everyone according to his assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.  
2K2336 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.  
2K2337 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his forefathers had done.  
2K2401 In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and rebelled against him.  
2K2402 The LORD sent marauding bands of Chaldeans, Arameans (Syrians), Moabites, and Ammonites against Jehoiakim. And He sent them against Judah to destroy it, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke through His servants the prophets.  
2K2403 Surely this came on Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of [King] Manasseh, in accordance with everything that he had done,  
2K2404 and also for the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the LORD would not pardon it.  
2K2405 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and everything that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  
2K2406 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers [in death], and his son Jehoiachin became king in his place.  
2K2407 The king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken everything that belonged to the king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.  
2K2408 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned [only] three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.  
2K2409 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his father had done.  
2K2410 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.  
2K2411 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it.  
2K2412 Jehoiachin king of Judah surrendered to the king of Babylon, he and his mother and his servants and his captains and his [palace] officials. So the king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his [own] reign.  
2K2413 He carried out of there (Jerusalem) all the treasures of the house (temple) of the LORD, and the treasures of the house (palace) of the king, and cut in pieces all the articles of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, just as the LORD had said.  
2K2414 He led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the brave men, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.  
2K2415 Nebuchadnezzar led Jehoiachin away into exile to Babylon; also he took the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his officials and the leading men of the land [including Ezekiel] as exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon.  
2K2416 And the king of Babylon brought as exiles to Babylon all the brave men, seven thousand [of them], and the craftsmen and the smiths, a thousand [of them], all strong and fit for war.  
2K2417 Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.  
2K2418 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.  
2K2419 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that Jehoiakim had done.  
2K2420 Because of the anger of the LORD these things happened in Jerusalem and Judah, and it [finally] came to the point that He cast them from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.  
2K2501 Now in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he with all his army, against Jerusalem, and camped against it and built siege works surrounding it.  
2K2502 The city came under siege [for nearly two years] until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.  
2K2503 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine [caused by the siege] was severe in the city; there was no food for the people of the land.  
2K2504 Then the city [wall] was broken into [and conquered]; all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans (Babylonians) were all around the city. And they went by way of the Arabah (the plain of the Jordan).  
2K2505 The army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. Then his entire army was dispersed from him.  
2K2506 So they seized the king (Zedekiah) and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah [on the Orontes River], and sentence was passed on him.  
2K2507 They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him [hand and foot] with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.  
2K2508 On the seventh day of the fifth month in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.  
2K2509 He burned the house (temple) of the LORD, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.  
2K2510 All the army of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who were with the captain of the bodyguard tore down the walls around Jerusalem.  
2K2511 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard deported [into exile] the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had joined the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.  
2K2512 But the captain of the bodyguard left some of the unimportant and poorest people of the land to be vineyard workers and farmers.  
2K2513 Now the Chaldeans (Babylonians) smashed the bronze pillars which were in the house of the LORD and their bases and the bronze sea (large basin) which were in the house of the LORD, and carried the bronze to Babylon.  
2K2514 They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the bronze articles which were used in the temple service,  
2K2515 the captain of the bodyguard also took away the firepans and basins, anything made of fine gold and anything made of fine silver.  
2K2516 The two pillars, the one sea (large basin), and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these articles was incalculable.  
2K2517 The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits (27 ft.), and a capital of bronze was on top of it. The height of the capital was three cubits (4.5 ft.); a network (lattice work) and pomegranates around the capital were all of bronze. And the second pillar had the same as these, with a network.  
2K2518 The captain of the bodyguard took [captive] Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers [of the temple].  
2K2519 And from the city [of Jerusalem] he took an officer who was in command of the men of war, and five men from the king’s personal advisors who were found in the city, and the scribe of the captain of the army who mustered the people of the land [for military service] and sixty men from the people of the land who were found in the city.  
2K2520 Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.  
2K2521 Then the king of Babylon struck them down and killed them at Riblah in the land of Hamath [north of Damascus]. So Judah was taken into exile from its land.  
2K2522 Now over the people whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left in the land of Judah, he appointed [as governor] Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.  
2K2523 When all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite.  
2K2524 Gedaliah swore [an oath] to them and their men, and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants (officials) of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”  
2K2525 But in the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family [who had a claim to be governor], came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah and the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.  
2K2526 Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces set out and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans (Babylonians).  
2K2527 Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, showed favor to Jehoiachin king of Judah and released him from prison;  
2K2528 and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the [other] kings [of captive peoples] who were with him in Babylon.  
2K2529 Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes [for palace garments] and he dined regularly in the king’s presence for the remainder of his life;  
2K2530 and his allowance, a continual one, was given to him by the king (Evil-meridach), a portion every day, for the rest of his life.  
1X0101 Adam [his genealogical line], Seth, Enosh,  
1X0102 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,  
1X0103 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,  
1X0104 Noah, [and his sons] Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  
1X0105 The sons (descendants) of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.  
1X0106 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah.  
1X0107 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.  
1X0108 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.  
1X0109 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.  
1X0110 Cush became the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one upon the earth.  
1X0111 Mizraim became the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh,  
1X0112 Pathrus, and Casluh, from whom came the Philistines, and Caphtor.  
1X0113 Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,  
1X0114 the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,  
1X0115 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,  
1X0116 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.  
1X0117 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.  
1X0118 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.  
1X0119 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because in his days [the population of] the earth was divided [according to its languages], and his brother’s name was Joktan.  
1X0120 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,  
1X0121 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,  
1X0122 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,  
1X0123 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.  
1X0124 Shem [his genealogical line], Arpachshad, Shelah,  
1X0125 Eber, Peleg, Reu,  
1X0126 Serug, Nahor, Terah,  
1X0127 Abram, the same as Abraham.  
1X0128 The sons of Abraham: Isaac [by his wife Sarah] and Ishmael [by Hagar her maid].  
1X0129 These are their descendants: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,  
1X0130 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,  
1X0131 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.  
1X0132 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.  
1X0133 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons [and grandsons] of Keturah.  
1X0134 Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel (Jacob).  
1X0135 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.  
1X0136 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.  
1X0137 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.  
1X0138 The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.  
1X0139 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.  
1X0140 The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.  
1X0141 The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.  
1X0142 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.  
1X0143 These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob): Bela the son of Beor; the name of his city was Dinhabah.  
1X0144 When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place.  
1X0145 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place.  
1X0146 When Husham died, Hadad [I of Edom] the son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, became king in his place; the name of his city was Avith.  
1X0147 When Hadad [I] died, Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place.  
1X0148 When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth on the River [Euphrates] became king in his place.  
1X0149 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place.  
1X0150 When Baal-hanan died, Hadad [II] became king in his place; the name of his city was Pai; his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.  
1X0151 Hadad died also. The chiefs of Edom were: chiefs Timna, Aliah, Jetheth,  
1X0152 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,  
1X0153 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,  
1X0154 Magdiel, and Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.  
1X0201 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,  
1X0202 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.  
1X0203 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; the three were born to him by Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s eldest, was evil in the LORD’S sight, and He put him to death.  
1X0204 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah’s sons were five in all.  
1X0205 The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.  
1X0206 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.  
1X0207 The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who violated the ban [by taking things from Jericho that had been banned].  
1X0208 The son of Ethan: Azariah.  
1X0209 The sons of Hezron who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai [that is, Caleb].  
1X0210 Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, leader of the sons of Judah.  
1X0211 Nahshon became the father of Salma, Salma became the father of Boaz,  
1X0212 Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse.  
1X0213 Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,  
1X0214   Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,   
1X0215 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.  
1X0216 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.  
1X0217 Abigail gave birth to Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.  
1X0218 And Caleb the son of Hezron had sons by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. Azubah’s sons were: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.  
1X0219 Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.  
1X0220 Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel [the skillful craftsman who made the furnishings of the tabernacle].  
1X0221 Later, when Hezron was sixty years old, he married the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, and she bore him Segub.  
1X0222 Segub became the father of Jair, who [later] had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.  
1X0223 But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, with Kenath and its villages, sixty towns in all. All these were the sons (descendants) of Machir, the father of Gilead.  
1X0224 After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron’s wife, bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.  
1X0225 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron: Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.  
1X0226 Jerahmeel had another wife, named Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.  
1X0227 The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were: Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.  
1X0228 The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.  
1X0229 The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail; she bore him Ahban and Molid.  
1X0230 The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. Seled died childless.  
1X0231 The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.  
1X0232 The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died childless.  
1X0233 The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons (descendants) of Jerahmeel.  
1X0234 Sheshan had no sons—only daughters. But Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.  
1X0235 So Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as a wife; she bore him Attai.  
1X0236 Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad.  
1X0237 Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed.  
1X0238 Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah.  
1X0239 Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah.  
1X0240 Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum.  
1X0241 Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.  
1X0242 The sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his firstborn was the father of Ziph; and his son Mareshah was the father of Hebron.  
1X0243 The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.  
1X0244 Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. And Rekem became the father of Shammai.  
1X0245 The son of Shammai was Maon; Maon became the father of Bethzur.  
1X0246 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, gave birth to Haran, Moza, and Gazez; Haran became the father of Gazez.  
1X0247 The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.  
1X0248 Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah.  
1X0249 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah and Sheva the father of Machbena and of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.  
1X0250 These were the sons (descendants) of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,  
1X0251 Salma the father of Bethlehem and Hareph the father of Beth-gader.  
1X0252 Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had [other] sons (descendants): Haroeh, half of the Manahathites [in Judah],  
1X0253 and the families of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.  
1X0254 The sons (descendants) of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.  
1X0255 The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.  
1X0301 These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; second, Daniel (Chileab), by Abigail the Carmelitess;  
1X0302 third, Absalom the son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith;  
1X0303 fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.  
1X0304 These six were born to David in Hebron; he reigned there seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.  
1X0305 These were born to David in Jerusalem: Shimea (Shammua), Shobab, Nathan, Solomon—four by Bath-shua (Bathsheba) daughter of Ammiel (Eliam);  
1X0306 then Ibhar, Elishama (Elishua), Eliphelet (Elpelet),  
1X0307 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,  
1X0308 Elishama, Eliada (Beeliada), and Eliphelet—nine in all.  
1X0309 All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.  
1X0310 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam. Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,  
1X0311 Joram (Jehoram) his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,  
1X0312 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,  
1X0313 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,  
1X0314 Amon his son, Josiah his son.  
1X0315 The sons of Josiah: firstborn, Johanan; second, Jehoiakim (Eliakim); third, Zedekiah; fourth, Shallum (Jehoahaz).  
1X0316 The sons (descendants) of Jehoiakim: Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) his son, Zedekiah his son.  
1X0317 The sons (descendants) of Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) the prisoner: Shealtiel his son,  
1X0318 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.  
1X0319 The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister;  
1X0320 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—five in all.  
1X0321 The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.  
1X0322 The sons (descendants) of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all.  
1X0323 The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three in all.  
1X0324 The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.  
1X0401 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.  
1X0402 Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath, and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.  
1X0403 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi.  
1X0404 Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the eldest of Ephrathah (Ephrath), the father of Bethlehem.  
1X0405 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah.  
1X0406 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were Naarah’s sons.  
1X0407 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.  
1X0408 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.  
1X0409 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I gave birth to him in pain.”  
1X0410 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.  
1X0411 Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, the father of Eshton.  
1X0412 Eshton became the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir- nahash. These are the men of Recah.  
1X0413 The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.  
1X0414 Meonothai became the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge-harashim [the Valley of Craftsmen, so named] because they were craftsmen.  
1X0415 The sons of Caleb [Joshua’s companion] the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.  
1X0416 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.  
1X0417 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithia daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took: she conceived and gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.  
1X0418 Mered’s Jewish wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.  
1X0419 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were: the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.  
1X0420 The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.  
1X0421 The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea;  
1X0422 and Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi- lehem. These are ancient words (genealogical records).  
1X0423 These were the potters and those who lived [among plantations and hedges] at Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king for his work.  
1X0424 The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul;  
1X0425 Shallum was Shaul’s son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.  
1X0426 The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.  
1X0427 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many sons, neither did all their family multiply like the sons of Judah.  
1X0428 They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,  
1X0429 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,  
1X0430 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,  
1X0431 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.  
1X0432 These were their villages: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five cities—  
1X0433 and all their villages that were around these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they have their genealogical record.  
1X0434 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah,  
1X0435 Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,  
1X0436 also Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,  
1X0437 Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;  
1X0438 these mentioned by name were leaders in their families; and their fathers’ houses increased greatly [so they needed more land].  
1X0439 So they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.  
1X0440 They found rich, good pasture, and the [cleared] land was wide, quiet, and peaceful; for those who had lived there previously came from Ham [and had left it a better place for those who came after them].  
1X0441 These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and they attacked their tents and the Meunites (foreigners) who were found there, and utterly destroyed them to this day; and they settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks.  
1X0442 From them, from the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir, with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, as their leaders.  
1X0443 They destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and they have lived there to this day (the date of this writing).  
1X0501 Now [we come to] the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—for Reuben was the eldest, but because he defiled his father’s bed [with Bilhah his father’s concubine], his birthright was given to [Manasseh and Ephraim] the sons of Joseph [the favorite] son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.  
1X0502 Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came [David] the leader [and eventually the Messiah], yet the birthright was Joseph’s—  
1X0503 the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.  
1X0504 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,  
1X0505 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,  
1X0506 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a leader of the tribe of Reuben.  
1X0507 And his brothers (relatives) by their families, in the genealogy of their generations, were the chief Jeiel, and Zechariah,  
1X0508 Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal-meon.  
1X0509 To the east Bela settled as far as the entrance into the desert from the river Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead.  
1X0510 In the days of King Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hands; and they lived in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.  
1X0511 The sons of Gad lived opposite them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah:  
1X0512 Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.  
1X0513 Their relatives from the households of their fathers: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.  
1X0514 These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;  
1X0515 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief in their fathers’ households.  
1X0516 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the [surrounding] pasture lands of Sharon, as far as their borders.  
1X0517 All these were enrolled in the genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam [II] king of Israel.  
1X0518 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—valiant men able to bear shield and sword, and to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war—were 44,760 who went to war.  
1X0519 And these Israelites, [on the east side of the Jordan River] made war with the Hagrites [a tribe of northern Arabia], Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.  
1X0520 They were given help against them, and the Hagrites were handed over to them, and all who were allied with them; for they cried out to God [for help] in the battle; and He granted their entreaty because they relied on and trusted in Him.  
1X0521 These Israelites took away their livestock: their 50,000 camels, and 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000 people.  
1X0522 For a great number fell mortally wounded, because the battle was of God. And these Israelites settled in their territory until the exile [by Assyria more than five centuries later].  
1X0523 Now the sons (people) of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; their settlements spread from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon.  
1X0524 These were the heads of their fathers’ households: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, warriors of valor [willing and able to encounter danger], famous men, and heads of the households of their fathers.  
1X0525 But they acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the prostitute with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.  
1X0526 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, [that is,] the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile—the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, [where they remain] to this day.  
1X0601 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.  
1X0602 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.  
1X0603 The sons of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
1X0604 Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,  
1X0605 and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,  
1X0606 and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,  
1X0607 Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,  
1X0608 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,  
1X0609 and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,  
1X0610 and Johanan became the father of Azariah (it was he who was priest in the house (temple) which Solomon built in Jerusalem)  
1X0611 and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,  
1X0612 and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,  
1X0613 and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,  
1X0614 and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;  
1X0615 and Jehozadak went into captivity when the LORD sent [the people of] Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.  
1X0616 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.  
1X0617 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.  
1X0618 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.  
1X0619 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.  
1X0620 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,  
1X0621 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.  
1X0622 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,  
1X0623 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,  
1X0624 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.  
1X0625 The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth.  
1X0626 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son and Nahath his son,  
1X0627 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah [Samuel’s father] his son.  
1X0628 The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second.  
1X0629 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,  
1X0630 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.  
1X0631 Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD after the ark [of the covenant] rested there.  
1X0632 They ministered with singing before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the LORD’S house (temple) in Jerusalem, performing their service in due order.  
1X0633 These men and their sons served from the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel [the great prophet and judge],  
1X0634 the son of Elkanah [III], the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,  
1X0635 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah [II], the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,  
1X0636 the son of Elkanah [I], the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,  
1X0637 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,  
1X0638 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel (Jacob).  
1X0639 Heman’s [tribal] brother Asaph stood at his right hand: Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,  
1X0640 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,  
1X0641 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,  
1X0642 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,  
1X0643 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.  
1X0644 Their relatives the sons of Merari stood at the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,  
1X0645 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,  
1X0646 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,  
1X0647 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.  
1X0648 Their relatives the Levites [who were not descended from Aaron] were appointed for all the other kinds of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.  
1X0649 But [the line of] Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, ministering for all the work of the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place), and [they did so] to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses, God’s servant, had commanded.  
1X0650 These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,  
1X0651 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,  
1X0652 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,  
1X0653 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.  
1X0654 Now these are their settlements according to their camps within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the first allocation by lot)  
1X0655 to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture land;  
1X0656 but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.  
1X0657 To the sons of Aaron they gave the following cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,  
1X0658 Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,  
1X0659 Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands;  
1X0660 and from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, with their pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.  
1X0661 Then to the rest of the sons of Kohath were given ten cities by lot from the family of the tribe [of Ephraim and of Dan and], from the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh.  
1X0662 To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, were given thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and [the other half of] Manasseh in Bashan.  
1X0663 To the sons of Merari were given twelve cities by lot, according to their families, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.  
1X0664 So the sons of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands.  
1X0665 They gave by lot from the tribes of the sons of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these cities which are mentioned by name.  
1X0666 Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their [allotted] territory from the tribe of Ephraim.  
1X0667 They gave to the Levites the following cities of refuge: Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its pasture lands, Gezer with its pasture lands;  
1X0668 Jokmeam and Beth-horon with their pasture lands,  
1X0669 Aijalon and Gath-rimmon, with their pasture lands;  
1X0670 and from the half-tribe of Manasseh [these cities], with their pasture lands: Aner and Bileam, for the rest of the families of the sons of Kohath.  
1X0671 To the sons of Gershom were given from the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth, with their pasture lands;  
1X0672 from the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and Daberath with their pasture lands,  
1X0673 Ramoth and Anem with their pasture lands;  
1X0674 from the tribe of Asher: Mashal and Abdon with their pasture lands,  
1X0675 Hukok and Rehob with their pasture lands;  
1X0676 and from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim with their pasture lands.  
1X0677 To the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari were given, from the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono and Tabor, with their pasture lands;  
1X0678 and on the other side of the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan the Levites were given, from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness and Jahzah with their pasture lands,  
1X0679 Kedemoth and Mephaath with their pasture lands;  
1X0680 from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and Mahanaim with their pasture lands,  
1X0681 Heshbon and Jazer with their pasture lands.  
1X0701 The sons of Issachar were: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all.  
1X0702 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Samuel, heads of their fathers’ households. The sons of Tola were courageous men in their generations; their number in the days of David was 22,600.  
1X0703 The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, Isshiah; all five of them were chief men.  
1X0704 With them by their generations according to their fathers’ households were 36,000 troops of the army for war, for they had many wives and children.  
1X0705 Their relatives among all the families of Issachar, courageous men, registered by genealogies, were 87,000 in all.  
1X0706 The sons of Benjamin were three: Bela, Becher, and Jediael.  
1X0707 The sons of Bela were five: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were heads of the households of their fathers, courageous men. By their genealogies they were 22,034.  
1X0708 The sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth, all these were sons of Becher.  
1X0709 They were registered by their genealogies according to their generations, as heads of their fathers’ households, courageous men, 20,200 in number.  
1X0710 The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.  
1X0711 All these were the sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, 17,200 courageous men of valor, fit for military service.  
1X0712 Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and Hushim the son of Aher.  
1X0713 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.  
1X0714 The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead.  
1X0715 Machir took as a wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim; her name was Maacah. The name of a second [descendant, the first being Gilead], was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had [only] daughters.  
1X0716 Maacah the wife of Machir gave birth to a son; she named him Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh; his sons were Ulam and Rakem.  
1X0717 The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.  
1X0718 His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod and Abiezer and Mahlah.  
1X0719 The sons of Shemida were: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.  
1X0720 The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah and Bered his son, Tahath [I] his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath [II] his son,  
1X0721 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead were killed by men who were natives of Gath, because they came down to take their livestock.  
1X0722 Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.  
1X0723 Then he went in to his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Beriah (on misfortune), because tragedy had come on his house.  
1X0724 Beriah’s daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and also Uzzen-sheerah.  
1X0725 Rephah was his son along with Resheph; Resheph’s son was Telah, Tahan his son,  
1X0726 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,  
1X0727 Non (Nun) his son, and Joshua [Moses’ successor] his son.  
1X0728 Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, and Shechem, and as far as Ayyah with all their towns,  
1X0729 and along the borders of the sons of Manasseh, Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, with all their towns. In these [places] lived the sons of Joseph the son of Israel (Jacob).  
1X0730 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and Serah their sister.  
1X0731 The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.  
1X0732 Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister.  
1X0733 The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhlet.  
1X0734 The sons of Shemer (Shomer) [his brother]: Ahi and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.  
1X0735 The sons of his brother Helem (Hotham): Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.  
1X0736 The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,  
1X0737   Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.   
1X0738 The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.  
1X0739 The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.  
1X0740 All these were sons (descendants) of Asher, heads of their fathers’ houses, choice men, courageous men, chiefs of the leaders. Their number, enrolled by genealogies for service in war, was 26,000 men.  
1X0801 Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,  
1X0802 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.  
1X0803 Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,  
1X0804 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,  
1X0805 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.  
1X0806 These are the sons of Ehud: These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba; they were exiled to Manahath:  
1X0807 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera—he forced them into exile; he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.  
1X0808 Shaharaim became the father of children in the country of Moab after he had sent away (divorced) Hushim and Baara his wives.  
1X0809 By Hodesh his wife he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,  
1X0810 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households.  
1X0811 By Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal.  
1X0812 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns;  
1X0813 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath;  
1X0814 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth.  
1X0815 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,  
1X0816 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.  
1X0817 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,  
1X0818 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.  
1X0819 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,  
1X0820 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,  
1X0821 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.  
1X0822 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,  
1X0823 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,  
1X0824 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,  
1X0825   Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.   
1X0826   Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,   
1X0827 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.  
1X0828 These [men] were heads of the fathers’ households, according to their generations, chief men who lived in Jerusalem.  
1X0829 Now in Gibeon, Jeiel, the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah;  
1X0830 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,  
1X0831 Gedor, Ahio, and Zecher.  
1X0832 Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives.  
1X0833 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of [King] Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal (Ish- bosheth).  
1X0834 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal (Mephibosheth), and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.  
1X0835 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.  
1X0836 Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.  
1X0837 Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.  
1X0838 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.  
1X0839 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.  
1X0840 The sons of Ulam were courageous men, archers, and had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were of the sons (descendants) of Benjamin.  
1X0901 So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness [to God].  
1X0902 Now the first [of the returned exiles] who lived [again] in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim (temple servants).  
1X0903 Some of the sons (people) of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:  
1X0904 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the sons of Perez the son of Judah.  
1X0905 From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.  
1X0906 From the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their relatives, 690 [of them].  
1X0907 From the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;  
1X0908 Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;  
1X0909 and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these men were heads of fathers’ households according to their fathers’ houses.  
1X0910 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,  
1X0911 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;  
1X0912 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;  
1X0913 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760—very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.  
1X0914 Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;  
1X0915 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;  
1X0916 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites [near Jerusalem].  
1X0917 The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives (Shallum the chief  
1X0918 who until now was assigned to the king’s gate on the east side) they were the gatekeepers for the camp of the Levites.  
1X0919 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, doorkeepers of the Tent; and their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance.  
1X0920 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in times past, and the LORD was with him.  
1X0921 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.  
1X0922 All those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. They were enrolled by their genealogies in their villages [around Jerusalem], these men [whose grandfathers] David and Samuel the seer had appointed to their official duty.  
1X0923 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tabernacle, as guards.  
1X0924 The gatekeepers were stationed on the four sides —on the east, west, north, and south.  
1X0925 Their relatives in their villages were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them;  
1X0926 for these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, had an official duty, and were in charge of the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.  
1X0927 They spent the night around the house of God, for the [night] watch was theirs, and they were in charge of opening the house morning after morning.  
1X0928 Now some of them were in charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out.  
1X0929 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the [sacred] utensils of the sanctuary, as well as over the fine flour and the wine and the [olive] oil and the frankincense and the spices.  
1X0930 Other sons of the priests prepared the mixture of spices.  
1X0931 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for the things baked in pans.  
1X0932 Some of their Kohathite relatives were in charge of the showbread to prepare it every Sabbath.  
1X0933 Now these are the singers, heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites, living in the temple chambers, free from other service because they were on duty day and night.  
1X0934 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, chief men, who lived in Jerusalem.  
1X0935 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah,  
1X0936 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,  
1X0937 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.  
1X0938 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem, opposite their other relatives.  
1X0939 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of [King] Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.  
1X0940 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal (Mephibosheth); Merib-baal became the father of Micah.  
1X0941 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea [and Ahaz].  
1X0942 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza,  
1X0943 Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.  
1X0944 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.  
1X1001 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from them and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.  
1X1002 The Philistines followed closely after Saul and his sons and overtook them, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.  
1X1003 The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers found him; and he was [mortally] wounded by the archers.  
1X1004 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised [Philistines] will come and abuse and humiliate me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.  
1X1005 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.  
1X1006 So Saul died with his three sons and all those of his house died together.  
1X1007 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.  
1X1008 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip (plunder) the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.  
1X1009 So they stripped Saul and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to bring the good news to their idols and to the people.  
1X1010 They put Saul’s armor in the house of their gods and nailed up his head in the house (temple) of Dagon.  
1X1011 When all Jabesh-gilead heard about everything that the Philistines had done to Saul,  
1X1012 all the brave men arose, took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh; then they fasted seven days.  
1X1013 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, for his failure to keep the word of the LORD; and also because he consulted a medium [regarding a spirit of the dead], to inquire of her,  
1X1014 and did not inquire of the LORD [instead]. Therefore the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.  
1X1101 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.  
1X1102 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince and leader over My people Israel.’”  
1X1103 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant (solemn agreement) with them there before the LORD; and they anointed him king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the LORD through Samuel.  
1X1104 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.  
1X1105 Then the Jebusites said to David, “You shall not come in here.” But David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).  
1X1106 Now David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] went up first, and so he was made chief.  
1X1107 Then David lived in the stronghold; so it was called the City of David.  
1X1108 He built the city around it, from the Millo (fortification) to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the [old Jebusite] city.  
1X1109 David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.  
1X1110 Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, in accordance with the word of the LORD concerning Israel.  
1X1111 This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty [heroes]. He lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.  
1X1112 Next to him [in rank] was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.  
1X1113 He was with David at Pasdammim [where David had killed Goliath] and there the Philistines were gathered together for battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people [of Israel] fled before the Philistines.  
1X1114 But they took their stand in the midst of that plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD rescued them by a great victory.  
1X1115 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.  
1X1116 David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem.  
1X1117 David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is next to the gate!”  
1X1118 Then the three [mighty men] broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was next to the gate, and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; he poured it out to the LORD [as an offering];  
1X1119 and he said, “Far be it from me before my God that I would do this thing! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For they brought it at the risk of their lives.” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.  
1X1120 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the [other] three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and he had a name as well as the three.  
1X1121 Of the three in the second [rank] he was the most honored and became their captain; however, he did not attain to the first three [Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah].  
1X1122 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a courageous man of Kabzeel who had done great things, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. Also he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.  
1X1123 He killed an Egyptian also, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, and Benaiah went down to him with [only] a staff (rod) and grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.  
1X1124 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name as well as the three mighty men.  
1X1125 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to [the rank of] the [first] three. David appointed him over his bodyguard.  
1X1126 Now the mighty men of the armies were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,  
1X1127 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,  
1X1128 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,  
1X1129 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,  
1X1130 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,  
1X1131 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,  
1X1132 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,  
1X1133 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,  
1X1134 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,  
1X1135 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,  
1X1136 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,  
1X1137 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,  
1X1138 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,  
1X1139 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister],  
1X1140 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,  
1X1141 Uriah the Hittite [Bathsheba’s husband], Zabad the son of Ahlai,  
1X1142 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty [heroes] with him,  
1X1143 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,  
1X1144 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,  
1X1145 Jediael the son of Shimri, and his brother Joha, the Tizite,  
1X1146 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,  
1X1147 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.  
1X1201 These are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he still concealed himself from Saul the son of Kish; they were among the courageous men who helped him in battle.  
1X1202 They were armed with bows, and could use the right hand or the left to sling stones and shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s relatives from [the tribe of] Benjamin.  
1X1203 The chief was Ahiezer and then Joash, the sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, and Jehu of Anathoth,  
1X1204 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty, and [a leader] over them; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah,  
1X1205 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,  
1X1206 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,  
1X1207 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.  
1X1208 Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains.  
1X1209 Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,  
1X1210 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,  
1X1211 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,  
1X1212 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,  
1X1213 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.  
1X1214 These from the sons (descendants) of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest was equal to a thousand.  
1X1215 These are the men who crossed over the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, east and west.  
1X1216 Then some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.  
1X1217 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violence or wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on [what you are doing] and punish [you].”  
1X1218 Then the [Holy] Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace be to you, And peace be to him who helps you; For your God helps you.” Then David accepted and received them and made them officers of his troops.  
1X1219 Some [of the men] of Manasseh also defected to David when he came with the Philistines to go to battle against Saul. But David’s men did not [actually] assist the Philistines, for the lords (governors) of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.”  
1X1220 As David went to Ziklag, these men defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh.  
1X1221 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all courageous men, and [all seven] became commanders in his army.  
1X1222 For day by day men kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.  
1X1223 These are the numbers of the [armed] units equipped for war who came to David at Hebron to turn [over] the kingdom of Saul to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD.  
1X1224 Those of the tribe of Judah who carried shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war;  
1X1225 of the tribe of Simeon, brave warriors, 7,100;  
1X1226 of the tribe of Levi, 4,600.  
1X1227 Jehoiada was the leader of [the house of] Aaron, and with him were 3,700,  
1X1228 and Zadok, a courageous young man, and twenty-two captains from his father’s house.  
1X1229 Of the tribe of Benjamin, the relatives of [King] Saul, 3,000; for until now the majority of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.  
1X1230 Of the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800, courageous men, famous in their fathers’ houses.  
1X1231 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king.  
1X1232 Of the tribe of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, two hundred chiefs; and all their relatives were at their command;  
1X1233 of the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 in military service who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David, men with an undivided heart.  
1X1234 Of the tribe of Naphtali, there were 1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 [of the rank and file armed] with shield and spear.  
1X1235 Of the tribe of Dan, 28,600 men who could draw up in battle formation.  
1X1236 Of the tribe of Asher, 40,000 men in military service, able to draw up in battle formation.  
1X1237 From the other side [east] of the Jordan River, of [the tribes of] Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 men, armed with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.  
1X1238 All these, being men of war arrayed in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect (committed) heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were also of one mind to make David king.  
1X1239 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them.  
1X1240 Also those who were [living] near them [from] as far as [the tribes of] Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, abundant supplies of flour, cakes of figs and raisins, wine, [olive] oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.  
1X1301 David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.  
1X1302 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send word everywhere to our fellow countrymen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, so that they may meet with us;  
1X1303 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.”  
1X1304 Then all the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.  
1X1305 So David gathered all Israel together, from the Shihor [watercourse] of Egypt, to the entrance of Hamath [in the north], to bring the ark of God from Kiriath- jearim.  
1X1306 David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim, the ark which is called by His name.  
1X1307 They carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio [his brother] drove the cart.  
1X1308 David and all Israel celebrated [joyfully] before God with all their might, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.  
1X1309 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold and steady the ark, for the oxen [that were drawing the cart] nearly overturned it.  
1X1310 The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, and He struck him down because he touched the ark; and there he died before God.  
1X1311 David became angry because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzza; so that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.  
1X1312 David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home with me?”  
1X1313 So David did not bring the ark with him to the City of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  
1X1314 So the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.  
1X1401 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar timbers, masons and carpenters, to build a house (palace) for him.  
1X1402 And David understood that the LORD had established and confirmed him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.  
1X1403 Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.  
1X1404 Now these are the names of the children born [to him] in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,  
1X1405 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,  
1X1406 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,  
1X1407 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.  
1X1408 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went up in search of David; and he heard about it and went out against them.  
1X1409 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim.  
1X1410 So David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You hand them over to me?” Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, and I will hand them over to you.”  
1X1411 So Israel came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated the Philistines there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim.  
1X1412 The Philistines abandoned their gods (idols) there; so David gave a command and they were burned in a fire [as the Law of Moses required].  
1X1413 The Philistines again made a raid in the valley.  
1X1414 So David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “Do not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.  
1X1415 It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the Philistine army.”  
1X1416 So David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.  
1X1417 Then David’s fame spread into all the lands; and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.  
1X1501 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.  
1X1502 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”  
1X1503 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place which he had prepared for it.  
1X1504 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:  
1X1505 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his relatives;  
1X1506 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his relatives;  
1X1507 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his relatives;  
1X1508 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his relatives;  
1X1509 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his relatives;  
1X1510 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his relatives.  
1X1511 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites—Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,  
1X1512 and he said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; consecrate yourselves, both you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.  
1X1513 Because you did not [carry it as God directed] the first time, the LORD our God made an [angry] outburst against us, for we did not seek Him in accordance with the ordinance.”  
1X1514 So the priests and the Levites consecrated (dedicated) themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.  
1X1515 The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.  
1X1516 Then David told the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers, with instruments of music—harps, lyres, and cymbals—to play loudly and to raise sounds of joy [with their voices].  
1X1517 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah,  
1X1518 and with them their relatives of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.  
1X1519 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud the bronze cymbals;  
1X1520 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah [were to play] with harps tuned to Alamoth [that is, a high pitch];  
1X1521 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres set to Sheminith [that is, the eighth string, a low pitch].  
1X1522 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skilled.  
1X1523 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.  
1X1524 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah (Jeiel) were also gatekeepers for the ark.  
1X1525 So David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy.  
1X1526 Because God was helping the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD [to do it carefully and safely], they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.  
1X1527 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah, director of the music of the singers. David also wore an ephod (a priestly upper garment) of linen.  
1X1528 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.  
1X1529 It happened that as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, Michal [David’s wife] the daughter of Saul, looking down through a window, saw King David leaping and dancing [in celebration]; and she despised him in her heart.  
1X1601 So they brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.  
1X1602 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.  
1X1603 He distributed to everyone in Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake.  
1X1604 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD and to profess [God’s name] and to thank and praise the LORD, the God of Israel:  
1X1605 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel (Jaaziel), Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with musical instruments, harps and lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals;  
1X1606 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.  
1X1607 Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD [as their chief task].  
1X1608 O give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; Make His deeds known among the peoples.  
1X1609 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.  
1X1610 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.  
1X1611 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence].  
1X1612 Remember [with gratitude] His marvelous deeds which He has done, His miracles and the judgments from His mouth,  
1X1613 O seed of Israel His servant, Children of Jacob, His chosen ones!  
1X1614 He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.  
1X1615 Be mindful of His covenant forever, The promise which He commanded and established to a thousand generations,  
1X1616 The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath (sworn promise) to Isaac.  
1X1617 He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob, And to Israel as an everlasting covenant,  
1X1618 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, As the portion of your possession and inheritance.”  
1X1619 When you were few in number, Even a very few, and strangers in it,  
1X1620 When they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,  
1X1621 He allowed no man to oppress or exploit them, And, He reproved and punished kings for their sakes, saying,  
1X1622 “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”  
1X1623 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.  
1X1624 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples.  
1X1625 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared [with awe-filled reverence] above all gods.  
1X1626 For all the gods of the peoples are [lifeless] idols, But the LORD made the heavens.  
1X1627 Splendor and majesty are [found] in His presence; Strength and joy are [found] in His place (sanctuary).  
1X1628 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and honor and strength.  
1X1629 Ascribe to the LORD the glory and honor due His name; Bring an offering [of thanksgiving], and come before Him; Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.  
1X1630 Tremble [reverently] before Him, all the earth; The world is firmly established, it will not be moved.  
1X1631 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”  
1X1632 Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it; Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.  
1X1633 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD; For He comes to judge and govern the earth.  
1X1634 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness endures forever.  
1X1635 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together and rescue us from the nations, That we may give thanks to Your holy name, And glory in Your praise.”  
1X1636 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, Forever and ever. And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.  
1X1637 So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark continually, as each day’s work required;  
1X1638 and Obed-edom with his sixty-eight relatives; also Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.  
1X1639 David left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the dwelling place (tabernacle) of the LORD in the high place which was at Gibeon,  
1X1640 to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, in accordance with all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He commanded Israel.  
1X1641 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness endures forever.  
1X1642 With them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to sound aloud, and instruments for [accompanying] the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were to be at the gate.  
1X1643 Then all the people departed, each to his house, and David returned [home] to bless his household.  
1X1701 As David sat in his house (palace), he said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a house of cedars, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.”  
1X1702 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”  
1X1703 But it came about that same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,  
1X1704 “Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;  
1X1705 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought Israel up [from Egypt] until this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.  
1X1706 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?’”’  
1X1707 Now, therefore, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.  
1X1708 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make your name like the name of the great ones of the earth.  
1X1709 I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be moved again [nor tremble with fear]; and the wicked will not waste (persecute) them anymore, as formerly,  
1X1710 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will humble and subdue all your enemies. “Furthermore, I tell you that the LORD will build you a house (a blessed posterity).  
1X1711 And it shall come to pass that when your days are completed and you must go to be with your fathers [in death], I will raise up one of your descendants after you, one of your own sons; and I will establish his kingdom.  
1X1712 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.  
1X1713 I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My steadfast love and mercy away from him, as I took it from him (King Saul) who was before you.  
1X1714 But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forevermore.”’”  
1X1715 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.  
1X1716 Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house and family that You have brought me this far?  
1X1717 This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard and estate of a man of high degree (prominence), O LORD God.  
1X1718 What more can David say to You for the honor granted to Your servant? For You know Your servant.  
1X1719 O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, and in accordance with Your own heart, You have accomplished all this greatness, to make known all these great things.  
1X1720 O LORD, there is no one like You, nor is there any God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  
1X1721 And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make a name for Yourself by great and awesome and terrible things, by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt?  
1X1722 You made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, LORD, became their God.  
1X1723 “Therefore now, O LORD, let the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house endure forever, and do as You have said.  
1X1724 Let Your name [and the character that it denotes] endure and be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, yes, a God to Israel; and the house of Your servant David is established before You.’  
1X1725 For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house (descendants); therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.  
1X1726 And now, O LORD, You are God, and you have spoken and promised this good thing to Your servant.  
1X1727 Therefore may it please You to bless the house (descendants) of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for what You bless, O LORD, is blessed forever.”  
1X1801 After this it came about that David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.  
1X1802 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute (gifts).  
1X1803 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion to the Euphrates River.  
1X1804 David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers (infantrymen). David also hamstrung [nearly] all the chariot horses [to make them lame and useless], but left enough of them for 100 chariots.  
1X1805 When the Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.  
1X1806 Then David put military outposts among the Arameans in Damascus; and the Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. Thus the LORD helped David wherever he went.  
1X1807 David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.  
1X1808 Likewise from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon later made the bronze Sea (large basin), the pillars, and the utensils of bronze.  
1X1809 When Tou king of Hamath heard how David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,  
1X1810 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless (congratulate) him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.  
1X1811 King David also dedicated these to the LORD [setting them apart for sacred use], with the silver and the gold which he brought from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and from Amalek.  
1X1812 Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.  
1X1813 He put military outposts in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD helped David wherever he went.  
1X1814 So David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people.  
1X1815 Joab the son of Zeruiah was in command of the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;  
1X1816 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, and Shavsha was secretary (state scribe);  
1X1817 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Cherethites and the Pelethites [David’s bodyguards], and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.  
1X1901 Now it came about after this, that Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.  
1X1902 David said, “I will be kind (gracious) to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father was kind to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning [the death of] his father. And the servants of David came to the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun.  
1X1903 But the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think that David has sent people to console and comfort you because he honors your father? Have his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”  
1X1904 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them [cutting off half their beards], and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away [in humiliation].  
1X1905 When David was told how the men were treated, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were very humiliated and ashamed [to return]. So the king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow [back], and then return.”  
1X1906 When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves hateful to David, Hanun and his people sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.  
1X1907 So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah and his troops, who came and camped before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered together from their cities and came to battle.  
1X1908 When David heard about it, he sent Joab and all the army of courageous men.  
1X1909 The Ammonites came out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city [Medeba], while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.  
1X1910 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in the front and in the rear, he chose warriors from all the choice men of Israel and put them in formation against the Arameans (Syrians).  
1X1911 The rest of the soldiers he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and they lined up against the Ammonites.  
1X1912 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.  
1X1913 Be strong and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”  
1X1914 So Joab and the people who were with him approached the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him.  
1X1915 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered the city [Medeba]. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.  
1X1916 When the Arameans (Syrians) saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the [Euphrates] River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them.  
1X1917 When this was told to David, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. So when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against him.  
1X1918 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army.  
1X1919 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to and served him. And the Arameans (Syrians) were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.  
1X2001 Then it happened at the end of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged and devastated the land of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem [with Bathsheba]. Joab struck Rabbah and overthrew it.  
1X2002 David took the crown of their king from his head and found that it weighed a talent of gold and that there was a precious stone in it; so it was set on David’s head. He also brought a very great amount of spoil (plunder) out of the city [of Rabbah].  
1X2003 He brought out the people who were in it, and put them [to work] with saws, iron picks, and axes. David dealt in this way with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.  
1X2004 Now it came about after this that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and they were subdued.  
1X2005 There was war again with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.  
1X2006 Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also was descended from the giants.  
1X2007 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.  
1X2008 These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.  
1X2101 Satan [the adversary] stood up against Israel and incited David to count [the population of] Israel.  
1X2102 So David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me their total, so that I may know it.”  
1X2103 Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this? Why will he bring guilt on Israel?”  
1X2104 But the king’s word prevailed over Joab. So Joab left and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem.  
1X2105 Then Joab gave the total of the census of the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and in Judah 470,000 men who drew the sword.  
1X2106 But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king’s order was detestable to Joab.  
1X2107 Now God was displeased with this act [of arrogance and pride], and He struck Israel.  
1X2108 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. But now, I beseech You, take away the wickedness and guilt of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”  
1X2109 And the LORD said to Gad, David’s seer,  
1X2110 “Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I offer you three choices; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you [as punishment for your sin].”’”  
1X2111 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Choose for yourself  
1X2112 either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your enemies, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD and plague in the land, and the angel of the LORD bringing destruction throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”  
1X2113 David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”  
1X2114 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell.  
1X2115 God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; and as he was destroying it, the LORD looked, and relented concerning the catastrophe and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now remove your hand [of judgment].” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  
1X2116 Then David raised his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered in sackcloth, fell on their faces.  
1X2117 David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded the people to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done evil; but as for these sheep [the people of Israel], what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”  
1X2118 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  
1X2119 So David went up at Gad’s word, which he spoke in the name of the LORD.  
1X2120 Now Ornan was threshing wheat, and he turned back and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves.  
1X2121 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw him, and went out from the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground.  
1X2122 Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of this threshing floor, so that I may build an altar on it to the LORD. You shall charge me the full price for it, so that the plague may be averted from the people.”  
1X2123 Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. See, I will give you the oxen also for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges (heavy wooden platforms) for wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all.”  
1X2124 But King David said to Ornan, “No, I will certainly pay the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.”  
1X2125 So David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site.  
1X2126 Then David built an altar to the LORD there and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called on the LORD, and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.  
1X2127 Then the LORD commanded the [avenging] angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.  
1X2128 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.  
1X2129 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.  
1X2130 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was terrified by the sword of the angel of the LORD.  
1X2201 Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”  
1X2202 So David gave orders to gather the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and he assigned stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God.  
1X2203 David prepared large quantities of iron to make nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps (trusses), and more bronze than could be weighed;  
1X2204 and cedar trees beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David.  
1X2205 David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous, and an object of glory and splendor throughout all lands [of the earth]. So now I will make preparations for it.” Therefore, David made ample preparations before his death.  
1X2206 Then he called for Solomon his son and ordered him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.  
1X2207 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a house for the Name (Presence) of the LORD my God.  
1X2208 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house for My Name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before me.  
1X2209 Behold, a son will be born to you, who will be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.  
1X2210 He shall build a house for My Name (Presence). He shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish his royal throne over Israel forever.’  
1X2211 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you so that you may be successful and build the house of the LORD your God, just as He has spoken concerning you.  
1X2212 Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.  
1X2213 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe and fulfill the statutes and ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.  
1X2214 Now listen, with great trouble I have prepared and provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for they are great in quantity. I have also prepared and provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.  
1X2215 Further, you have workmen in abundance: stonecutters and stonemasons and carpenters, and all men who are skillful in every kind of work.  
1X2216 As for the gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron, there is no limit. So arise and begin working, and may the LORD be with you.”  
1X2217 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,  
1X2218 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest and peace on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people.  
1X2219 Now set your heart and your soul to seek (inquire of, require as your vital necessity) the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy articles and utensils of God into the house built for the Name (Presence) of the LORD.”  
1X2301 When David reached old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.  
1X2302 And he assembled together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and Levites.  
1X2303 The Levites thirty years old and upward were counted, and their number man by man was 38,000.  
1X2304 Of these 24,000 were to oversee and inspect the work of the house of the LORD and 6,000 were to be administrators and judges,  
1X2305 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 [musicians] were to praise the LORD with the instruments which David made for giving praise.  
1X2306 And David organized them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.  
1X2307 Of the Gershonites: Ladan (Libni) and Shimei.  
1X2308 The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel—three in all.  
1X2309 The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.  
1X2310 The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina (Zizah), Jeush, and Beriah. These were the four sons of Shimei.  
1X2311 Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons [not enough for a father’s house or clan], so they were [counted together] as one father’s household, one working group.  
1X2312 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all.  
1X2313 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate him as most holy, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, attend to His service, and to bless [worshipers] in His name forever.  
1X2314 But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were counted among the tribe of Levi.  
1X2315 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.  
1X2316 The son of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.  
1X2317 The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah’s sons were very many [in number].  
1X2318 The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.  
1X2319 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.  
1X2320 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second.  
1X2321 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.  
1X2322 Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, and their relatives, the sons of Kish, took them as wives.  
1X2323 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.  
1X2324 These were the Levites by their fathers’ households, the heads of the fathers’ households of those registered, according to the number of names of the individuals who were the servants of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward.  
1X2325 For David said, “The LORD God of Israel, has given peace and rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.  
1X2326 Also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its utensils for its service.”  
1X2327 For by the last words of David, the Levites from twenty years old and above were counted.  
1X2328 For their duty is to assist [the priests] the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD, in [caring for] the courtyards, the chambers, the purifying of all holy things, and any work of the service of the house of God,  
1X2329 and with the showbread, and the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or what is baked in the pan or what is well-mixed, and all measures of volume and size [as the Law of Moses required].  
1X2330 They are to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening,  
1X2331 and to offer all burnt sacrifices to the LORD on the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the festivals by number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before the LORD.  
1X2332 So they shall be responsible for the Tent of Meeting, the Holy Place, and the sons of Aaron their relatives, for the service of the house of the LORD.  
1X2401 The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these: the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
1X2402 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.  
1X2403 David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for their assigned duties.  
1X2404 Since there were more chief men found among the descendants of Eleazar than among the descendants of Ithamar [because of Eli’s misfortunes, and Saul’s massacre of the priests at Nob], they were divided in this way: sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the descendants of Eleazar and eight of the descendants of Ithamar, corresponding to their fathers’ households.  
1X2405 So they were divided by lot, one group with the other; for they were officers of the sanctuary and officers (high priests) of God, both from the descendants of Eleazar and from the descendants of Ithamar.  
1X2406 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar [the priest who escaped Saul’s massacre at Nob], and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.  
1X2407 The lots fell, the first one to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,  
1X2408 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,  
1X2409 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,  
1X2410 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,  
1X2411 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,  
1X2412 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,  
1X2413 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,  
1X2414 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,  
1X2415   the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,   
1X2416 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,  
1X2417 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,  
1X2418 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.  
1X2419 These were their offices and positions for their service in the house of the LORD according to the ordinance given to them by their father (ancestor) Aaron, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.  
1X2420 Now as for the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram: Shubael; of the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.  
1X2421 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah: Isshiah the first.  
1X2422 Of the Izharites: Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.  
1X2423 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.  
1X2424 Of the sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.  
1X2425 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.  
1X2426 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.  
1X2427 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.  
1X2428 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.  
1X2429 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.  
1X2430 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.  
1X2431 These also cast lots as did their relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of father’s households as well as those of his younger brother.  
1X2501 Moreover, David and the commanders of the army selected for the [temple] service some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of the musicians who performed their service was as follows:  
1X2502 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.  
1X2503 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD.  
1X2504 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.  
1X2505 All these [men] were the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him in accordance with the words of God; for God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.  
1X2506 All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order and direction of the king.  
1X2507 So their number [who led the remainder of the 4,000], with their relatives who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288.  
1X2508 The musicians cast lots for their duties, everyone alike, the small (younger) as well as the great (older), the teacher as well as the student.  
1X2509 The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him, his relatives and his sons, twelve;  
1X2510 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2511 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2512 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2513 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2514 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2515 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2516 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2517 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2518 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2519 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2520 the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2521 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2522 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2523 the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2524 the seventeenth of Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2525 the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2526 the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2527 the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2528 the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2529 the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2530 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;  
1X2531 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.  
1X2601 For the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.  
1X2602 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,  
1X2603 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.  
1X2604 Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,  
1X2605 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God had blessed him.  
1X2606 Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were courageous men of ability.  
1X2607 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were courageous and able men, Elihu and Semachiah.  
1X2608 All these were sons of Obed-edom [in whose house the ark was kept], they and their sons and relatives, strong and able men for the service—sixty-two from Obed-edom.  
1X2609 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, eighteen courageous men.  
1X2610 Also Hosah, one of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first and chief (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first),  
1X2611 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.  
1X2612 To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, were given duties, like their relatives, to minister in the house of the LORD.  
1X2613 They cast lots, the small (younger) and great (older) alike, in accordance with their fathers’ households, for every gate.  
1X2614 The lot for the east [gates] fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the north [gates].  
1X2615 To Obed-edom [it came out] for the south [gates], and the storehouse was allotted to his sons.  
1X2616 To Shuppim and Hosah [the lot fell] for the west [gates], by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway, division by division.  
1X2617 On the east were six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and two by two at the storehouse.  
1X2618 At the colonnade on the west side [of the outer court of the temple] there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.  
1X2619 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.  
1X2620 Of the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts.  
1X2621 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.  
1X2622 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD.  
1X2623 Of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:  
1X2624 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was supervisor over the treasuries.  
1X2625 His relatives by Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.  
1X2626 This Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts which King David, the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated.  
1X2627 From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts to maintain and repair the house of the LORD.  
1X2628 Also all that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, this was in the care of Shelomoth and his relatives.  
1X2629 Of the Izharites: Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to outside duties for Israel, as administrators and judges.  
1X2630 Of the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, were in charge of the affairs of Israel west of the Jordan, for all the work of the LORD and the service of the king.  
1X2631 Of the Hebronites: Jerijah was the chief (these Hebronites were examined according to their descendants and fathers’ households in the fortieth [and final] year of David’s reign, and men of courage and ability were found among them at Jazer in Gilead)  
1X2632 and Jerijah’s relatives, 2,700 capable men, were heads of fathers’ households; and King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for everything pertaining to God and to the king.  
1X2701 This is the list of the sons (descendants) of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:  
1X2702 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2703 He was descended from Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.  
1X2704 Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth was the chief officer; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2705 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2706 This is the Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty and was in charge of the thirty; and Ammizabad his son was over his division.  
1X2707 The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2708 The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2709 The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2710 The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2711 The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2712 The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjamite; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2713 The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai from Netophah of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2714 The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2715 The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were 24,000.  
1X2716 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel [were the following]: chief officer of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;  
1X2717 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;  
1X2718 of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;  
1X2719 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;  
1X2720 of the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;  
1X2721 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;  
1X2722 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.  
1X2723 But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, for the LORD had said he would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven.  
1X2724 Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census but did not finish; and because of this, [God’s] wrath came on Israel, and the number was not recorded in the chronicles of King David.  
1X2725 Azmaveth the son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storerooms; and Jonathan the son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers.  
1X2726 Ezri the son of Chelub was in charge of those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil.  
1X2727 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards; Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars.  
1X2728 Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in Shephelah (the lowlands); and Joash was in charge of the stores of [olive] oil.  
1X2729 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon; Shaphat the son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.  
1X2730 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.  
1X2731 Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these were overseers and stewards of the property which belonged to King David.  
1X2732 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor and advisor, a man of understanding and wisdom, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended (tutored) the king’s sons.  
1X2733 Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion and friend.  
1X2734 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and by Abiathar; and Joab was the commander of the king’s army.  
1X2801 David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders (officials) of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, with the palace officers and the mighty men, and all the brave warriors.  
1X2802 Then David the king rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers [in arms] and my people. I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God, and I prepared materials for the building.  
1X2803 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My Name (Presence), because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’  
1X2804 However, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all in my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the leader; and in the house (tribe) of Judah he chose the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He was pleased to make me king over all Israel.  
1X2805 Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.  
1X2806 He said to me, ‘Solomon your son shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him.  
1X2807 I will establish his kingdom forever if he loyally and continually obeys My commandments and My ordinances, as is done today.’  
1X2808 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.  
1X2809 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever.  
1X2810 Consider this carefully, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be courageous and strong and do it.”  
1X2811 Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan for the porch of the temple, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner rooms, and for the place for the [ark and its] mercy seat;  
1X2812 and the plan of all that he had in mind, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the storerooms of the house of God and for the storerooms for the dedicated gifts and offerings;  
1X2813 the plan for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service in the house of the LORD and for all the utensils for service in the house of the LORD;  
1X2814 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold and silver for all the gold and silver articles for every kind of service;  
1X2815 and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand;  
1X2816 the gold by weight for each table of showbread, and the silver for the tables of silver;  
1X2817 and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl;  
1X2818 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the LORD’S covenant.  
1X2819 “All this,” said David, “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the work and details [to be done] according to this plan.”  
1X2820 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and take action; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor abandon you [but will guide you in the construction] until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.  
1X2821 And see, [you have] the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the service of God’s house, and every willing, skillful man will be with you in all the kinds of work for any kind of service. Also the officers and all the people will be entirely at your command.”  
1X2901 And King David said to all the assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man but for the LORD God.  
1X2902 So with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, as well as onyx stones and stones to be inlaid, stones of antimony (a brittle, silvery-white metal) and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance.  
1X2903 Moreover, because I delight in the house of my God, the [personal] treasure that I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, in addition to all that I have already provided for the holy house:  
1X2904 namely, 3,000 talents of gold from the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings;  
1X2905 gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work to be done by craftsmen. Now who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD?”  
1X2906 Then the rulers of the fathers’ households, and leaders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers of the king’s work, offered willingly  
1X2907 and gave for the service of the house of God: 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.  
1X2908 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.  
1X2909 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole and blameless heart they had offered freely to the LORD. King David also rejoiced greatly.  
1X2910 Therefore David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly and said, “Blessed (praised, adored, and thanked) are You, O LORD God of Israel (Jacob) our father, forever and ever.  
1X2911 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  
1X2912 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone.  
1X2913 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.  
1X2914 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.  
1X2915 For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope [of remaining].  
1X2916 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy Name, it is from Your hand, and is all Your own.  
1X2917 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness and integrity. In the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. So now with joy I have seen Your people who are present here, make their offerings willingly and freely to You.  
1X2918 O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You;  
1X2919 and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do all [that is necessary] to build the temple [for You], for which I have made provision.”  
1X2920 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless (praise, thank) the LORD your God.” And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down and honored the LORD and the king [as His earthly representative].  
1X2921 The next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings (libations) and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.  
1X2922 They ate and drank that day before the LORD with great rejoicing. They made Solomon the son of David king a second time, and anointed him as ruler for the LORD and Zadok as [high] priest.  
1X2923 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.  
1X2924 All of the leaders and warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged allegiance to King Solomon.  
1X2925 The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel.  
1X2926 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.  
1X2927 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.  
1X2928 He died in a good old age [his seventy-first year], full of days (satisfied), riches and honor. Solomon his son reigned in his place.  
1X2929 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles (records) of Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the chronicles of Gad the seer,  
1X2930 with [accounts of] all his reign, and his power, and the times and circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the [surrounding] lands.  
2X0101 Solomon the son of David established himself securely over his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.  
2X0102 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ (ancestors’) households.  
2X0103 Then Solomon and all the assembly went to the high place at Gibeon [to offer sacrifices, where the Canaanites had habitually worshiped], for God’s Tent of Meeting was there, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.  
2X0104 But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.  
2X0105 Now the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was there before the tabernacle of the LORD, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out.  
2X0106 And Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD at the Tent of Meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.  
2X0107 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give to you.”  
2X0108 Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness and mercy to my father David, and have made me king in his place.  
2X0109 Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.  
2X0110 Give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may go out and come in [performing my duties] before this people, for [otherwise] who can rule and administer justice to this great people of Yours?”  
2X0111 God replied to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches, possessions or honor and personal glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself so that you may rule and administer justice to My people over whom I have made you king,  
2X0112 wisdom and knowledge have been granted you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor will those who will come after you.”  
2X0113 So Solomon went from the high place at Gibeon, from the Tent of Meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.  
2X0114 Solomon acquired chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the cities [suited for the use] of chariots and with the king at Jerusalem.  
2X0115 The king made silver and gold as plentiful and common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees in the lowland.  
2X0116 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue. The king’s merchants purchased them [in large numbers] from Kue at a price.  
2X0117 And they imported chariots from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver apiece, and horses for 150 apiece; and in the same way they exported horses to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Arameans (Syrians).  
2X0201 Now Solomon decided to build a house (temple) for the Name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself.  
2X0202 So Solomon assigned 70,000 men to carry loads, 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains, and 3,600 to supervise them.  
2X0203 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre, saying, “As you dealt with my father David and sent him cedars to build himself a house in which to live, [please] do the same for me.  
2X0204 Observe, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, dedicated to Him, to burn fragrant incense [of sweet spices] before Him, to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on Sabbaths, New Moons, and on the festivals of the LORD our God, as ordained forever in Israel.  
2X0205 The house I am going to build will be great, for our God is greater than all the gods.  
2X0206 But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and [even] the highest heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I to build a house for Him, except [as a place] to burn incense before Him?  
2X0207 Now send me a man who is skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.  
2X0208 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And indeed my servants will work with your servants  
2X0209 to prepare for me an abundance of timber, because the house I am about to build will be great and wonderful.  
2X0210 And I will give to your servants who cut timber, 20,000 measures of crushed wheat and 20,000 measures of barley, and 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of [olive] oil.”  
2X0211 Then Hiram, king of Tyre replied in a letter sent to Solomon: “Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.”  
2X0212 Hiram said also, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a house for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.  
2X0213 “Now I am sending a skilled man, endowed with understanding, Huram-abi,  
2X0214 the son of a Danite woman and a Tyrian father. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood; in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics, and in fine linen. He is able to make any kind of engraving and to carry out any design given him. He will work with your skilled men and those of my lord, David your father.  
2X0215 Now then, let my lord send to his servants the wheat, the barley, the oil, and the wine of which he has spoken.  
2X0216 We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”  
2X0217 Then Solomon took a count of all the aliens in the land of Israel, like the census that his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600.  
2X0218 He assigned 70,000 of them to carry loads and 80,000 to quarry stone in the mountain, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.  
2X0301 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to his father David, in the place that David had prepared, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  
2X0302 Solomon began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.  
2X0303 Now this is the [measurement of the] foundation which Solomon laid for the house of God: the length in cubits—by the old standard of measure—was sixty cubits (90 ft.), and the width was twenty cubits (30 ft.).  
2X0304 The porch in front of the house was as long as the width of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it inside with pure gold.  
2X0305 He overlaid the main room [the Holy Place] with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and decorated it with palm trees and chains.  
2X0306 And he adorned the house with precious stones; and the gold was gold from Parvaim.  
2X0307 He also overlaid the house [the Holy Place] with gold—the beams, the thresholds, and its walls and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.  
2X0308 Now he made the room of the Holy of Holies: its length equaling the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold.  
2X0309 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He also overlaid the upper rooms with gold.  
2X0310 And in the Holy of Holies he made two sculptured cherubim, and overlaid them with gold.  
2X0311 The wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits: one wing of one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the other cherub’s wing.  
2X0312 The wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits touched the wing of the first cherub.  
2X0313 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, their faces toward the Holy Place (the main room).  
2X0314 He made the veil [between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies] of blue, purple, and crimson colors, and fine linen, and embroidered cherubim on it.  
2X0315 He also made two pillars for the front of the house, thirty-five cubits high, and the capital on the top of each one was five cubits.  
2X0316 He made chains [like a necklace] in the inner sanctuary and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains.  
2X0317 He erected the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right, the other on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin (may He establish) and the one on the left Boaz (in Him is strength).  
2X0401 Then Solomon made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and ten cubits in height.  
2X0402 He also made the Sea [that is, the large basin used for ceremonial washing] of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and five cubits in height, and its circumference was thirty cubits.  
2X0403 Under it and entirely encircling it were figures of oxen, ten to a cubit. The oxen were in two rows, cast in one piece.  
2X0404 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, three facing east; and the Sea was set on top of them and all their hindquarters turned inward.  
2X0405 It was a handbreadth (the width of the four fingers) thick; its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold 3,000 baths (measures).  
2X0406 He also made ten [portable] basins in which to wash, and he put five on the right (south) side and five on the left (north). They would rinse things for the burnt offering in them, but the Sea was for the priests to wash in.  
2X0407 And he made ten golden lampstands just as directed and set them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left.  
2X0408 He made also ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left side, and he made a hundred [ceremonial] basins of gold.  
2X0409 Moreover, he made the courtyard of the priests, and the great courtyard [for the people] and doors for the courtyard, and he overlaid their doors with bronze.  
2X0410 He set the Sea on the right side at the southeast corner [of the house].  
2X0411 And Huram also made the pails [for ashes], the shovels, and the basins. So Huram finished the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of God:  
2X0412 the two pillars, the bowls, the capitals on top of the two pillars, and the two lattice works to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars,  
2X0413 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two lattice works, two rows of pomegranates for each lattice to cover the two bowls of the capitals on the pillars.  
2X0414 He also made the stands and he made the basins on the stands;  
2X0415 and the one Sea with the twelve oxen under it.  
2X0416 The pails, the shovels, and the meat-forks, and all the utensils Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.  
2X0417 The king cast them on the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.  
2X0418 Solomon made all these utensils in such great quantity that the weight of the bronze could not be determined.  
2X0419 Solomon also made all the articles that were in the house of God: the golden altar, and the tables for the bread of the Presence (showbread),  
2X0420 and the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, to burn in front of the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) as directed;  
2X0421 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, of purest gold;  
2X0422 and the snuffers, the basins, the dishes [for incense], and the firepans, of pure gold; and for the entrance of the house (temple), the inner doors for the Holy of Holies and the doors of the Holy Place (main room), were of gold.  
2X0501 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. He brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, and he put the silver and the gold and all the utensils in the treasuries of the house of God.  
2X0502 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the Israelites, in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD up from the City of David, which is Zion.  
2X0503 All the men of Israel gathered before the king at the feast in the seventh month.  
2X0504 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark.  
2X0505 The Levitical priests brought up the ark, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy utensils that were in the Tent.  
2X0506 And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel who gathered together with him before the ark were sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.  
2X0507 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the inner sanctuary of the house, into the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim;  
2X0508 for the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, making a covering above the ark and its carrying poles.  
2X0509 The poles were so long that the ends of the poles of the ark were visible from the front of the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary), but were not visible from the outside. They are there to this day.  
2X0510 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets [of the Ten Commandments] which Moses put there at Mount Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt.  
2X0511 When the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves [separating themselves from everything unclean], without regard to their assigned divisions),  
2X0512 and all of the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, with their sons and relatives, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres were standing at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets  
2X0513 in unison when the trumpeters and singers were to make themselves heard with one voice praising and thanking the LORD, and when they raised their voices accompanied by the trumpets and cymbals and [other] instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever,” then the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud,  
2X0514 so that the priests could not remain standing to minister because of the cloud; for the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the house of God.  
2X0601 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud.  
2X0602 “I have built You a lofty house, A place for You to dwell forever.”  
2X0603 Then the king turned around and blessed the entire assembly of Israel, while they were all standing.  
2X0604 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled with His hands what He promised, saying,  
2X0605 ‘Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city among all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name (Presence) might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a leader over My people Israel;  
2X0606 but I have chosen Jerusalem that My Name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’  
2X0607 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  
2X0608 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My Name, you did well that it was in your heart.  
2X0609 Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My Name.’  
2X0610 Now the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; for I have risen in place of my father David and I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  
2X0611 There I have placed the ark [the symbol of His Presence] in which is the covenant of the LORD [the Ten Commandments], which He made with the people (descendants) of Israel.”  
2X0612 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.  
2X0613 For Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits square and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the courtyard; and he stood on it, and he knelt down on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,  
2X0614 and he said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on the earth, keeping covenant and showing mercy and lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You [in obedience] with all their heart,  
2X0615 [You] who have kept Your promise to Your servant David, my father, that which You told him; You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is today.  
2X0616 Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David, my father, that which You promised him, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, provided your sons are careful to walk in My law as you, [David,] have walked before Me.’  
2X0617 Now then, O LORD, the God of Israel, let Your word which You have spoken to Your servant David be confirmed (verified).  
2X0618 “But will God actually dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built!  
2X0619 Yet have regard for the prayer of Your servant and for his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You,  
2X0620 that Your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place in which You have said that You would put Your Name (Presence), to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place.  
2X0621 So listen to the requests of Your servant and Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from Your dwelling place, from heaven; and when You hear, forgive.  
2X0622 “If a man sins against his neighbor, and he is required to take an oath, and he comes and takes the oath before Your altar in this house,  
2X0623 then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his conduct on his own head, and providing justice to the righteous by giving to him in accordance with his righteousness (innocence).  
2X0624 “If Your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house,  
2X0625 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which You gave to them and to their fathers.  
2X0626 “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict and humble them;  
2X0627 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.  
2X0628 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there are [migratory] locusts or grasshoppers, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is,  
2X0629 then whatever prayer or request is made by any man or all of Your people Israel, each knowing his own suffering and his own pain, and stretching out his hands toward this house,  
2X0630 then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each in accordance with all his ways, whose heart You know; for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men,  
2X0631 so that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways [in obedience to You] as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.  
2X0632 “Also in regard to the foreigner who is not from Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty power and Your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this house,  
2X0633 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, and fear You [reverently and worshipfully], as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your Name.  
2X0634 “When Your people go out to war against their enemies, by the way that You send them, and they pray to You facing this city [Jerusalem] which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your Name,  
2X0635 then hear from heaven their prayer and their request, and maintain their cause and do justice.  
2X0636 “When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and hand them over to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to a land far away or near,  
2X0637 if they take it to heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and repent and pray to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and have acted wickedly’;  
2X0638 if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, and pray facing their land which You have given to their fathers and toward the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your Name;  
2X0639 then hear from heaven, from Your dwelling place, their prayer and requests, and maintain their cause and do justice and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.  
2X0640 “Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.  
2X0641 “Now then arise, O LORD God, [and come] to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in [Your] goodness.  
2X0642 “O LORD God, do not turn away and reject the face of Your anointed; remember Your lovingkindness and faithfulness to Your servant David.”  
2X0701 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the [Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the house.  
2X0702 The priests could not enter the house of the LORD because the glory and brilliance of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.  
2X0703 When all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and saw the glory and brilliance of the LORD upon the house, they bowed down on the stone pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”  
2X0704 Then the king and all the people offered a sacrifice before the LORD.  
2X0705 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. In this way the king and all the people dedicated God’s house.  
2X0706 The priests stood at their posts [ready for service], and the Levites also, with the musical instruments of the LORD which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, “For His lovingkindness and mercy endure forever,” whenever David offered praise through their ministry. The priests were opposite the Levites blowing the trumpets and all Israel was standing.  
2X0707 Moreover, Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that was in front of the house of the LORD, for it was there that he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings because the bronze altar which he had made was not sufficient to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat [all together].  
2X0708 At that time Solomon observed the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very large assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt.  
2X0709 On the eighth day they held a celebration, for they had observed the dedication of the altar for seven days, and the feast for seven days.  
2X0710 And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month Solomon sent the people to their tents, rejoicing and happy in heart because of the goodness that the LORD had shown to David, to Solomon, and to His people Israel.  
2X0711 And so Solomon finished the house (temple) of the LORD and the palace of the king. He successfully accomplished all that he had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his palace.  
2X0712 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.  
2X0713 If I shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence and plague among My people,  
2X0714 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.  
2X0715 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.  
2X0716 For now I have chosen and sanctified and set apart for My purpose this house that My Name may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually.  
2X0717 As for you [Solomon], if you will walk before me as your father David walked, and do everything that I have commanded you, and observe My statutes and My ordinances,  
2X0718 then I will establish your royal throne just as I covenanted with your father David, saying, ‘You will not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’  
2X0719 “But if you [people] turn away and abandon My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and you go and serve other gods and worship them,  
2X0720 then I will uproot Israel from My land which I have given them; and I will cast this house, which I have consecrated for My Name, out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and an object of scorn among all nations.  
2X0721 And as for this house, which was so exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?’  
2X0722 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this adversity and evil on them.’”  
2X0801 Now it came about at the end of the twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house (palace),  
2X0802 that he built and fortified the cities which Huram (Hiram) had given to him, and settled the Israelites there.  
2X0803 Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it.  
2X0804 He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all his storage cities in Hamath.  
2X0805 He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars [to lock the gates];  
2X0806 and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.  
2X0807 All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel,  
2X0808 but were descendants of those who were left in the land, whom the Israelites had not destroyed—Solomon brought them up as forced laborers to this day.  
2X0809 But Solomon did not make slaves of the Israelites for his work; they were men of war, his chief captains, and commanders of his chariots and his horsemen.  
2X0810 These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred and fifty [in authority] who ruled over the people.  
2X0811 Then Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh up from the City of David into the house (palace) he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.”  
2X0812 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built in front of the porch [of the temple],  
2X0813 a certain number every day, offering them up as Moses commanded for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).  
2X0814 Now in accordance with the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their duties of praise and ministering and serving before the priests as every day required, and the gatekeepers by their divisions at every gate; for David the man of God had so commanded.  
2X0815 And they did not deviate from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites in any respect or in regard to the storehouses or treasuries.  
2X0816 Thus all the work of Solomon was carried out from the day the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was completed.  
2X0817 Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth on the shore of the [Red] Sea in the land of Edom.  
2X0818 And Huram (Hiram) sent him, by his servants, ships and servants familiar with the sea; and they went with Solomon’s servants to Ophir, and took from there four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.  
2X0901 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with riddles. She was accompanied by a very large number of attendants, with camels bearing spices (balsam oil) and a large amount of gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was on her mind.  
2X0902 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was hidden from him which he did not make clear to her.  
2X0903 So when the queen of Sheba saw the [depth of] Solomon’s wisdom, and the house which he had built,  
2X0904 and the food of his table, the [vast] seating order of his officials, the attendance and service of his ministers and their attire, his cupbearers and their attire, and his stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, she was breathless.  
2X0905 She said to the king, “The report which I heard in my own land regarding your [accomplishments and your] words and your wisdom was true,  
2X0906 but I did not believe the reports until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told to me; you have surpassed the report that I heard.  
2X0907 Blessed and fortunate are your people, how blessed and fortunate are these servants of yours who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom!  
2X0908 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the LORD your God; because your God loved Israel, establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”  
2X0909 Then she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, a very large amount of spices (balsam oil) and precious stones; there was no such spice [anywhere] like that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.  
2X0910 The servants of Huram and those of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought almug trees and precious stones.  
2X0911 From the almug timber the king made stairways for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and lyres and harps for the singers; none like that was seen before in the land of Judah.  
2X0912 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all [the things] she desired, whatever she asked, besides a return for what she had brought to the king. So she returned to her own land with her servants.  
2X0913 Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents,  
2X0914 besides what the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.  
2X0915 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold, using six hundred shekels of beaten gold on each large shield.  
2X0916 And he made three hundred [smaller] shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield; and the king put them in the house of the Forest of Lebanon.  
2X0917 Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.  
2X0918 There were six steps to the throne and a golden footstool attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, with two lions standing beside the arms.  
2X0919 Also, twelve lions were standing there, one on each side of the six steps. Nothing like it had ever been made for any [other] kingdom.  
2X0920 All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.  
2X0921 For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks.  
2X0922 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in wealth and wisdom.  
2X0923 And all the kings of the earth were seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put into his heart.  
2X0924 Each man brought his gift, articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses and mules, so much year by year.  
2X0925 Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities or with the king at Jerusalem.  
2X0926 He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt.  
2X0927 The king made silver in Jerusalem as common as stones, and cedar wood as plentiful as the sycamore-fig trees that are in the lowland.  
2X0928 And they were importing horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all [the other] countries.  
2X0929 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from the first to the last, are they not written in the records of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?  
2X0930 Solomon reigned forty years in Jerusalem over all Israel.  
2X0931 And Solomon slept with his fathers [in death]; he was buried in the city of his father David. Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.  
2X1001 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.  
2X1002 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard about the new king (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.  
2X1003 And the people sent messengers and summoned him. So when Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,  
2X1004 “Your father [King Solomon] made our yoke hard (heavy, difficult); so now lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”  
2X1005 Rehoboam replied, “Come back to me again in three days.” So the people departed.  
2X1006 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon [as advisers] while he was alive, asking, “What advice do you give me in answer to these people?”  
2X1007 They answered him, saying, “If you are kind to these people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”  
2X1008 But the king rejected the advice which the elders gave him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him [as advisers].  
2X1009 He asked them, “What advice do you give to us regarding the answer to these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”  
2X1010 The young men who grew up with him told him, “Tell the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us’: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins!  
2X1011 Now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add [more weight] to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions (extremely painful scourges).’”  
2X1012 So on the third day Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam just as the king had directed, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”  
2X1013 The king answered them harshly, for King Rehoboam rejected the counsel of the elders.  
2X1014 He spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”  
2X1015 So the king did not listen to the people, for the turn of events was from God that the LORD might fulfill His word, which He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.  
2X1016 When all Israel saw that the king did not listen and pay attention to them, the people answered him, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to your tents, O Israel; Now, [Rehoboam, descendant of] David, see to your own house.” So all Israel went to their tents.  
2X1017 But as for the Israelites who lived in Judah’s cities, Rehoboam ruled over them.  
2X1018 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the Israelites stoned him and he died. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his [royal] chariot to escape to Jerusalem.  
2X1019 And Israel has rebelled against the house of David to this day.  
2X1101 Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors to fight against [the ten tribes of] Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.  
2X1102 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,  
2X1103 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,  
2X1104 ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brothers (countrymen); return, every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” And they listened to and obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.  
2X1105 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built [fortified] cities for defense in Judah.  
2X1106 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,  
2X1107 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,  
2X1108 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,  
2X1109 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,  
2X1110 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.  
2X1111 He strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, [olive] oil, and wine.  
2X1112 And in each city he put [large] shields and spears, and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.  
2X1113 Further, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with Rehoboam from all their districts.  
2X1114 For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the LORD.  
2X1115 Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places, for the satyrs (goat demons) and calves (idols) which he had made.  
2X1116 Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers.  
2X1117 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years; for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.  
2X1118 Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.  
2X1119 She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.  
2X1120 After her he took Maacah the daughter (granddaughter) of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.  
2X1121 Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter (granddaughter) of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines—for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.  
2X1122 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah the chief leader among his brothers, because he intended to make him king.  
2X1123 He acted wisely and distributed some of his sons throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions, and he sought many wives for them.  
2X1201 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.  
2X1202 And it came about in King Rehoboam’s fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem  
2X1203 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. The people who came with him from Egypt were beyond counting—the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.  
2X1204 Shishak took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.  
2X1205 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the LORD: ‘You have abandoned (turned away from) Me, so I have abandoned you into the hands of Shishak.’”  
2X1206 Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous.”  
2X1207 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of a remnant [that escapes]; and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.  
2X1208 Nevertheless they will become his slaves, so that they may know [the difference between] My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”  
2X1209 So Shishak king of Egypt went up against Jerusalem; he took the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house (palace). He took everything. He even took the shields of gold which Solomon had made.  
2X1210 In their place King Rehoboam made shields of bronze and entrusted them to the care of the officers of the guard who guarded the door of the king’s house.  
2X1211 And whenever the king entered the house of the LORD, the guards came and carried the shields and then brought them back into the guards’ room.  
2X1212 When Rehoboam humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and also conditions were good in Judah.  
2X1213 So King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city in which the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put His Name. And his mother was Naamah the Ammonitess.  
2X1214 He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek and worship and honor the LORD.  
2X1215 Now the acts of Rehoboam, from the first to the last, are they not written in the records of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, according to genealogical enrollment? There were wars between Rehoboam [of Judah] and Jeroboam [of Israel] continually.  
2X1216 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried in the City of David; and Abijah his son became king in his place.  
2X1301 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.  
2X1302 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam [of Israel].  
2X1303 Abijah began the battle with an army of brave soldiers, 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men, valiant men.  
2X1304 Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel:  
2X1305 Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel, gave rule over Israel forever to David and to his sons by a covenant of salt [a permanent pact, extending to each generation of Israel]?  
2X1306 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord [the king],  
2X1307 and worthless (unprincipled, unethical) men gathered around him, useless and wicked men, who proved too strong for Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and timid, and could not assert himself against them.  
2X1308 “And now you intend to assert yourselves against the kingdom of the LORD which is in the hands of the sons of David, since you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves (idols) which Jeroboam made for you as gods.  
2X1309 Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? So whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of non-existent gods (idols).  
2X1310 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned (turned away from) Him. The sons of Aaron are ministering to the LORD as priests, and the Levites attend to their service.  
2X1311 Every morning and every evening they offer the burnt offerings and the fragrant incense to the LORD; and the showbread is set on the clean table [of pure gold], and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God [that is, the obligation we have to Him], but you have abandoned (turned away from) Him.  
2X1312 Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests [are here] with their signal trumpets to sound an alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”  
2X1313 But Jeroboam had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel was in front of Judah and the ambush was behind them.  
2X1314 When [the men of] Judah turned around, they were attacked from both front and rear; so they cried out to the LORD [for help], and the priests blew the trumpets.  
2X1315 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry; and as they shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel [with defeat] before Abijah and Judah.  
2X1316 And the sons of Israel fled before Judah, and God handed over the sons of Israel to them.  
2X1317 Abijah and his people inflicted on them a great defeat, so that 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.  
2X1318 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued (humbled) at that time, and the sons of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.  
2X1319 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured [several] cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephraim (Ephron), with their villages.  
2X1320 Jeroboam did not recover strength again during the time of [the reign of] Abijah. And the LORD struck him and he died.  
2X1321 But Abijah became powerful. He took fourteen wives for himself and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.  
2X1322 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his sayings, are written in the writing of the prophet Iddo.  
2X1401 So Abijah slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the City of David; and Asa his son became king in his place. The land was at peace for ten years during his days.  
2X1402 Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God.  
2X1403 He removed the foreign altars and high places and tore down the [pagan] pillars (obelisks, memorial stones), and cut to pieces the Asherim [the symbols of the goddess Asherah].  
2X1404 And he commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers [to inquire of and for Him and seek Him as a vital necessity], and to observe the law [given to Moses] and the commandment.  
2X1405 Asa also removed the [idolatrous] high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom was at rest and undisturbed under his reign.  
2X1406 He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was at rest, and there was no one at war with him in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.  
2X1407 So he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars [to secure the doors]. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him [longing for Him with all our heart] and He has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.  
2X1408 Now Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, who carried large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, who carried shields and drew bows, all courageous men.  
2X1409 Now Zerah the Ethiopian (Cushite) came out against Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.  
2X1410 Then Asa went out against him, and they drew up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.  
2X1411 Asa called out to the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in and rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.”  
2X1412 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians [with defeat] before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.  
2X1413 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that none of them were found alive; for they were destroyed before the LORD and His army. And they carried away a very large amount of spoil.  
2X1414 They attacked and destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was a large amount of spoil in them.  
2X1415 They also struck down the people [living] in tents who had livestock, and took captive large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.  
2X1501 Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,  
2X1502 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, as your soul’s first necessity], He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will abandon (turn away from) you.  
2X1503 Now for a long time Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest, and without [God’s] law.  
2X1504 But when they were in their trouble and distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and [in desperation earnestly] sought Him, and He let them find Him.  
2X1505 In those times there was no peace for him who went out or for him who came in, for great suffering came on all the inhabitants of the lands.  
2X1506 Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.  
2X1507 But as for you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”  
2X1508 And when Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the repulsive idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. Then he restored the altar [of burnt offering] of the LORD which was in front of the porch [of the temple] of the LORD.  
2X1509 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers who were with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to Asa from Israel in large numbers when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.  
2X1510 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.  
2X1511 They sacrificed to the LORD on that day from the spoil they had brought—700 oxen and 7,000 sheep.  
2X1512 They entered into a covenant (solemn agreement) to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;  
2X1513 and that whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.  
2X1514 They swore an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with [jubilant] shouting, with trumpets, and with horns.  
2X1515 All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought Him with their whole heart, and He let them find Him. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.  
2X1516 He also removed Maacah, King Asa’s mother, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her idol, crushed it, and burned it at the Brook Kidron.  
2X1517 But the high places [of pagan worship] were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.  
2X1518 He brought the things that his father [Abijah] had dedicated and those things that he had dedicated into the house of God—silver and gold and utensils.  
2X1519 And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.  
2X1601 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to [meet with] Asa king of Judah.  
2X1602 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and from the king’s house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria), who lived in Damascus, saying,  
2X1603 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I am sending you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”  
2X1604 Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they attacked and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.  
2X1605 When Baasha heard about it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.  
2X1606 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.  
2X1607 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram (Syria) and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram (Syria) has escaped out of your hand.  
2X1608 Were not the Ethiopians and Lubim a huge army with a great number of chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He placed them in your hand.  
2X1609 For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth so that He may support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you will have wars.”  
2X1610 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. And at the same time Asa oppressed some of the people.  
2X1611 Now the acts of Asa, from the first to the last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  
2X1612 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa developed a disease in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but [relied only on] the physicians.  
2X1613 So Asa slept with his fathers [in death], dying in the forty-first year of his reign.  
2X1614 They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the City of David, and they laid him on a bier which he had filled with various kinds of spices blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.  
2X1701 Jehoshaphat his son then became king [of Judah] in Asa’s place, and strengthened his position over Israel.  
2X1702 He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which his father Asa had captured.  
2X1703 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father (ancestor) David. He did not seek [to follow] the Baals [the false gods],  
2X1704 but sought the God of his father, and walked in (obeyed) His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.  
2X1705 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great wealth and honor.  
2X1706 His heart was encouraged and he took great pride in the ways of the LORD; moreover, he again removed the high places [of pagan worship] and the Asherim from Judah.  
2X1707 Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;  
2X1708 and with them were the Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with them the priests Elishama and Jehoram.  
2X1709 They taught in Judah having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.  
2X1710 Now the dread of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.  
2X1711 Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.  
2X1712 So Jehoshaphat became greater and greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.  
2X1713 He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and soldiers, courageous men, in Jerusalem.  
2X1714 This was the number of them by their fathers’ (ancestors’) households: of Judah, the commanders of thousands, Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 courageous men;  
2X1715 and next to him was Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;  
2X1716 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the LORD, and with him 200,000 courageous men;  
2X1717 and of Benjamin: Eliada, a brave man, and with him 200,000 men armed with bow and shield;  
2X1718 and next to him was Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed and ready for military service.  
2X1719 These are the ones who were in the service of the king, besides those he had placed in fortified cities throughout Judah.  
2X1801 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and was allied by marriage with Ahab.  
2X1802 Some years later he went down to [visit] Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.  
2X1803 Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to [fight against] Ramoth-gilead?” He answered, “I am as you are, and my people as your people [your hopes and concerns are ours]; we will be with you in the battle.”  
2X1804 Further, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”  
2X1805 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will hand it over to the king.”  
2X1806 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD still here by whom we may inquire?”  
2X1807 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies [anything] good for me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so [perhaps this time it will be different].”  
2X1808 Then the king of Israel called for an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly.”  
2X1809 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting, each on his throne, arrayed in their robes; they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.  
2X1810 Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans (Syrians) until they are destroyed.’”  
2X1811 All the prophets prophesied this, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king.”  
2X1812 The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Listen, the words of the prophets are of one accord, foretelling a favorable outcome for the king. So just let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.”  
2X1813 But Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, I will [only] speak what my God says.”  
2X1814 When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And he said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be handed over to you.”  
2X1815 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I warn you (make you swear an oath) to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”  
2X1816 Then Micaiah said, “I saw all [the people of] Israel Scattered on the mountains, As sheep that have no shepherd; And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each one return to his house in peace.’”  
2X1817 Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good in regard to me, but [only] evil?”  
2X1818 So Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host (army) of heaven standing on His right and on His left.  
2X1819 Then the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall [defeated] at Ramoth- gilead?’ And one said this and another said that.  
2X1820 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘By what means?’  
2X1821 He said, ‘I will go out and be a deceptive spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the LORD said, ‘You are to entice him and also succeed. Go and do so.’  
2X1822 Now, you see, the LORD put a deceptive spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours; and the LORD has [actually] proclaimed disaster against you.”  
2X1823 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came up and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go [when he departed] from me to speak to you?”  
2X1824 Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner room [desperately trying] to hide yourself.”  
2X1825 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,  
2X1826 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this man in prison and feed him just enough bread and water to survive until I return in peace (safely).”’”  
2X1827 But Micaiah said, “If you actually return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he added, “Listen [to what I have said], you people, all of you.”  
2X1828 So [Ahab] the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth- gilead.  
2X1829 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and will go into battle, but you put on your [royal] robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle.  
2X1830 Now the king of Aram (Syria) had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with the small or the great, but only with the king of Israel.”  
2X1831 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat [of Judah], they said, “It is the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat called out [for God’s help], and the LORD helped him; and God diverted them away from him.  
2X1832 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.  
2X1833 Then a certain man drew his bow at random and struck [Ahab] the king of Israel between the scales of his armor. So Ahab said to his chariot driver, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, because I am seriously wounded.”  
2X1834 The battle raged that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans (Syrians) until the evening, and at sunset he died.  
2X1901 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house (palace) in Jerusalem.  
2X1902 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the ungodly and love those who hate the LORD and in doing so bring wrath from the LORD on yourself?  
2X1903 But there are some good things found in you, for you have removed the Asherim (idols) from the land and you have set your heart to seek God [with all your soul’s desire].”  
2X1904 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.  
2X1905 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,  
2X1906 and he said to the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you do not judge for man, but for the LORD who is with you in the matter of judgment.  
2X1907 So now let the fear (reverent awe) of the LORD be on you [to keep you from making unjust decisions]; be careful in what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality, or acceptance of a bribe.”  
2X1908 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to render the judgment of the LORD and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
2X1909 Then the king commanded them, “Do this in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and wholeheartedly.  
2X1910 Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers (relatives) who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, or between statutes and judgments, you are to warn [and instruct] them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD; otherwise [God’s] wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not be guilty.  
2X1911 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all matters of the LORD, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright.”  
2X2001 Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.  
2X2002 Then it was reported to Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, out of Aram (Syria); and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is, Engedi).”  
2X2003 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the LORD; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  
2X2004 So [the people of] Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; indeed they came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD [longing for Him with all their heart].  
2X2005 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard,  
2X2006 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, there is no one able to take a stand against You.  
2X2007 O our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham?  
2X2008 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your Name, saying,  
2X2009 ‘If evil comes on us, or the sword of judgment, or plague, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your Name and Your Presence is in this house) and we will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear and save us.’  
2X2010 Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not allow Israel to invade when they came from the land of Egypt (for they turned away from them and did not destroy them),  
2X2011 here they are, rewarding us by coming to drive us out of Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.  
2X2012 O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”  
2X2013 So all Judah stood before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.  
2X2014 Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph.  
2X2015 He said, “Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  
2X2016 Go down against them tomorrow. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the river valley, in front of the Wilderness of Jeruel.  
2X2017 You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the LORD who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.’”  
2X2018 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping Him.  
2X2019 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice.  
2X2020 So they got up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe and trust in the LORD your God and you will be established (secure). Believe and trust in His prophets and succeed.”  
2X2021 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praise and give thanks to the LORD, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.”  
2X2022 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down [in defeat].  
2X2023 For the sons of Ammon and Moab [suspecting betrayal] rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, completely destroying them; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.  
2X2024 When [the men of] Judah came to the lookout tower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies lying on the ground, and no one had escaped.  
2X2025 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including equipment, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away; so much that they spent three days gathering the spoil.  
2X2026 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for it was there that they blessed the LORD. For that reason they named that place “The Valley of Beracah (blessing)” until today.  
2X2027 Then they returned to Jerusalem with joy, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, led by Jehoshaphat, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.  
2X2028 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house (temple) of the LORD.  
2X2029 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.  
2X2030 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest on all sides.  
2X2031 Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.  
2X2032 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.  
2X2033 Only the high places [for pagan sacrifices] were not removed, for the people had not yet set their hearts firmly on the God of their fathers.  
2X2034 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the records of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.  
2X2035 After [all] this Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, and he acted wickedly in doing so.  
2X2036 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish [for trade], and they built them in Ezion-geber.  
2X2037 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken down what you have built.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to go to Tarshish.  
2X2101 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers [in death] and was buried with them in the City of David; and his son Jehoram became king in his place.  
2X2102 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.  
2X2103 Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, in addition to fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.  
2X2104 When Jehoram had ascended over the kingdom of his father and made himself secure, he killed all his brothers with the sword [to eliminate any rivals], and some of the leaders of Israel as well.  
2X2105 Jehoram was thirty-two years of age when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  
2X2106 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done (for he married the daughter of Ahab), and he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.  
2X2107 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and because He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.  
2X2108 In the days of Jehoram Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king over themselves.  
2X2109 Then Jehoram crossed over [the Jordan River] with his commanders and all his chariots, and rose up by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him and the commanders of the chariots.  
2X2110 So Edom revolted against the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time against Jehoram’s rule, because he had abandoned (turned away from) the LORD God of his fathers.  
2X2111 Moreover, he made [idolatrous] high places in the hill country of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful [to God], and he led Judah astray [compelling the people’s cooperation].  
2X2112 Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of David your father (ancestor): ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,  
2X2113 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful [to God] as the house of Ahab was unfaithful, and you have also murdered your brothers, your father’s house (your own family), who were better than you,  
2X2114 behold, the LORD is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a great disaster;  
2X2115 and you will suffer a severe illness, an intestinal disease, until your intestines come out because of the sickness, day after day.’”  
2X2116 Then the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit (anger) of the Philistines and of the Arabs who bordered the Ethiopians.  
2X2117 They came against Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions found in the king’s house (palace), together with his sons and his wives; so there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.  
2X2118 After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.  
2X2119 Now it came about in the course of time, at the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his disease and he died in excruciating pain. And his people did not make a funeral fire to honor him, like the fire for his fathers.  
2X2120 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret (sorrow). They buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.  
2X2201 Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, because the band of men (raiders) who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.  
2X2202 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.  
2X2203 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his adviser [and she encouraged him] to act wickedly.  
2X2204 So he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his advisers after the death of his father, resulting in his destruction.  
2X2205 He also walked in accordance with their advice, and he went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram (Syria) at Ramoth-gilead. And the Arameans wounded Joram (Jehoram).  
2X2206 Then he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. And Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.  
2X2207 But the downfall of Ahaziah was ordained by God, in that he went to Joram (Jehoram). For when he arrived there he went out [as an ally] with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.  
2X2208 It came about that when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s [murdered] brothers ministering to Ahaziah, and he killed them.  
2X2209 Jehu also searched for Ahaziah, who was hiding in Samaria; he was captured, brought to Jehu, and put to death. They buried him, for they said, “After all, he is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.” So the house of Ahaziah had no one left to retain the power to rule over the kingdom.  
2X2210 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.  
2X2211 But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash the [infant] son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram [of Judah] and wife of Jehoiada the priest, hid Joash from [his grandmother] Athaliah so that she did not murder him (for Jehoshabeath was the sister of Ahaziah).  
2X2212 Joash was hidden with them in the house (temple) of God for six years, and Athaliah reigned over the land.  
2X2301 In the seventh year Jehoiada [the priest] summoned his courage and took the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him.  
2X2302 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the households of the fathers (ancestors) in Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.  
2X2303 Then all the assembly made a covenant in the house of God with the king [that is, with the child Joash, to overthrow Athaliah by proclaiming his sovereignty]. And Jehoiada [the priest] said to them, “Behold, the king’s son [Joash] shall reign, as the LORD has said in regard to the sons of David.  
2X2304 This is what you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites who are resuming service on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,  
2X2305 a [second] third shall be at the king’s house (palace), and a [final] third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.  
2X2306 But let no one enter the house (temple) of the LORD except the priests and the Levites who minister; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people carefully observe the law of the LORD.  
2X2307 The Levites shall surround the [young] king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the temple [breaking through the ranks of the guard to get near Joash] is to be killed. You are to be with the king when he comes in [from the temple chamber where he is hiding] and when he goes out.”  
2X2308 So the Levites and all Judah acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest had commanded; and every man took his men who were to resume duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss [any of] the divisions [from their duties].  
2X2309 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God.  
2X2310 He stationed all the people around the king [as guards for him], every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the house (temple), by the altar and by the house.  
2X2311 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony [a copy of the Mosaic Law] and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”  
2X2312 When Athaliah heard the sound of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the LORD to [see what] the people [were doing].  
2X2313 She looked, and there was the [young] king, standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside him. And all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments were directing the [singing of] praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”  
2X2314 So Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks [of soldiers]; and whoever follows her shall be put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be put to death in the temple of the LORD.”  
2X2315 So they seized Athaliah, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house (palace), they put her to death there.  
2X2316 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they would be the LORD’S people.  
2X2317 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they smashed its altars and its images to pieces, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.  
2X2318 Also Jehoiada placed the offices and officers of the house of the LORD under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had [previously] assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing in accordance with the order of David.  
2X2319 Jehoiada stationed the gatekeepers [at the gates] of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean.  
2X2320 He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD; and they came through the upper gate to the king’s house (palace) and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.  
2X2321 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.  
2X2401 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba.  
2X2402 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest [his uncle].  
2X2403 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters.  
2X2404 Now it came about after this that Joash decided to restore the house (temple) of the LORD.  
2X2405 He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you do it quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.  
2X2406 So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax for the tent of the testimony which was authorized by Moses, the servant of the LORD and the servant of the assembly of Israel?”  
2X2407 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God and also had used all the holy and dedicated things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.  
2X2408 So at the king’s command they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the LORD.  
2X2409 Then they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God imposed on Israel in the wilderness.  
2X2410 All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished [and the chest was full].  
2X2411 It came about that whenever the Levites brought the chest to the king’s official, and whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the chief priest’s representative would come and empty the chest, and take it, and return it to its place. They did this day after day and collected a large amount of money.  
2X2412 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they would hire masons and carpenters (craftsmen) and also those who worked in iron and bronze to repair and restore the house of the LORD.  
2X2413 So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands; and they restored and organized the house of God in accordance with its specifications and strengthened it.  
2X2414 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was [melted down and] made into utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for ministering and for burnt offerings, and bowls and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.  
2X2415 Now when Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, he died. He was a hundred and thirty years old at his death.  
2X2416 They buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good [things] in Israel and toward God and His house.  
2X2417 Now after the death of Jehoiada [the priest, who had hidden Joash], the officials of Judah came and bowed down to King Joash; then the king listened to them.  
2X2418 They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so [God’s] wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for their sin and guilt.  
2X2419 Yet God sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; these prophets testified against them, but they would not listen.  
2X2420 Then the Spirit of God came over Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people and said to them, “This is what God has said: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned (turned away from) the LORD, He has also abandoned (turned away from) you.’”  
2X2421 So they conspired against Zechariah and stoned him [to death] at the command of the king, in the courtyard of the house of the LORD.  
2X2422 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but he murdered his son. And when Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the LORD see this and require an accounting!”  
2X2423 Now it happened at the end of the year, that the army of Aram (Syria) went up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.  
2X2424 Though the army of the Arameans came with a small company of men, the LORD handed over a very large army into their hands, because Joash and Judah had abandoned (turned away from) the LORD, the God of their fathers. So the Arameans executed judgment against Joash.  
2X2425 When they left Joash (for they left him very ill), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they murdered him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.  
2X2426 The conspirators against Joash were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.  
2X2427 Now as to his sons and the many prophecies uttered against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, they are written in the commentary on the Book of Kings. Then his son Amaziah became king in his place.  
2X2501 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for twenty- nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.  
2X2502 He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not wholeheartedly.  
2X2503 When his kingdom was firmly established, he killed his servants who had struck down his father the king.  
2X2504 But he did not kill their children; for he did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, “The fathers shall not die for the children, nor the children die for the fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”  
2X2505 Amaziah assembled [the men of] Judah and appointed them in accordance with their fathers’ (ancestors’) households under commanders of thousands and of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin. He numbered them from twenty years old and above and found there to be 300,000 choice men fit for war and able to handle spear and shield.  
2X2506 He also hired 100,000 brave warriors from Israel for a hundred talents of silver.  
2X2507 But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let this army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim.  
2X2508 But if you do go [in spite of this warning], be strong and courageous for battle; yet God will cause you to stumble and fall before the enemy, for God has power to help and to cause people to stumble.”  
2X2509 Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I gave to the troops of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”  
2X2510 So Amaziah dismissed the troops that came to him from Ephraim, to go home. So their anger was kindled and burned greatly against Judah, and they returned home in the heat of anger.  
2X2511 Now Amaziah took courage and led his people out to the Valley of Salt, and he struck down 10,000 of the men of Seir (Edom).  
2X2512 The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff. They threw them down from the top of the cliff and they were all crushed to pieces.  
2X2513 But the troops whom Amaziah sent back, those not allowed to go with him to battle, attacked and raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 men and took a large amount of spoil.  
2X2514 After Amaziah came back from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, bowed before them, and burned incense to them.  
2X2515 So the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you desired the gods of the people who did not save their own people from your hand?”  
2X2516 As he was talking, the king said to him, “Have we made you the king’s counselor? Stop! Why should you be put to death?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this and have ignored my advice.”  
2X2517 Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come [to battle], let us face each other.”  
2X2518 Then Joash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The [little] thorn bush in Lebanon sent word to the [great] cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast in Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thorn bush.  
2X2519 You say, ‘See, I have struck down and defeated Edom.’ Your heart lifts you up to boast [about your victory]. Now stay at home; why should you meddle and court disaster so that you, even you, will fall and Judah with you?”  
2X2520 But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand Judah over to Joash because they had desired the gods of Edom.  
2X2521 So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah.  
2X2522 And Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled, every man to his tent.  
2X2523 Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz (Ahaziah), at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits.  
2X2524 He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with [the doorkeeper] Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house (palace), and the hostages, and returned to Samaria.  
2X2525 And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.  
2X2526 Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from the first to the last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?  
2X2527 Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.  
2X2528 Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the City of [David in] Judah.  
2X2601 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.  
2X2602 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king [Amaziah] slept with his fathers [in death].  
2X2603 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem.  
2X2604 He did right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done.  
2X2605 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, longing for) the LORD, God caused him to prosper.  
2X2606 He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke through the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities near Ashdod and [elsewhere] among the Philistines.  
2X2607 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites.  
2X2608 The Ammonites paid tribute (money) to Uzziah, and his fame spread abroad, even as far as the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.  
2X2609 Uzziah also built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress [of the wall], and fortified them.  
2X2610 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, for he had a great deal of livestock, both in the lowlands and in the plain. He also had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields, for he loved the soil.  
2X2611 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which went into combat by divisions according to the number of their muster as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders.  
2X2612 The total number of the heads of the fathers’ households, of valiant men, was 2,600.  
2X2613 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy.  
2X2614 Moreover, Uzziah prepared shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and sling stones for the entire army.  
2X2615 In Jerusalem he made machines of war invented by skillful men to be put on the towers and on the [corner] battlements for the purpose of shooting arrows and large stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.  
2X2616 But when Uzziah became strong, he became so proud [of himself and his accomplishments] that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful and sinned against the LORD his God, for he went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.  
2X2617 Then Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of the LORD, men of courage.  
2X2618 They opposed King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God.”  
2X2619 Then Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to burn incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar.  
2X2620 As Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked toward him, behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he also hurried to get out because the LORD had stricken him.  
2X2621 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and, being a leper, he lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And his son Jotham took charge of the king’s household, judging and governing the people of the land.  
2X2622 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from the first to the last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, has written.  
2X2623 So Uzziah slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field of the kings [outside the royal tombs], for they said, “He is a leper.” And his son Jotham became king in his place.  
2X2701 Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.  
2X2702 He did right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his father Uzziah had done; however, he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued behaving corruptly.  
2X2703 He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and did extensive building on the wall of Ophel.  
2X2704 Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.  
2X2705 He also fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them. As a result the Ammonites gave him during that year a hundred talents of silver and ten thousand measures each of wheat and of barley. The Ammonites also paid him that much in the second year and third year.  
2X2706 So Jotham grew powerful, because he directed his ways before the LORD his God.  
2X2707 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.  
2X2708 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.  
2X2709 And Jotham slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the City of David. Ahaz his son became king in his place.  
2X2801 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do right in the sight of the LORD, as his father (forefather) David had done.  
2X2802 Instead he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made cast images for the Baals.  
2X2803 And he burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons [as an offering], in accordance with the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons (descendants) of Israel.  
2X2804 He also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places [of pagan worship], on the hills and under every green tree.  
2X2805 Therefore the LORD his God handed over Ahaz to the king of Aram (Syria), who defeated him and led away a great number [of the people] as captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck Judah with a great slaughter.  
2X2806 For Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all courageous men, because they had abandoned (turned away from) the LORD God of their fathers.  
2X2807 And Zichri, a warrior of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah, who was second [in power] to the king.  
2X2808 And the sons of Israel led away captive 200,000 of their kinsmen [of Judah]—women, sons, and daughters—and they also took a great quantity of spoil from them and brought it to Samaria.  
2X2809 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army that was returning to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He handed them over to you; but you have killed them in a rage that has reached as far as heaven.  
2X2810 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem as male and female slaves for yourselves. But are you yourselves not guilty of transgressions against the LORD your God?  
2X2811 Now therefore, hear me and return the captives whom you have captured from your brothers (fellow descendants of Israel, i.e. Jacob), for the burning anger of the LORD is against you.”  
2X2812 Then some of the heads of the Ephraimites (Israel)—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—took a stand against those who were returning from the battle,  
2X2813 and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here; for we are guilty before the LORD already, and what you intend to do will add more to our sins and our guilt. For our guilt is so great that His burning anger is against Israel.”  
2X2814 So the armed men [of Israel] left the captives and the spoil [of Judah] before the officers and all the assembly.  
2X2815 Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all those who were naked; they clothed them and gave them sandals, and fed them and gave them [something to] drink, anointed them [with oil, as was a host’s duty], and led all the feeble ones on donkeys, and they brought them to Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, to their brothers (fellow descendants of Israel, i.e. Jacob). Then they returned to Samaria.  
2X2816 At that time King Ahaz sent word to the king of Assyria [to ask him] for help.  
2X2817 For the Edomites had come again and attacked Judah and led away captives.  
2X2818 The Philistines had also invaded the cities of the low country and of the Negev (the South country) of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with their villages, and also Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there.  
2X2819 For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for Ahaz had allowed unrestrained and undisciplined behavior in Judah and had been very unfaithful to the LORD.  
2X2820 So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and harassed him instead of strengthening and supporting him.  
2X2821 Although Ahaz took a portion [of treasure] from the house of the LORD and from the house (palace) of the king and from the leaders, and gave it [as tribute] to the king of Assyria, it did not help Ahaz.  
2X2822 In the time of his distress, this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD.  
2X2823 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and he said, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram (Syria) helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.” But they became the ruin and downfall of him and all of Israel.  
2X2824 Then Ahaz collected the utensils of the house of God and he cut them in pieces; and he shut the doors of the house of the LORD and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem.  
2X2825 In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his fathers.  
2X2826 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  
2X2827 And Ahaz slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah reigned in his place.  
2X2901 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah.  
2X2902 He did right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that David his father (forefather) had done.  
2X2903 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD [which his father had closed] and repaired them [and replaced the gold overlay].  
2X2904 He brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.  
2X2905 Then he said to them, “Levites, listen to me! Now consecrate (dedicate) yourselves and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and get the filth [of idol worship] out of the Holy Place.  
2X2906 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the LORD our God, and they have abandoned Him and have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and have turned their backs [toward Him].  
2X2907 They have also closed the doors of the [temple] porch and put out the lamps, and they have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.  
2X2908 Therefore the wrath of the LORD has been against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, just as you see with your own eyes.  
2X2909 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity because of this.  
2X2910 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant (solemn agreement) with the LORD God of Israel, so that His burning anger will turn away from us.  
2X2911 My sons, do not be negligent and careless now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in His presence, to attend to His service, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”  
2X2912 Then the Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; from the sons of Merari: Kish the son of Abdi, Azariah the son of Jehallelel; from the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah;  
2X2913 from the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; from the sons of Asaph: Zechariah, and Mattaniah;  
2X2914 from the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.  
2X2915 They gathered their brothers (fellow Levites) together, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, as the king had commanded by the words of the LORD.  
2X2916 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and every unclean thing they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out to the courtyard of the LORD’S house. Then the Levites received it to take out to the Kidron Valley [for disposal].  
2X2917 Now they began the consecration on the first [day] of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the porch of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.  
2X2918 Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the entire house (temple) of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all its utensils.  
2X2919 Moreover, we have prepared and consecrated all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness; and behold, they are in front of the altar of the LORD.”  
2X2920 Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the officials of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.  
2X2921 They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. He commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.  
2X2922 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.  
2X2923 Then they brought the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them [to symbolize the transference of their sin].  
2X2924 The priests slaughtered them and cleansed the altar from sin with their blood to atone for all Israel, because the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering be made for all Israel.  
2X2925 Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, in accordance with the command of David [his ancestor] and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the LORD through His prophets.  
2X2926 The Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.  
2X2927 Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD also began with the trumpets accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel.  
2X2928 The entire congregation worshiped, the singers also sang, and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.  
2X2929 When the burnt offerings were completed, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped [God].  
2X2930 Also King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to exclaim praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they exclaimed praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.  
2X2931 Then Hezekiah said, “Now you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD; approach and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings.  
2X2932 The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.  
2X2933 The consecrated things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.  
2X2934 But there were too few priests and they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; so until the other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done. For the Levites were more upright in heart and more conscientious than the priests in consecrating themselves.  
2X2935 There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was established again.  
2X2936 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.  
2X3001 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and to Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast to the LORD God of Israel.  
2X3002 For the king and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month,  
2X3003 since they could not celebrate it at that time because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people assembled at Jerusalem.  
2X3004 Thus the [decision to set a] new time pleased the king and the entire assembly.  
2X3005 So they decided to circulate a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people were to come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel, at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed [for a long time].  
2X3006 So the runners went throughout Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his officials, in accordance with the command of the king, saying, “O sons (descendants) of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), so that He will return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand (power) of the kings of Assyria.  
2X3007 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror (lifeless, desolate), just as you see.  
2X3008 Now do not stiffen your neck [becoming obstinate] like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and come to His sanctuary which He has sanctified and set apart forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that His burning anger will turn away from you.  
2X3009 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers (relatives) and your children will find compassion in the presence of those who led them away captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”  
2X3010 So the runners (couriers) passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but the people laughed at them with scorn and mocked them.  
2X3011 Yet some of the men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.  
2X3012 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them one heart to do that which the king and the officials had commanded by the word of the LORD.  
2X3013 Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month; it was a very large assembly.  
2X3014 They took action and removed the [pagan] altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Brook Kidron [the dumping place for the ashes of such repulsive things].  
2X3015 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.  
2X3016 They stood at their accustomed stations, in accordance with the Law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood [which they received] from the hand of the Levites [on the altar].  
2X3017 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves [that is, become ceremonially clean and free from all sin]; so the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, in order to make them holy for the LORD.  
2X3018 For the majority of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, and yet they ate the Passover contrary to what had been prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon  
2X3019 everyone who sets his heart to seek God—the LORD God of his fathers—even though it is not in accordance with the [ceremonial] purification [rules] of the sanctuary.”  
2X3020 So the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people [of their uncleanness].  
2X3021 The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, singing to the LORD with loud instruments.  
2X3022 Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good understanding in the things of the LORD. So the people ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD God of their fathers.  
2X3023 Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate [the feast] for another seven days; and they celebrated it another seven days with joy.  
2X3024 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the officials gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And a large number of priests consecrated themselves [for service].  
2X3025 All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners (resident aliens, foreigners) who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah.  
2X3026 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.  
2X3027 Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.  
2X3101 Now when all of this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and smashed the [pagan] pillars (obelisks, memorial stones) in pieces, cut down the Asherim (wooden symbols of a female deity), and tore down the high places and the altars [of idolatry] throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the sons (descendants) of Israel returned to their own cities, each to his own property.  
2X3102 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests, and the Levites by their divisions, each in accordance with his service, both the priests and Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister and to give thanks and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD.  
2X3103 Hezekiah also appointed the king’s [personal] portion of his goods: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and for the New Moons and for the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD.  
2X3104 He also told (ordered) the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion that was due to the priests and Levites, so that they might [be free to] devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.  
2X3105 As soon as the king’s order spread, the Israelites gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, [olive] oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in the tithe of everything abundantly.  
2X3106 The sons of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of sacred gifts which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and placed them in heaps.  
2X3107 In the third month [at the end of wheat harvest] they began to make the heaps, and they finished them in the seventh month.  
2X3108 When Hezekiah and the rulers came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and His people Israel.  
2X3109 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps.  
2X3110 Azariah the high priest of the house of Zadok answered him, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat with plenty left over, for the LORD has blessed His people, and this great quantity is left over.”  
2X3111 Then Hezekiah told them to prepare rooms [for storage] in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them.  
2X3112 They faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the sacred (dedicated) things. Conaniah the Levite was in charge of them, and Shimei his brother was second [in authority].  
2X3113 Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers directed by Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.  
2X3114 Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the voluntary offerings to God, to apportion the contributions for the LORD and the most holy things.  
2X3115 Under his authority were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers (relatives) by divisions, whether great or small,  
2X3116 without regard to their genealogical registration, to the males from thirty years old and upward—everyone who entered the house of the LORD for his daily obligations—for their service in accordance with their duties by their divisions;  
2X3117 as well as the priests who were registered genealogically according to their fathers’ households, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, by their duties and by their divisions.  
2X3118 The genealogical registration included all their little children, their wives, and their sons and daughters, for the whole assembly, because they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness.  
2X3119 Also for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the pasture lands of their cities or in each and every city, there were men who were designated by name to give portions to every male among the priests and to everyone genealogically registered among the Levites.  
2X3120 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah; and he did what was good, right, and true before the LORD his God.  
2X3121 Every work which he began in the service of the house of God in keeping with the law and the commandment, seeking and inquiring of his God [and longing for Him], he did with all his heart and prospered.  
2X3201 After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, intending to take them for himself.  
2X3202 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to go to war against Jerusalem,  
2X3203 he decided, together with his officers and his soldiers, to stop up the water [supply] from the springs which were outside the city [by enclosing them with masonry and concealing them], and they helped him.  
2X3204 So many people came together, and they stopped up all the springs and the brook which flowed [underground] through the region, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find an abundance of water?”  
2X3205 Also Hezekiah resolutely set to work and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down, and erected towers on it, and he built another wall outside and strengthened the Millo (fortification) in the City of David, and made a great number of weapons and shields.  
2X3206 He also appointed military officers over the people and gathered them to him in the square at the city gate, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,  
2X3207 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the army that is with him; for the One with us is greater than the one with him.  
2X3208 With him there is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.  
2X3209 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, while he was at Lachish [besieging it] with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem, to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,  
2X3210 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘In what do you trust that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege?  
2X3211 Is not Hezekiah misleading you in order to let you die by famine and thirst, while saying, “The LORD our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria?”  
2X3212 Has the same Hezekiah not taken away his [Baal’s] high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “You shall worship before [only] one altar and burn incense on it”?  
2X3213 Do you not know what I and my fathers (ancestors) have done to all the peoples of the [other] lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands able to rescue their lands from my hand at all?  
2X3214 Who [was there] among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed who was able to rescue his people from my hand, that your God should be able to rescue you from my hand?  
2X3215 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God rescue you from my hand!’”  
2X3216 And his servants said even more against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah.  
2X3217 The Assyrian king also wrote letters insulting and taunting the LORD God of Israel, and speaking against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of other lands have not rescued their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue His people from my hand.”  
2X3218 They shouted it loudly in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city [without a long siege].  
2X3219 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as [they spoke of] the gods of the peoples of the earth, [which are only] the work of the hands of men.  
2X3220 But Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven [for help].  
2X3221 And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every brave warrior, commander, and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king returned to his own land in shame. And when he entered the house (temple) of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.  
2X3222 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and He gave them rest on every side.  
2X3223 And many brought gifts to the LORD at Jerusalem and valuable presents to Hezekiah king of Judah; so from then on he was exalted in the sight of all nations.  
2X3224 In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill; and he prayed to the LORD, and He answered him and gave him a [miraculous] sign.  
2X3225 But Hezekiah did nothing [for the LORD] in return for the benefit bestowed on him, because his heart had become proud; therefore God’s wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.  
2X3226 However, Hezekiah humbled his proud heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.  
2X3227 Now Hezekiah had immense wealth and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of delightful articles,  
2X3228 and storehouses for the produce of grain, new wine, and [olive] oil, and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds for the flocks.  
2X3229 Moreover, he made cities for himself and acquired an abundance of flocks and herds, for God gave him very many possessions.  
2X3230 This same Hezekiah also stopped up the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and channeled them down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in everything that he did.  
2X3231 And so in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, in order to know everything that was in his heart.  
2X3232 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his godly achievements, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  
2X3233 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers [in death] and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the descendants of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.  
2X3301 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty- five years in Jerusalem.  
2X3302 But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons (descendants) of Israel.  
2X3303 For he rebuilt the [idolatrous] high places which his father Hezekiah had torn down; and he set up altars for the Baals and made the Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven [the sun, the moon, stars and planets] and served them.  
2X3304 He built [pagan] altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”  
2X3305 He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.  
2X3306 He made his sons pass through the fire [as an offering to his gods] in the Valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.  
2X3307 Then he set the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My Name [and the symbol of my Presence] forever;  
2X3308 and I will not again remove Israel from the land which I appointed for your fathers, if they will only be careful to do everything that I have commanded them in regard to all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses.”  
2X3309 So Manasseh caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to sin, by doing more evil than the [pagan] nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the sons of Israel.  
2X3310 Now the LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention.  
2X3311 So the LORD brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks [through his nose or cheeks] and bound him with bronze [chains] and took him to Babylon.  
2X3312 But when he was in distress, he sought the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  
2X3313 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his pleading, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.  
2X3314 After this he built an outer wall for the City of David on the west side of Gihon, in the river valley, to the entrance of the Fish Gate; and he encircled the Ophel with it and made it very high. Then he put military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.  
2X3315 He also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, as well as all the altars which he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem; and he threw them outside the city.  
2X3316 Then he set up the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it; and he ordered Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.  
2X3317 Yet the people still sacrificed on the high places, but only to the LORD their God.  
2X3318 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are among the records of the kings of Israel.  
2X3319 His prayer also and how God heard him, and all his sin, his unfaithfulness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the carved images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the records of the Hozai.  
2X3320 So Manasseh slept with his fathers [in death], and they buried him in [the garden of] his own house. And his son Amon became king in his place.  
2X3321 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem.  
2X3322 But he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.  
2X3323 Further, he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh [finally] had done, but Amon multiplied his guilt and his sin.  
2X3324 And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house (palace).  
2X3325 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.  
2X3401 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.  
2X3402 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father (forefather) and did not turn aside either to the right or to the left.  
2X3403 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young (sixteen), he began to seek after and inquire of the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and cast images.  
2X3404 They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were high above them; he also smashed the Asherim and the carved images and the cast images to pieces, and ground them to dust and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.  
2X3405 Then Josiah burned the bones of the [pagan] priests on their altars and purged and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.  
2X3406 In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins,  
2X3407 he tore down the altars and beat and crushed the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.  
2X3408 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, when he had purged the land and the [LORD’S] house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder (secretary), to repair the house of the LORD his God.  
2X3409 When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, who guarded the doors, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
2X3410 Then they gave it to the workmen who were appointed over the house of the LORD, and the workmen who were working in the house of the LORD gave it [to others] to repair and restore the house (temple).  
2X3411 They in turn gave it to the carpenters and builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings (trusses, braces) and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.  
2X3412 The men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise and inspect [their work]: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments.  
2X3413 They were also in charge of the burden bearers [who carried heavy loads], and supervised all the workmen in any kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.  
2X3414 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.  
2X3415 Hilkiah told Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And he gave the book to Shaphan.  
2X3416 Shaphan brought the book to the king, but [first] reported further to him, “Your servants are doing everything that was entrusted to them.  
2X3417 They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hands of the overseers and the workmen.”  
2X3418 Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.  
2X3419 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes.  
2X3420 Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying,  
2X3421 “Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah in regard to the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD which has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept and obeyed the word of the LORD, to act in accordance with everything that is written in this book.”  
2X3422 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem, in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her about this.  
2X3423 And she answered them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me,  
2X3424 thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah.  
2X3425 Because they have abandoned (rejected) Me and have burned incense to other gods, in order to provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands, My wrath will be poured out on this place and it will not be extinguished.”’  
2X3426 But you shall say the following to King Josiah of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD: ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, concerning the words which you have heard,  
2X3427 “Because your heart was gentle and penitent and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” declares the LORD.  
2X3428 “Behold, I will gather you to your fathers [in death], and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the evil which I am going to bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.  
2X3429 Then the king sent word and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.  
2X3430 And the king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read aloud so they could hear all the words of the Book of the Covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.  
2X3431 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD—to walk after (obey) the LORD, and to keep His commandments, His testimonies, and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.  
2X3432 Further, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin stand [with him, in confirmation of it]. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.  
2X3433 Josiah removed all the [pagan] repulsive things from all the lands belonging to the sons (descendants) of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers.  
2X3501 Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem; they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month.  
2X3502 He appointed the priests to their positions and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.  
2X3503 To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD he said, “Put the holy ark in the house (temple) which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built; it shall not be a burden [carried] on your shoulders any longer. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.  
2X3504 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ (ancestors’) households by your divisions, in accordance with the instructions of David king of Israel, and the instructions of his son Solomon.  
2X3505 And stand in the holy place [of the priests] according to the sections of the fathers’ households of your fellow kinsmen the lay people, and according to the Levites, by division of [the families of] a father’s household.  
2X3506 Slaughter the Passover lambs and consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your fellow countrymen to carry out (obey) the word of the LORD given by Moses.”  
2X3507 Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, to all who were present, flocks of lambs and young goats numbering 30,000, all as Passover offerings, and 3,000 bulls—these were from the king’s property.  
2X3508 His officers also contributed a voluntary offering to the people, the priests and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the officials of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 from the flocks [of lambs and young goats], and 300 bulls.  
2X3509 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 from the flocks [of lambs and young goats], and 500 bulls.  
2X3510 When the service was ready, the priests stood in their [assigned] places and the Levites by their divisions, in accordance with the king’s command.  
2X3511 They slaughtered the Passover lambs, and while the priests sprinkled the blood received from their hand, the Levites skinned the animals.  
2X3512 Then they removed the burnt offerings, to distribute them to the sections of the fathers’ households of the lay people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the bulls.  
2X3513 So they roasted the Passover lambs on the fire according to the ordinance; and they cooked the holy offerings in pots, in kettles, and in pans, and quickly brought them to all the lay people.  
2X3514 Afterward the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night; so the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.  
2X3515 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were also in their places in accordance with the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their service, because their kinsmen the Levites prepared for them.  
2X3516 So all the service of the LORD was prepared on that day to celebrate the Passover, and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, in accordance with the command of King Josiah.  
2X3517 Thus the sons of Israel who were present celebrated the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.  
2X3518 No Passover like it had been celebrated in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
2X3519 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign this Passover was celebrated.  
2X3520 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.  
2X3521 But Neco sent messengers to Josiah, saying, “What business do we have with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”  
2X3522 Yet Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight against him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight against him on the plain of Megiddo.  
2X3523 The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”  
2X3524 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.  
2X3525 Then Jeremiah sung a lament (funeral song) for Josiah, and all the male and female singers have spoken about Josiah in their laments to this day. They made the songs an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are written in the Lamentations.  
2X3526 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of devotion and godly achievements as written in the Law of the LORD,  
2X3527 and his acts, from the first to the last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.  
2X3601 Then the people of the land took Joahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.  
2X3602 Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned [only] three months in Jerusalem.  
2X3603 Then the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and imposed a fine on the land of a hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.  
2X3604 The king of Egypt made Eliakim, the brother of Joahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother, and brought him to Egypt.  
2X3605 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.  
2X3606 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze [chains] to take him to Babylon.  
2X3607 Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house (temple) of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his temple there.  
2X3608 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and the repulsive acts which he committed, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And his son Jehoiachin became king in his place.  
2X3609 Jehoiachin was eight[teen] years old when he became king, and he reigned for three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.  
2X3610 Now at the turn of the year [in the spring], King Nebuchadnezzar sent word and had him brought to Babylon with the valuable articles of the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.  
2X3611 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem.  
2X3612 He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke for the LORD.  
2X3613 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God. He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel.  
2X3614 Also, all the officials of the priests and the people were very unfaithful, following all the repulsive acts of the [pagan] nations; and they defiled the house of the LORD which He had sanctified in Jerusalem.  
2X3615 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.  
2X3616 But they kept mocking the messengers of God and despising His words and scoffing at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy or healing.  
2X3617 Therefore He brought the king of the Chaldeans against them, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm; He gave them all into his hand.  
2X3618 And as for all the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officials, he brought them all to Babylon.  
2X3619 Then they burned the house of God and tore down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire, and destroyed all its valuable articles.  
2X3620 He deported to Babylon those who had escaped from the sword; and they were servants to him and to his sons until the kingdom of Persia was established there,  
2X3621 to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had restored its Sabbaths; for as long as the land lay desolate it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.  
2X3622 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah—the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,  
2X3623 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up [to Jerusalem]!’”  
Er0101 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [that is, the first year he ruled Babylon], in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah [the prophet], the LORD stirred up (put in motion) the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:  
Er0102 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  
Er0103 Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is God who is in Jerusalem.  
Er0104 In any place where a survivor (Jewish exile) may live, let the men (Gentiles) of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”  
Er0105 Then the heads of the fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all those whose spirits God had stirred up, arose to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.  
Er0106 All those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle, and with valuable things, in addition to all that was given as a freewill offering.  
Er0107 Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem [when he captured that city] and had put in the house of his gods.  
Er0108 And Cyrus, king of Persia, had Mithredath the treasurer bring them out, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the governor (leader) of Judah.  
Er0109 And they counted: 30 dishes (basins) of gold, 1,000 dishes of silver, 29 duplicates;  
Er0110 30 [small] gold bowls, 410 [small] silver bowls of a second kind, and 1,000 other articles.  
Er0111 All the articles of gold and of silver totaled 5,400. All these Sheshbazzar [the governor] brought up with the exiles who went from Babylon up to Jerusalem.  
Er0201 Now these are the people of the province [of Judah] who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city.  
Er0202 These came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:  
Er0203 the sons (descendants) of Parosh, 2,172;  
Er0204 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;  
Er0205 the sons of Arah, 775;  
Er0206 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;  
Er0207 the sons of Elam, 1,254;  
Er0208 the sons of Zattu, 945;  
Er0209   the sons of Zaccai, 760;   
Er0210   the sons of Bani, 642;   
Er0211 the sons of Bebai, 623;  
Er0212 the sons of Azgad, 1,222;  
Er0213 the sons of Adonikam, 666;  
Er0214 the sons of Bigvai, 2,056;  
Er0215 the sons of Adin, 454;  
Er0216 the sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98;  
Er0217 the sons of Bezai, 323;  
Er0218   the sons of Jorah, 112;   
Er0219 the sons of Hashum, 223;  
Er0220 the sons of Gibbar, 95;  
Er0221 the men of Bethlehem, 123;  
Er0222 the men of Netophah, 56;  
Er0223 the men of Anathoth, 128;  
Er0224 the sons of Azmaveth, 42;  
Er0225 the sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743;  
Er0226 the sons of Ramah and Geba, 621;  
Er0227 the men of Michmas, 122;  
Er0228 the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;  
Er0229 the sons of Nebo, 52;  
Er0230   the sons of Magbish, 156;   
Er0231 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;  
Er0232 the sons of Harim, 320;  
Er0233 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 725;  
Er0234 the men of Jericho, 345;  
Er0235 the sons of Senaah, 3,630.  
Er0236 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;  
Er0237 the sons of Immer, 1,052;  
Er0238 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;  
Er0239 the sons of Harim, 1,017.  
Er0240 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.  
Er0241 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 128.  
Er0242 The sons of the gatekeepers: of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai, in all 139.  
Er0243 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,  
Er0244 the sons of Keros, Siaha, Padon,  
Er0245 the sons of Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,  
Er0246 the sons of Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,  
Er0247 the sons of Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,  
Er0248 the sons of Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,  
Er0249 the sons of Uzza, Paseah, Besai,  
Er0250 the sons of Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim,  
Er0251 the sons of Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,  
Er0252 the sons of Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,  
Er0253 the sons of Barkos, Sisera, Temah,  
Er0254 the sons of Neziah, Hatipha.  
Er0255 The sons of [King] Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, Hassophereth (Sophereth), Peruda,  
Er0256 the sons of Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,  
Er0257 the sons of Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, Ami.  
Er0258 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants totaled 392.  
Er0259 Now these are the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not provide evidence of their fathers’ households and their descendants, whether they were of Israel:  
Er0260 the sons of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, 652.  
Er0261 Of the sons of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, of Hakkoz, and of Barzillai, who took a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and he was known by their name.  
Er0262 These searched [for their names] among those registered in the genealogies, but they were not found; so they were excluded from the priesthood as [ceremonially] unclean.  
Er0263 The governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things [the priests’ food] until a priest stood up with Urim and Thummim [who by consulting these articles in his breastplate could determine God’s will in the matter].  
Er0264 The whole assembly totaled 42,360,  
Er0265 besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337; and [among them] they had 200 male and female singers.  
Er0266 Their horses totaled 736; their mules, 245;  
Er0267 their camels totaled 435; their donkeys, 6,720.  
Er0268 Some of the heads of the fathers’ households (extended families), when they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, made voluntary contributions for the house of God to rebuild it on its [old] foundation.  
Er0269 They gave according to their ability to the treasury for the work, 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly [linen] garments.  
Er0270 So the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their [own] cities, and all Israel [gradually settled] into their cities.  
Er0301 When the seventh month came and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.  
Er0302 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God.  
Er0303 So they set up the altar on its [old] foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, morning and evening.  
Er0304 They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of daily burnt offerings, in accordance with the ordinances, as each day required;  
Er0305 and afterward, there was the continual burnt offering, the offering at the New Moons, and at all the appointed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and the offerings of everyone who made a voluntary offering to the LORD.  
Er0306 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, but the foundation of the temple of the LORD had not been laid.  
Er0307 They gave money to the masons and to the carpenters, and gave food, drink, and [olive] oil to the people from Sidon and Tyre, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the seaport of Joppa, in accordance with the authorization they had from Cyrus king of Persia.  
Er0308 In the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began [the work], with the rest of their brothers—the priests and Levites and all who came to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.  
Er0309 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the house of God.  
Er0310 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with their cymbals, to praise the LORD in accordance with the directions of David king of Israel.  
Er0311 They sang [responsively], praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness (mercy) toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.  
Er0312 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house (temple), wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy,  
Er0313 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away.  
Er0401 Now when [the Samaritans] the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles from the captivity were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,  
Er0402 they came to Zerubbabel [who was now governor] and to the heads of the fathers’ households and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God [and worship] just as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”  
Er0403 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.”  
Er0404 Then [the Samaritans and others of] the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them [to deter them] from building,  
Er0405 and hired advisers [to work] against them to frustrate their plans during the entire time that Cyrus king of Persia reigned, [and this lasted] even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.  
Er0406 Now in the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), in the beginning of his reign, the Samaritans wrote [to him] an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem [who had returned from exile].  
Er0407 Later, in the days of [King] Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the text of the letter was written in Aramaic and translated from Aramaic.  
Er0408 Rehum the [Persian] commander [of the Samaritans] and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows—  
Er0409 then wrote Rehum the [Persian] commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the lesser governors, the officials, the secretaries, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the Elamites,  
Er0410 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the region west of the [Euphrates] River. Now  
Er0411 this is a copy of the letter which they sent to him: “To King Artaxerxes from your servants, the men in the region west of the [Euphrates] River; and now:  
Er0412 Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us at Jerusalem. They are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city and are finishing its walls and repairing the foundations.  
Er0413 Now let it be known to the king, that if that city is rebuilt and the walls are finished, then they will not pay tax, custom, or toll, and the revenue of the kings will be diminished.  
Er0414 Now because we are in the service of the palace, and it is not proper for us to witness the king’s dishonor, for that reason we have sent word and informed the king,  
Er0415 in order that a search may be made in the record books of your fathers. And you will discover in the record books and learn that this is a rebellious city, damaging to kings and provinces, and that in the past they have incited rebellion within it. That is why that city was laid waste (destroyed).  
Er0416 We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and its walls finished, it will mean that you will have no possession in the province west of the [Euphrates] River.”  
Er0417 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the [Persian] commander, to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and in the rest of the provinces west of the River: “Peace (Greetings). And now,  
Er0418 The document which you sent to us has been translated and read before me.  
Er0419 I have issued a command and a search has been made, and it has been discovered that this city [Jerusalem] in earlier times has revolted against the kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been perpetrated in it.  
Er0420 There have also been mighty kings over Jerusalem who have ruled over all the provinces west of the [Euphrates] River, and tax, custom, and toll were paid to them.  
Er0421 So, now issue a decree to make these men stop [work], so that this city is not rebuilt until a [new] command is issued by me.  
Er0422 Beware of being negligent in carrying out this matter. Why should damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”  
Er0423 Then as soon as the copy of King Artaxerxes’ document was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they went up hurriedly to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them stop [work] by force of arms.  
Er0424 Then the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped. It was suspended until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.  
Er0501 Now when the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, the son (grandson) of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, whose Spirit was over them,  
Er0502 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel [heir to the throne of Judah] and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God [Haggai and Zechariah] were with them, supporting and encouraging them.  
Er0503 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province on the west side of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and said, “Who issued you a decree and authorized you to rebuild this temple and to restore this wall (shrine)?”  
Er0504 Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were reconstructing this building.  
Er0505 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, so they [Tattenai and the others] did not stop them until a report could come before Darius, and then an answer was returned by letter concerning it.  
Er0506 This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of the province west of the [Euphrates] River, and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the officials who were west of the River, sent to Darius the king.  
Er0507 They sent a report to him in which it was written: “To Darius the king, all peace.  
Er0508 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, with beams laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and care and is succeeding in their hands.  
Er0509 Then we asked those elders, ‘Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?’  
Er0510 We also asked them their names so that we might notify you, and so that we might record the names of the men in charge.  
Er0511 They replied, ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are rebuilding the temple which was erected many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.  
Er0512 But because our fathers provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.  
Er0513 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, [the same] King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.  
Er0514 Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought into the temple of Babylon, King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and had them given to a man whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.  
Er0515 And Cyrus said to him, “Take these utensils, go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.”  
Er0516 Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and is not yet completed.’  
Er0517 So now, if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house [in the royal archives] there in Babylon to see if it is true that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send us his decision concerning this matter.”  
Er0601 Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was conducted in Babylon in the archives where the treasures [and records] were stored.  
Er0602 In Ecbatana in the fortress (palace) in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was recorded: “Memorandum—  
Er0603 In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: ‘Concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let the temple (house), the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be strongly laid, its height and its width each 60 cubits,  
Er0604 with three layers of huge stones and one layer of timbers. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.  
Er0605 Also let the gold and silver utensils of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought back to their [proper] places in the temple in Jerusalem; and you shall put them in the house of God.’  
Er0606 “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the [Euphrates] River, Shethar-bozenai and your associates, the officials who are west of the River, keep far away from there.  
Er0607 Leave the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site.  
Er0608 Also, I issue a decree as to what you are to do for these Jewish elders for the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces west of the River, and that without delay.  
Er0609 Whatever is needed, including young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, according to the request of the priests at Jerusalem, let it all be given to them daily without fail,  
Er0610 so that they may offer pleasing (sweet-smelling) sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.  
Er0611 I have also issued a decree that if there is any man who violates this edict, a beam of timber shall be pulled from his house [and set up]; then he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be turned into a refuse heap for this [violation].  
Er0612 May the God who has caused His Name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who attempts to alter this command, so as to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be carried out quickly and with due diligence.”  
Er0613 Then Tattenai, governor of the province west of the [Euphrates] River, with Shethar-bozenai and their associates carried out the decree with due diligence, just as King Darius had sent and commanded.  
Er0614 And the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building as commanded by the God of Israel and in accordance with the decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia.  
Er0615 This temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.  
Er0616 And all Israel—the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the [former] exiles—celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.  
Er0617 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and, as a sin offering for all Israel, 12 male goats, according to the number of Israel’s tribes.  
Er0618 Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.  
Er0619 The [former] exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.  
Er0620 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were [ceremonially] clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.  
Er0621 The Passover was eaten by the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) who returned from exile and by all those who had separated themselves from the [ceremonial] uncleanness of the nations of the land to join them, in order to seek the LORD God of Israel.  
Er0622 They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he encouraged them and strengthened their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.  
Er0701 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes I [son of Ahasuerus (Xerxes)] king of Persia, Ezra the son (descendant) of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,  
Er0702 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,  
Er0703 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,  
Er0704 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,  
Er0705 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—  
Er0706 this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law (the five books) of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him everything that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.  
Er0707 Some of the sons of Israel, with some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up [from Babylon] to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.  
Er0708 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.  
Er0709 For on the first of the first month he started out from Babylon, and on the first of the fifth month he arrived in Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was on him.  
Er0710 For Ezra had set his heart (resolved) to study and interpret the Law of the LORD, and to practice it and teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.  
Er0711 Now this is a copy of the decree that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe [who was] learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and of His statutes to Israel:  
Er0712 “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, perfect peace (greetings). And now  
Er0713 I have issued a decree that all of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.  
Er0714 For you are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem in accordance with the Law of your God, which is in your hand,  
Er0715 and to bring [with you] the silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,  
Er0716 and all the silver and gold which you find in the whole province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests for the house of their God in Jerusalem.  
Er0717 Therefore with this money, you shall diligently buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.  
Er0718 And whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, you may do in accordance with the will of your God.  
Er0719 As for the utensils which are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver [those] in full before the God of Jerusalem.  
Er0720 The rest of the things required for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to provide, provide it from the royal treasury.  
Er0721 “And I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers in the provinces west of the [Euphrates] River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently and at once—  
Er0722 even up to 100 talents of silver, 100 kors (measures) of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of [olive] oil, and salt as needed.  
Er0723 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done diligently and with enthusiasm for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.  
Er0724 We also inform you that it is not authorized to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, temple servants or other servants of this house of God.  
Er0725 “You, Ezra, are to appoint magistrates and judges in accordance with the wisdom and instruction of your God which is in your hand, so that they may judge all the people who are in the province west of the [Euphrates] River; appoint those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who does not know them.  
Er0726 Whoever does not observe and practice the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly and promptly, whether it be for death or banishment or confiscation of property or imprisonment.”  
Er0727 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers [said Ezra], who put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn and glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,  
Er0728 and has extended His mercy and lovingkindness to me before the king, his advisers, and all the king’s mighty officials. I was strengthened and encouraged, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together outstanding men of Israel to go up with me [to Jerusalem].  
Er0801 These are the heads of their fathers’ households and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon in the reign of King Artaxerxes:  
Er0802 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom; of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel; of the sons of David, Hattush;  
Er0803 of the sons of Shecaniah who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men by genealogy;  
Er0804 of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, with 200 men;  
Er0805 of the sons of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, with 300 men;  
Er0806 of the sons of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, with 50 men;  
Er0807 of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, with 70 men;  
Er0808 of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, with 80 men;  
Er0809 of the sons of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, with 218 men;  
Er0810 of the sons of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, with 160 men;  
Er0811 of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, with 28 men;  
Er0812 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, with 110 men;  
Er0813 of the sons of Adonikam, the last to come, their names are Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, with 60 men;  
Er0814 and of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud, with 70 men.  
Er0815 Now I gathered them together at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days. I observed the people and the priests, and I did not find any Levites there.  
Er0816 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, [who were] leading men, and also for Joiarib and Elnathan, [who were] teachers.  
Er0817 And I sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers, the temple servants at the place Casiphia, that is, to bring us servants (ministers) for the house of our God.  
Er0818 And as the good hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of understanding (insight) from the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, named Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers (relatives), 18 men;  
Er0819 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his brothers (relatives) and their sons, 20 men;  
Er0820 also 220 of the temple servants, whom David and the leaders had set apart [with their descendants] for the service of the Levites. They were all designated by name.  
Er0821 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava, so that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions.  
Er0822 For I was ashamed to request troops and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had told the king, “The hand of our God is favorable toward all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who abandon (turn away from) Him.”  
Er0823 So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.  
Er0824 Then I set apart twelve leading priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers (relatives),  
Er0825 and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the utensils, the offering for the house of our God which the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present there had offered.  
Er0826 I weighed into their hands 650 talents of silver, and silver utensils worth 100 talents, and 100 talents of gold;  
Er0827 also 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two utensils of fine shiny bronze, precious as gold.  
Er0828 Then I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, the utensils are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.  
Er0829 Guard and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests and the Levites and the leaders of the fathers’ households of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.”  
Er0830 So the priests and the Levites received the weighed out silver and gold, and the utensils, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.  
Er0831 We set out from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and He rescued us from the hand of the enemy and those who lay in ambushes along the way.  
Er0832 So we came to Jerusalem and remained there for three days.  
Er0833 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the utensils were weighed out in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them were the Levites—Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.  
Er0834 Every piece was counted and weighed, and all the weight was recorded at that time.  
Er0835 Also the [former] exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, and 12 male goats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.  
Er0836 And they delivered the king’s edicts to the king’s satraps (lieutenants) and to the governors west of the [Euphrates] River, and they supported the people and God’s house.  
Er0901 When these things were completed, the officials came to me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, but have committed the repulsive acts of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.  
Er0902 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the officials and chief men have been foremost in this unfaithful act and direct violation [of God’s will].”  
Er0903 When I heard this, I tore my clothing and my robe [in grief], I pulled out some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled [at the shame of it].  
Er0904 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me as I sat appalled until the evening offering.  
Er0905 At the evening offering I arose from my [time of] humiliation and penitence and having torn my clothing and my robe, I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God,  
Er0906 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongdoings have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown to the heavens.  
Er0907 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been exceedingly guilty; and on account of our wrongdoings we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to complete shame, as it is today.  
Er0908 But now for a brief moment grace has been [shown to us] from the LORD our God, who has left us a surviving remnant and has given us a peg (secure hold) in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage.  
Er0909 For we are slaves; yet our God has not abandoned us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness to us before the kings of Persia, to revive us to rebuild the house of our God, to repair the site of its ruins and to give us a wall [of protection] in Judah and Jerusalem.  
Er0910 “Now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have abandoned (turned away from) Your commandments,  
Er0911 which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is a defiled land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their repulsive acts which have filled it from one end to the other along with their impurity.  
Er0912 So now do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons; and never seek their peace or their prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’  
Er0913 And after everything that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our wrongdoings deserve, and have given us survivors like these,  
Er0914 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who practice these repulsive acts? Would You not be angry with us to the point of total destruction, so that there would be no remnant nor survivor?  
Er0915 O LORD God of Israel, You are [uncompromisingly] just (righteous), for we have been left as survivors, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”  
Er1001 Now while Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and laying himself face down before the house of God, a very large group from Israel, of men, women, and children, gathered to him, for the people wept bitterly.  
Er1002 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.  
Er1003 Therefore let us now make a covenant with our God to send away all the [foreign] wives and their children, in accordance with the advice of my lord and of those who tremble [in reverent obedience] at the commandment of our God; and let it be done in accordance with the Law.  
Er1004 Stand up, for it is your duty, and we will be with you. Be brave and act.”  
Er1005 Then Ezra stood and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, take an oath that they would act in accordance with this proposal; so they took the oath.  
Er1006 Then Ezra got up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib [and spent the night there]. He did not eat bread nor drink water, for he was mourning over the [former] exiles’ faithlessness.  
Er1007 They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the [former] exiles, that they were to assemble at Jerusalem,  
Er1008 and that whoever would not come within three days, by order of the counsel of the leaders and the elders, all his possessions and property would be forfeited and he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.  
Er1009 So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the twentieth [day] of the ninth month, and all the people sat in the open square in front of the house of God, trembling because of [the seriousness of] this matter and because of the heavy rain.  
Er1010 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful [to God] and have married foreign (pagan) women, adding to the guilt of Israel.  
Er1011 So now, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from [your] foreign wives.”  
Er1012 Then all the assembly replied with a loud voice, “It is our responsibility to do just as you have said.  
Er1013 But there are many people and it is the season of heavy rain; so we are unable to stand outside. Nor can the task be done in a day or two, for we have transgressed greatly in this matter.  
Er1014 Let our leaders stand for and represent the entire assembly; let all those in our cities who have married foreign wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of each city, until the burning anger of our God over this matter is turned away from us.”  
Er1015 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.  
Er1016 Then the [former] exiles did so. Ezra the priest and men who were heads of fathers’ households were selected, according to their fathers’ households, each of them by name; and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to investigate the matter.  
Er1017 And by the first day of the first month they finished investigating all the men married to foreign wives.  
Er1018 Now among the sons of the priests who had married foreign women were found: of the sons of Jeshua [the high priest] the son of Jozadak, and his brothers—Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.  
Er1019 They vowed to send away their [pagan] wives, and being guilty, they each offered a ram of the flock for their offense.  
Er1020 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah;  
Er1021 and of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah;  
Er1022 and of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.  
Er1023 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, that is, Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.  
Er1024 Of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.  
Er1025 Of Israel, of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah (Hashabiah), and Benaiah;  
Er1026 and of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah;  
Er1027 and of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza;  
Er1028 and of the sons also of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai;  
Er1029 and of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth;  
Er1030 and of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh;  
Er1031 and of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,  
Er1032 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah;  
Er1033 of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei;  
Er1034 of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,  
Er1035   Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,   
Er1036     Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,    
Er1037 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu,  
Er1038 Bani, Binnui, Shimei,  
Er1039 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,  
Er1040     Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,    
Er1041 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,  
Er1042 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.  
Er1043 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.  
Er1044 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had wives by whom they had children.  
Ne0101 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year [of the Persian king], as I was in the capitol of Susa,  
Ne0102 Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped and survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.  
Ne0103 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its [fortified] gates have been burned (destroyed) by fire.”  
Ne0104 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying [constantly] before the God of heaven.  
Ne0105 And I said, “Please, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,  
Ne0106 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.  
Ne0107 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.  
Ne0108 Please remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful and violate your obligations to Me I will scatter you [abroad] among the peoples;  
Ne0109 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered are in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen for My Name to dwell.’  
Ne0110 Now they are Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.  
Ne0111 Please, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king].” For I was cupbearer to the king [of Persia].  
Ne0201 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was placed before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not [previously] been sad in his presence.  
Ne0202 So the king said to me, “Why do you look sad when you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very frightened,  
Ne0203 and I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?”  
Ne0204 The king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.  
Ne0205 I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your presence, [I ask] that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, so that I may rebuild it.”  
Ne0206 The king, beside whom the queen was sitting, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time [for my return].  
Ne0207 Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the provinces beyond the [Euphrates] River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I reach Judah,  
Ne0208 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to construct beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, and for the city wall and for the house which I will occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.  
Ne0209 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the [Euphrates] River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent officers of the army and horsemen with me.  
Ne0210 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it caused them great displeasure that someone had come to see about the welfare and prosperity of the Israelites.  
Ne0211 So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days.  
Ne0212 Then I got up in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting in my heart to do for Jerusalem, and there was no animal with me except the one on which I was riding [so as not to attract attention].  
Ne0213 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate toward the Dragon’s Well and to the Refuse Gate and inspected the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were consumed by fire.  
Ne0214 Then I passed over to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but there was no place for the animal that I was riding to pass.  
Ne0215 So I went up at night by the ravine [of Kidron] and inspected the wall; then I turned back and entered [the city] by the Valley Gate, and returned.  
Ne0216 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done; nor had I yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the rest who did the work.  
Ne0217 Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in—how Jerusalem is desolate and lies in ruins and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.”  
Ne0218 Then I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they thoroughly supported the good work.  
Ne0219 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked us and regarded us with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”  
Ne0220 I answered them, “The God of heaven [has appointed us for His purpose and] will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”  
Ne0301 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors; and they consecrated the wall [westward] to the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.  
Ne0302 Next to Eliashib the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.  
Ne0303 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors with its bolts and its bars.  
Ne0304 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs.  
Ne0305 Next to him the men of Tekoa made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their overseers.  
Ne0306 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors with its bolts and its bars.  
Ne0307 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, made repairs for the official seat (Jerusalem residence) of the governor [of the province] beyond the [Euphrates] River.  
Ne0308 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.  
Ne0309 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.  
Ne0310 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his own house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.  
Ne0311 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Furnaces.  
Ne0312 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters.  
Ne0313 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and set up its doors with its bolts and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits (1,500 ft.) of the wall as far as the Refuse Gate.  
Ne0314 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors with its bolts and its bars.  
Ne0315 Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, official of the district of Mizpah repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it [with a roof], and set up its doors with its bolts and its bars, and [he rebuilt] the wall of the Pool of Shelah (Siloam) by the King’s Garden as far as the stairs that descend [the eastern slope] from [the section of Jerusalem known as] the City of David.  
Ne0316 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired [the wall] as far as [a point] in front of the tombs of David, and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the guards.  
Ne0317 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district.  
Ne0318 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, official of [the other] half of the district of Keilah.  
Ne0319 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the official of Mizpah, repaired another section [northward] in front of the ascent to the armory at the Angle [in the wall].  
Ne0320 After him Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section [toward the hill], from the Angle [in the wall] to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.  
Ne0321 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another [eastern] section, from the door of Eliashib’s house as far as the end of his house.  
Ne0322 After him the priests, the men of the [lower Jordan] valley, carried out repairs.  
Ne0323 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, carried out repairs beside his own house.  
Ne0324 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section [of the wall], from the house of Azariah to the Angle [in the wall] and to the corner.  
Ne0325 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle [in the wall] and the tower projecting from the upper house (palace) of the king, which is by the courtyard of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.  
Ne0326 The temple servants were living in Ophel [the hill south of the temple], and they made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.  
Ne0327 After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel.  
Ne0328 Above the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each one in front of his own house.  
Ne0329 After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, keeper of the East Gate, repaired the wall.  
Ne0330 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters.  
Ne0331 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner.  
Ne0332 Between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants carried out repairs.  
Ne0401 But when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious, completely enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews.  
Ne0402 He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the heaps of dust and rubbish, even the ones that have been burned?”  
Ne0403 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall.”  
Ne0404 [And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity.  
Ne0405 Do not forgive their wrongdoing and do not let their sin be wiped out before You, for they have offended the builders [and provoked You].  
Ne0406 So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work.  
Ne0407 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry.  
Ne0408 They all conspired together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to cause a disturbance in it.  
Ne0409 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.  
Ne0410 Then [the leaders of] Judah said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, And there is much rubble; We ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.”  
Ne0411 Our enemies said, “They will not know or see us until we are among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.”  
Ne0412 When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times (repeatedly), “From every place you turn, they will come up against us.”  
Ne0413 So I stationed armed men behind the wall in the lowest places, at the open positions [where it was least protected]; and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows.  
Ne0414 When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; [confidently] remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and [with courage from Him] fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and for your homes.”  
Ne0415 Now when our enemies heard that we knew about their plot against us, and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each one to his work.  
Ne0416 From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah.  
Ne0417 Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.  
Ne0418 Every builder had his sword secured at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet [to summon the troops] stood at my side.  
Ne0419 I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.  
Ne0420 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather to us there. Our God will fight for us.”  
Ne0421 So we carried on with the work with half of them holding spears from dawn until the stars came out.  
Ne0422 At that time I also said to the people, “Let each man with his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem so that they may serve as a guard for us at night and a laborer during the day.”  
Ne0423 So neither I, my brothers (relatives), my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each took his weapon [even] to the water.  
Ne0501 Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].  
Ne0502 For there were some who were saying, “We, along with our sons and our daughters, are many; therefore allow us to get grain, so that we may eat and survive.”  
Ne0503 There were others who were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to buy grain because of the famine.”  
Ne0504 There were also others who were saying, “We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards for the [Persian] king’s [heavy] tax.  
Ne0505 Now our flesh (skin) is the same as that of our brothers (relatives), and our children are like their children, yet here we are forcing (selling) our sons and our daughters to be slaves; and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already, and we are powerless [to redeem them] because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”  
Ne0506 Then I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words [of accusation].  
Ne0507 I thought it over and then challenged the nobles and the rulers. I said to them, “You are exacting usury (excessive interest) from your own brother (relative).” So I held a great assembly to confront them.  
Ne0508 I said to them, “According to our ability we have redeemed (purchased back) our Jewish brothers who were sold to the [Gentile] nations; now would you even sell your brothers, that they might be sold to us?” Then they were silent and could not find a [single] word to say.  
Ne0509 So I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunting by the [pagan] nations, our enemies?  
Ne0510 And likewise I, my brothers, and my servants are lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop [charging] this interest.  
Ne0511 Please, give back to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, and also a hundredth part of the money, the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you are lending them.”  
Ne0512 Then they said, “We will give it back and not require anything from them. We will do exactly as you say.” Then I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would act in accordance with this promise.  
Ne0513 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not keep this promise; like this may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said, “Amen!” And they praised the LORD. Then the people acted in accordance with this promise.  
Ne0514 Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my relatives have eaten the governor’s food allowance.  
Ne0515 But the former governors who were [in office] before me put heavy burdens on the people and took food and wine from them in addition to forty shekels of silver [as an excessive monthly salary]; even their servants assumed authority over the people. But I did not do so because of the [reverent] fear of God.  
Ne0516 I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered together there for the work.  
Ne0517 Moreover, there were at my table a hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.  
Ne0518 Now the following were prepared for each day: one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls (poultry) were prepared for me; and in intervals of ten days all sorts of wine was provided in abundance. Yet for all this, I did not demand the governor’s food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.  
Ne0519 Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all I have done for this people.  
Ne0601 Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there was no breach left in it, although at that time I had not set up doors in the gates,  
Ne0602 Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me, saying, “Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.  
Ne0603 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave to come down to [meet with] you?”  
Ne0604 They sent word to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same way.  
Ne0605 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.  
Ne0606 In it was written, “It is reported among the [neighboring] nations, and Gashmu is saying that you and the Jews are planning to revolt, and that is the reason you are rebuilding the wall. And according to these reports, you are to be their king.  
Ne0607 Also [it is reported that] you have appointed prophets to make a proclamation concerning you in Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And now these things will be reported to the [Persian] king. So come now, and let us consult together.”  
Ne0608 I sent a message to him, saying, “Such things as you are saying have not been done; you are inventing them in your own mind.”  
Ne0609 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, [O God,] strengthen my hands.  
Ne0610 When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, “Let us meet [and take refuge] together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple, because they are coming to kill you, and they are coming to kill you at night.”  
Ne0611 But I said, “Should a man like me flee [in fear and hide]? Should someone like me enter the temple [for sanctuary] to save his life? I will not go.”  
Ne0612 Then I realized that God had not sent him, but he spoke this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.  
Ne0613 He was hired for this reason, that I would be frightened and do as he said and sin, so that they would have [grounds to make] a malicious report in order to censure and disgrace me.  
Ne0614 Remember, O My God, Tobiah and Sanballat in regard to these actions of theirs, and also [remember] the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who were trying to frighten me.  
Ne0615 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty-two days.  
Ne0616 When all our enemies heard about it, and all the [Gentile] nations around us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.  
Ne0617 Moreover, in those days many letters went from the nobles of Judah to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.  
Ne0618 For many in Judah were bound by oath to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.  
Ne0619 Also, they were speaking about Tobiah’s good deeds in my presence, and reporting to him what I said. Then Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.  
Ne0701 Now when the wall had been rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites had been appointed,  
Ne0702 I put my brother Hanani, with Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for Hananiah was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many [of the others].  
Ne0703 I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while the watchmen are still standing guard, have them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from the residents of Jerusalem, each at his post [on the wall], and each in front of his own house.”  
Ne0704 Now the city was spacious and large, but there were few people in it and the houses had not [yet] been built.  
Ne0705 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the people to be registered by genealogy. Then I found the register of the genealogy of those who came [from Babylon] first, and I found the following record:  
Ne0706 These are the sons (descendants, people) of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported [to Babylon]; they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city,  
Ne0707 the ones who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The men of the people of Israel numbered:  
Ne0708 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;  
Ne0709 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;  
Ne0710 the sons of Arah, 652;  
Ne0711 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818;  
Ne0712 the sons of Elam, 1,254;  
Ne0713 the sons of Zattu, 845;  
Ne0714   the sons of Zaccai, 760;   
Ne0715 the sons of Binnui, 648;  
Ne0716 the sons of Bebai, 628;  
Ne0717 the sons of Azgad, 2,322;  
Ne0718 the sons of Adonikam, 667;  
Ne0719 the sons of Bigvai, 2,067;  
Ne0720 the sons of Adin, 655;  
Ne0721 the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98;  
Ne0722 the sons of Hashum, 328;  
Ne0723 the sons of Bezai, 324;  
Ne0724 the sons of Hariph, 112;  
Ne0725 the sons of Gibeon, 95;  
Ne0726 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;  
Ne0727 the men of Anathoth, 128;  
Ne0728   the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42;   
Ne0729 the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743;  
Ne0730 the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;  
Ne0731 the men of Michmas, 122;  
Ne0732 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;  
Ne0733 the men of the other Nebo, 52;  
Ne0734 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254;  
Ne0735 the sons of Harim, 320;  
Ne0736 the sons of Jericho, 345;  
Ne0737 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721;  
Ne0738 the sons of Senaah, 3,930.  
Ne0739 These are the priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973;  
Ne0740 the sons of Immer, 1,052;  
Ne0741 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247;  
Ne0742 the sons of Harim, 1,017.  
Ne0743 These are the Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, 74.  
Ne0744 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148.  
Ne0745 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, 138.  
Ne0746 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,  
Ne0747 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,  
Ne0748 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,  
Ne0749 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,  
Ne0750 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,  
Ne0751 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,  
Ne0752 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim,  
Ne0753 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,  
Ne0754 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,  
Ne0755 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah,  
Ne0756 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha.  
Ne0757 The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,  
Ne0758 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,  
Ne0759 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon.  
Ne0760 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants, totaled 392.  
Ne0761 And these were the ones who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer; but they [had no birth records and] could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they were of Israel:  
Ne0762 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642.  
Ne0763 Of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai, who [was so named because he had] married one of the daughters of Barzillai, the [well-known] Gileadite, and was named after them.  
Ne0764 These men searched for their ancestral registration among those recorded in the genealogies, but it was not located; so they were excluded from the priesthood as [ceremonially] unclean.  
Ne0765 The governor told them that they should not eat any of the most holy food until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim [to determine God’s will in the matter].  
Ne0766 The entire assembly together was 42,360,  
Ne0767 besides their male and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337; and they had 245 male and female singers.  
Ne0768 Their horses were 736; their mules, 245;  
Ne0769 their camels, 435; their donkeys, 6,720.  
Ne0770 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, 530 priests’ garments.  
Ne0771 Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas.  
Ne0772 And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priests’ garments.  
Ne0773 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, along with all Israel, lived in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob) were in their cities.  
Ne0801 Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.  
Ne0802 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.  
Ne0803 Then he read from it, in front of the open square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law.  
Ne0804 Ezra the scribe stood on a [large] wooden platform which they had constructed for this purpose. And beside him [on the platform] stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.  
Ne0805 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  
Ne0806 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands; and they knelt down and worshiped the LORD with their faces toward the ground.  
Ne0807 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, explained the Law to the people, and the people remained in their places.  
Ne0808 So they read from the Book of the Law of God, translating and explaining it so that the people understood the reading.  
Ne0809 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.  
Ne0810 Then Ezra said to them, “Go [your way], eat the rich festival food, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be worried, for the joy of the LORD is your strength and your stronghold.”  
Ne0811 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be worried.”  
Ne0812 Then all the people went on their way to eat, to drink, to send portions [of food to others] and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been communicated to them.  
Ne0813 On the second day, all of the heads of fathers’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, were gathered before Ezra the scribe to gain insight into the words of the Law (divine instruction).  
Ne0814 They found written in the Law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in booths (huts) during the feast of the seventh month.  
Ne0815 So they proclaimed and published an announcement in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hills and bring olive branches, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written.”  
Ne0816 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on the roof of his house, and in their courtyards and the courtyards of God’s house, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the square of the Gate of Ephraim.  
Ne0817 The entire assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. Indeed since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that very day, the Israelites had not done so. And there was great rejoicing and celebration.  
Ne0818 Every day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days; on the eighth day there was a [closing] solemn assembly in accordance with the ordinance.  
Ne0901 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled with fasting and in sackcloth and with dirt on their heads.  
Ne0902 The descendants of Israel (Jacob) separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the wrongdoings of their fathers.  
Ne0903 While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day and for another fourth [of it] they confessed [their sins] and worshiped the LORD their God.  
Ne0904 On the platform of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and they called out with a loud voice to the LORD their God.  
Ne0905 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless (praise, honor) the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. May Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise.”  
Ne0906 [And Ezra said], “You are the LORD, You alone; You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host (the heavenly bodies), The earth and everything that is on it, The seas and everything that is in them. You give life to all of them, And the heavenly host is bowing down [in worship] to You.  
Ne0907 “You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram And brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, And gave him the name Abraham.  
Ne0908 “You found his heart to be faithful before You, And You made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite, Of the Hittite, of the Amorite, Of the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite— To give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, For You are righteous and just.  
Ne0909 “You saw our fathers’ affliction in Egypt, And You heard their cry by the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds).  
Ne0910 “Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For You knew that they behaved arrogantly toward them (the Israelites), And You made a name for Yourself, as it is to this day.  
Ne0911 “You divided the sea before them, So that they passed through the midst of the sea on dry land; You hurled their pursuers into the depths, Like a stone into mighty and raging waters.  
Ne0912 “And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light the way for them In which they were to go.  
Ne0913 “Then You came down on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven; And You gave them fair ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments.  
Ne0914 “So You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And gave them commandments, statutes, and law, Through Your servant Moses.  
Ne0915 “You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought water for them out of a rock for their thirst, And You told them to enter and take possession of The land that You swore to give them.  
Ne0916 “But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly; They stiffened their necks and would not heed Your commandments.  
Ne0917 “They refused to listen and obey, And did not remember Your wondrous acts which You had performed among them; So they stiffened their necks and [in their rebellion] appointed a leader in order to return them to slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and merciful and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not abandon them.  
Ne0918 “Even when they had made for themselves A calf of cast metal And said, ‘This is your god Who brought you up from Egypt,’ And committed great [and contemptible] blasphemies,  
Ne0919 You, in Your great mercy and compassion, Did not abandon them in the wilderness; The pillar of the cloud did not leave them by day, To lead them in the way, Nor the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way they should go.  
Ne0920 “You [also] gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, You did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And You gave them water for their thirst.  
Ne0921 “Indeed, for forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.  
Ne0922 “You also gave them kingdoms and peoples, And You allotted the kingdoms to them as a boundary. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon And the land of Og king of Bashan.  
Ne0923 “You made their children as numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You told their fathers to enter and possess.  
Ne0924 “So their sons (descendants) went in and took possession of the land; And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they pleased.  
Ne0925 “They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all good things, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat, And they reveled and were delighted in Your great goodness.  
Ne0926 “Yet they were disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who warned them To return to You; And they committed great [and contemptible] blasphemies.  
Ne0927 “Therefore You handed them over to their enemies who oppressed them. But when they cried out to You in the time of their suffering and distress, You heard them from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them people to rescue them. Who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.  
Ne0928 “But as soon as they had rest, they again did evil before You; Therefore You abandoned them into the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. Yet when they turned and cried out again to You, You heard them from heaven, And You rescued them many times in accordance with Your compassion,  
Ne0929 And You admonished them and warned them to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and arrogantly and did not heed Your commandments, but sinned against Your ordinances, Which by keeping, a man will live. But they turned a stubborn shoulder, stiffened their neck, and would not listen.  
Ne0930 “Yet You were patient with them for many years, And admonished them and warned them by Your Spirit through Your prophets; Still they would not listen. Therefore You gave them into the hand (power) of the peoples of the lands.  
Ne0931 “Yet in Your great compassion You did not utterly destroy them or abandon them, For You are a gracious and merciful God.  
Ne0932 “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, Since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.  
Ne0933 “However, You are just and righteous in everything that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.  
Ne0934 “Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your warnings which You have given them.  
Ne0935 “But they, in their kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their wicked deeds.  
Ne0936 “Behold, we are slaves today, And as for the land which You gave our fathers, to eat of its fruit and its goodness, Behold, we are slaves in it.  
Ne0937 “Its abundant produce is for the kings Whom You have set over us because of our sins; They also rule over our bodies And over our cattle as they please, So we are in great distress.  
Ne0938 “Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.”  
Ne1001 Now these were the names on the sealed document: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah. And Zedekiah,  
Ne1002 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,  
Ne1003 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,  
Ne1004 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,  
Ne1005 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,  
Ne1006 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,  
Ne1007 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,  
Ne1008 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah—these were the priests.  
Ne1009 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,  
Ne1010 and their brothers: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,  
Ne1011 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,  
Ne1012 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,  
Ne1013 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.  
Ne1014 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,  
Ne1015 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,  
Ne1016 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,  
Ne1017 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,  
Ne1018 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,  
Ne1019 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,  
Ne1020 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,  
Ne1021 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,  
Ne1022 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,  
Ne1023 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,  
Ne1024 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,  
Ne1025 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,  
Ne1026 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,  
Ne1027 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.  
Ne1028 Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding—  
Ne1029 are joining with their fellow Israelites, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given through Moses the servant of God, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, and His ordinances and statutes:  
Ne1030 and that we will not give our daughters [as wives] to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.  
Ne1031 As for the peoples of the land who bring merchandise or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day; and we will give up raising crops during the seventh year [leaving the land uncultivated], and forgive every debt.  
Ne1032 Also we pledge ourselves to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service [expenses] of the house of our God:  
Ne1033 for the showbread; for the continual grain offerings and the continual burnt offerings; [for the offerings on] the Sabbaths, the New Moons, the [feasts at] appointed times; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel; and for all the work of the house of our God.  
Ne1034 We have also cast lots—the priests, the Levites, and the people—for [contributing] the supply of wood, to bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers’ households, at set times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law;  
Ne1035 and [we obligate ourselves] to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all the fruit of every tree to the house of the LORD annually,  
Ne1036 as well as the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the priests who minister in the house of our God.  
Ne1037 We will bring the first [and best] of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the [olive] oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.  
Ne1038 The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when they receive tithes, and they shall bring one-tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.  
Ne1039 For the Israelites and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the chambers; the utensils of the sanctuary, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers, and the singers are there. In this manner, we will not neglect the house of our God.  
Ne1101 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one [person] out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities.  
Ne1102 And the people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.  
Ne1103 These are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah everyone lived on his property in their cities—the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants.  
Ne1104 And some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;  
Ne1105 Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.  
Ne1106 All the sons of Perez who lived at Jerusalem were 468 able men.  
Ne1107 These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah;  
Ne1108 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 928.  
Ne1109 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second in command of the city.  
Ne1110 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,  
Ne1111 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God,  
Ne1112 and their brothers (relatives, fellow workers) who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,  
Ne1113 and his brothers, heads of fathers’ households, 242; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,  
Ne1114 and their brothers, brave men, 128. Their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim [one of the great men].  
Ne1115 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;  
Ne1116 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God;  
Ne1117 Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.  
Ne1118 All the Levites in the holy city totaled 284.  
Ne1119 The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their kinsmen, who kept watch at the gates, totaled 172.  
Ne1120 Now the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance.  
Ne1121 But the temple servants were living in Ophel; Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.  
Ne1122 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from Asaph’s sons, who were the singers in regard to the work of the house of God.  
Ne1123 For there was a command from the [Persian] king regarding the singers, as to their daily task.  
Ne1124 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king’s representative in all matters concerning the people.  
Ne1125 As for the villages with their fields, some sons (descendants) of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its towns, Dibon and its towns, and Jekabzeel and its villages,  
Ne1126 in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth-pelet,  
Ne1127 in Hazar-shual and in Beersheba and its towns,  
Ne1128 in Ziklag and in Meconah and its towns,  
Ne1129 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,  
Ne1130 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its towns. So they camped from Beersheba as far as the Hinnom Valley.  
Ne1131 The sons (descendants) of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its towns,  
Ne1132 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,  
Ne1133 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,  
Ne1134 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,  
Ne1135 Lod, and Ono, the Valley of the Craftsmen.  
Ne1136 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah belonged to Benjamin.  
Ne1201 Now these are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,  
Ne1202 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,  
Ne1203 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,  
Ne1204 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,  
Ne1205 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,  
Ne1206 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,  
Ne1207 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their kinsman in the days of Jeshua.  
Ne1208 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving and praise, he and his brothers.  
Ne1209 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their divisions of service.  
Ne1210 Now Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, Joiakim of Eliashib, Eliashib of Joiada,  
Ne1211 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan of Jaddua.  
Ne1212 And in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers’ households were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;  
Ne1213 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;  
Ne1214 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;  
Ne1215 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;  
Ne1216 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;  
Ne1217 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;  
Ne1218 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;  
Ne1219 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;  
Ne1220 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;  
Ne1221 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.  
Ne1222 As for the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the heads of fathers’ households were registered; so were the priests, during the reign of Darius the Persian.  
Ne1223 The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ households, were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.  
Ne1224 The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, and their brothers opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, as commanded by David the man of God, [one] division [singing] in response to [the men in the opposite] division.  
Ne1225 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates.  
Ne1226 These men served in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe.  
Ne1227 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places in order to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving, and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps, and lyres.  
Ne1228 So the sons of the singers gathered together from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites,  
Ne1229 from Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.  
Ne1230 The priests and the Levites purified themselves; they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall.  
Ne1231 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on the wall, and I appointed two large thanksgiving choirs, the first one proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.  
Ne1232 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them,  
Ne1233 with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,  
Ne1234 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,  
Ne1235 and some of the priests’ sons with trumpets, and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph,  
Ne1236 and his brothers, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went in front of them.  
Ne1237 At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the City of David by the stairway of the wall above David’s house to the Water Gate on the east.  
Ne1238 The second choir went to the left; I followed with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of the Furnaces, to the Broad Wall,  
Ne1239 and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, by the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate; and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.  
Ne1240 Then the two choirs stood in the house of God. So did I, and half of the officials with me;  
Ne1241 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah, with trumpets;  
Ne1242 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah as their leader.  
Ne1243 Also on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy; the women and children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from far away.  
Ne1244 On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and the Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.  
Ne1245 And they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification; so did the singers and gatekeepers, as David and his son Solomon had commanded.  
Ne1246 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God.  
Ne1247 So in the days of Zerubbabel and [later of] Nehemiah, all Israel would give the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron [the priests].  
Ne1301 On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses so that the people could hear [its words], and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever enter the assembly of God,  
Ne1302 because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. Yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.  
Ne1303 When the Jews heard the law, they separated from Israel all who were of foreign descent.  
Ne1304 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah [our adversary],  
Ne1305 had prepared for Tobiah a large room (chamber) where previously they had put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and [olive] oil which were given by commandment for the Levites, the singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.  
Ne1306 But during all this time I was not at Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes [Persian] king of Babylon I went to the king. Then after some time I asked for a leave [of absence] from the king,  
Ne1307 and I came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil [thing] that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by preparing a room for him in the courtyards of the house of God.  
Ne1308 It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah’s household furnishings out of the room.  
Ne1309 Then I gave an order, and they cleaned the rooms; and I put back there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.  
Ne1310 I also discovered that the portions due the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone away, each one back to his own field.  
Ne1311 Then I reprimanded the officials and said, “Why is the house of God neglected?” So I gathered the Levites and singers together and restored them at their posts.  
Ne1312 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storehouses.  
Ne1313 I appointed [as treasurers] over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites; assisting them was Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful and reliable, and their task was to distribute [supplies] to their brothers (fellow Levites).  
Ne1314 O my God, remember me concerning this and do not wipe out my loyal deeds and kindnesses which I have done for the house of my God and for its services.  
Ne1315 In those days I saw some in Judah who were treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves or sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I protested and warned them on the day they sold the produce.  
Ne1316 Also men of Tyre were living there who brought fish and all kinds of merchandise, and they were selling them to the people of Judah on the Sabbath, even in Jerusalem.  
Ne1317 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?  
Ne1318 Did your fathers (ancestors) not do the same, and did our God not bring all this trouble on us and on this city? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”  
Ne1319 Now when it began to get dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath [began], I commanded that the doors be shut and not be opened until after the Sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load [of merchandise] would enter [Jerusalem] on the Sabbath day.  
Ne1320 So once or twice the merchants and sellers of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.  
Ne1321 But I warned them, saying, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you.” From that time on, they did not come on the Sabbath.  
Ne1322 And I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy. O my God, remember me concerning this also and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.  
Ne1323 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.  
Ne1324 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak [Hebrew] the language of Judah, but only the language of his own people.  
Ne1325 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters [in marriage] to their sons, nor take [any of] their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.  
Ne1326 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin [greatly against God] regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin [by turning to other gods and so, judged by God, he lost his kingdom].  
Ne1327 Do we then hear about you that you have done all this great evil, acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign (pagan) women?”  
Ne1328 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I chased him away from me.  
Ne1329 O my God, remember them, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.  
Ne1330 Thus I cleansed and purified them from everything foreign (pagan), and I defined the duties of the priests and Levites, each one in his task;  
Ne1331 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times and for the first fruits. O my God, [please] remember me for good [and imprint me on Your heart].  
Es0101 It was in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who reigned from India to Ethiopia (Cush) over 127 provinces,  
Es0102 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa [the capital of the Persian Empire],  
Es0103 in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and his attendants. The army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there in his presence.  
Es0104 And he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days in all.  
Es0105 When these days were completed, the king held a banquet for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa [the capital], from the greatest [in importance] to the least, a seven-day feast in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace.  
Es0106 There were curtains (draperies) of fine white and violet linen fastened with cords of fine purple linen to silver rings and marble columns. The couches of gold and silver rested on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious colored stones.  
Es0107 Drinks were served in various kinds of golden goblets, and the royal wine was plentiful, in accordance with the generosity of the king.  
Es0108 The drinking was carried on in accordance with the law; no one was compelled [to drink], for the king had directed each official of his household to comply with each guest’s wishes.  
Es0109 Queen Vashti also held a [separate] banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.  
Es0110 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was joyful with wine (in high spirits), he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus [as his attendants],  
Es0111 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown (high turban), to display her beauty before the people and the officials, for she was lovely to see.  
Es0112 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command, which was delivered [to her] by the eunuchs. So the king became extremely angry and burned with rage.  
Es0113 Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times [asking for their advice]—for it was the custom of the king to speak before all those who were familiar with law and legal matters—  
Es0114 and who were close to him [as advisors]: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king and were ranked highest in the kingdom.  
Es0115 [He said,] “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus which was conveyed by the eunuchs?”  
Es0116 And Memucan answered in the presence of the king and the officials, “Vashti the queen has not only wronged the king but [also] all the officials (royal representatives) and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.  
Es0117 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, causing them to look on their husbands with contempt (disrespect), since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’  
Es0118 This [very] day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s refusal will speak [in the same way] to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.  
Es0119 If it pleases the king, let a royal command be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of the Persians and Medes so that it cannot be repealed or modified, that Vashti is no longer to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better and more worthy than she.  
Es0120 So when the king’s great decree is proclaimed throughout his [extensive] kingdom, all women will give honor to their husbands, from the great to the insignificant.”  
Es0121 This statement (advice) pleased the king and the officials, and the king did what Memucan proposed.  
Es0122 So he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, saying that every man should be the master and rule in his own home and that he should speak [in the household] in the language of his own people.  
Es0201 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.  
Es0202 Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.  
Es0203 Let the king appoint administrators in all the provinces of his kingdom, and have them gather all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel in Susa, into the harem, under the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let their beauty preparations be given to them.  
Es0204 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did accordingly.  
Es0205 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,  
Es0206 who had been deported from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.  
Es0207 He was the guardian of Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. The young woman was beautiful of form and face; and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her in as his own daughter.  
Es0208 So it came about when the king’s command and his decree were proclaimed and when many young women were gathered together in the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace [and placed] in the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.  
Es0209 Now the young woman pleased Hegai and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with beauty preparations and her [portion of] food, and he gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace; then he transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem.  
Es0210 Esther did not reveal [the Jewish background of] her people or her family, for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.  
Es0211 Every day Mordecai [who was an attendant in the king’s court] walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was getting along and what was happening to her.  
Es0212 Now when it was each young woman’s turn to go before King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with [sweet] spices and perfumes and the beauty preparations for women—  
Es0213 then the young woman would go before the king in this way: anything that she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem into the king’s palace.  
Es0214 In the evening she would go in and the next morning she would return to the second harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and she was summoned by name.  
Es0215 Now as for Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her in as his [own] daughter, when her turn came to go in to the king, she requested nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch [and attendant] who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the sight of all who saw her.  
Es0216 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, to his royal palace in the tenth month, that is, the month of Tebeth (Dec-Jan), in the seventh year of his reign.  
Es0217 Now the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the [other] virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen in the place of Vashti.  
Es0218 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and his servants; and he made a festival for the provinces and gave gifts in accordance with the resources of the king.  
Es0219 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.  
Es0220 Esther had not revealed her family or her people [that is, her Jewish background], just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as when she was under his care.  
Es0221 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, became angry and conspired to attack King Ahasuerus.  
Es0222 But the plot became known to Mordecai, who informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name.  
Es0223 Now when the plot was investigated and found to be true, both men were hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.  
Es0301 After these things King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the officials who were with him.  
Es0302 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate [in royal service] bowed down and honored and paid homage to Haman; for this is what the king had commanded in regard to him. But Mordecai [a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin] neither bowed down nor paid homage [to him].  
Es0303 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why are you disregarding the king’s command?”  
Es0304 Now it happened when they had spoken to him day after day and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s reason [for his behavior] would stand [as valid]; for he had told them that he was a Jew.  
Es0305 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, he was furious.  
Es0306 But he disdained laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were (his nationality); so Haman determined to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who lived throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.  
Es0307 In the first month, the month of Nisan (Mar-Apr), in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman cast Pur, that is, the lot, cast before him day after day [to find a lucky day to approach the king], month after month, until the twelfth month, the month of Adar (Feb-Mar).  
Es0308 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered [abroad] and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws. Therefore it is not in the king’s interest to [tolerate them and] let them stay here.  
Es0309 If it pleases the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry out the king’s business, to put into the king’s treasuries.”  
Es0310 Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand [that is, the special ring which was used to seal his letters] and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.  
Es0311 The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the people also, to do with them as you please.”  
Es0312 Then the king’s scribes (secretaries) were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps (chief rulers), and to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script (writing), each people according to their own language; being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.  
Es0313 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar (March 7, 473 B.C.), and to seize their belongings as plunder.  
Es0314 A copy of the edict to be decreed as law in every province was published to all the peoples, so that they would be ready for this day.  
Es0315 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was perplexed [by the unusual and alarming decree].  
Es0401 Now when Mordecai learned of everything that had been done, he tore his clothes [in mourning], and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the center of the city and cried out loudly and bitterly.  
Es0402 He went [only] as far as the king’s gate, because no one was to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth.  
Es0403 In each and every province that the decree and law of the king reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes.  
Es0404 When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her [what had happened], the queen was seized by great fear. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he would remove his sackcloth, but he did not accept them.  
Es0405 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what this issue was and why it had come about.  
Es0406 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the [open] square of the city, which was in front of the king’s gate.  
Es0407 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.  
Es0408 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the text of the decree which had been issued in Susa for the Jews destruction, so that he might show Esther and explain it to her, and order her to go in to the king to seek his favor and plead with him for [the lives of] her people.  
Es0409 Hathach came back and told Esther what Mordecai had said.  
Es0410 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and ordered him to reply to Mordecai, saying:  
Es0411 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he is to be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for these [last] thirty days.”  
Es0412 So they told Mordecai what Esther had said.  
Es0413 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  
Es0414 For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?”  
Es0415 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,  
Es0416 “Go, gather all the Jews that are present in Susa, and observe a fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids also will fast in the same way. Then I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”  
Es0417 So Mordecai went away and did exactly as Esther had commanded him.  
Es0501 On the third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace opposite his [throne] room. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the [main] entrance of the palace.  
Es0502 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she found favor in his sight; and the king extended to her the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.  
Es0503 Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you, up to half of the kingdom.”  
Es0504 Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”  
Es0505 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly so that we may do as Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.  
Es0506 As they drank their wine at the banquet, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.”  
Es0507 Then Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this:  
Es0508 if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to do as I request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do as the king says [and express my request].”  
Es0509 Haman went away that day joyful and in good spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate refusing to stand up or show fear before him, he was filled with rage toward Mordecai.  
Es0510 Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and went home. There he sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.  
Es0511 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the large number of his sons, and every instance in which the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him over the officials and servants of the king.  
Es0512 Haman also said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the banquet she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her [together] with the king.  
Es0513 Yet all of this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”  
Es0514 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully to the banquet with the king.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.  
Es0601 On that night the king could not sleep; so he ordered that the book of records and memorable deeds, the chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king.  
Es0602 It was found written there how Mordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, had planned to attack King Ahasuerus (Xerxes).  
Es0603 The king said, “What honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”  
Es0604 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.  
Es0605 The king’s servants said to him, “Look, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”  
Es0606 So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”  
Es0607 So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,  
Es0608 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed;  
Es0609 and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let him dress the man whom the king delights to honor [in the royal robe] and lead him on horseback through the open square of the city, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”  
Es0610 Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly take the royal robe and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing of all that you have said.”  
Es0611 So Haman took the royal robe and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”  
Es0612 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his [own] house, mourning and with his head covered [in sorrow].  
Es0613 Then Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise counselors and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall in status, is of Jewish heritage, you will not overcome him, but will certainly fall before him.”  
Es0614 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs (attendants) arrived and hurriedly brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.  
Es0701 So the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen.  
Es0702 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom, it shall be done.”  
Es0703 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be spared as my petition, and my people [be spared] as my request;  
Es0704 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed and wiped out of existence. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for our hardship would not be sufficient to burden the king [by even mentioning it].”  
Es0705 Then King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who dares to do such a thing?”  
Es0706 Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy is Haman, this evil man.” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.  
Es0707 Then in his fury, the king stood up from drinking wine and went into the palace garden [to decide what he should do]; but Haman stayed to plead for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king.  
Es0708 When the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even attempt to assault the queen with me in the palace?” As the king spoke those words, the servants covered Haman’s face [in preparation for execution].  
Es0709 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs serving the king said, “Now look, there are gallows fifty cubits (75 ft.) high standing at Haman’s house, which Haman made for Mordecai, whose good warning saved the king.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”  
Es0710 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.  
Es0801 On that day King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) gave the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther; and Mordecai came before the king, because Esther had disclosed what [relation] he was to her.  
Es0802 The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of the house of Haman.  
Es0803 Then Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet and wept and implored him to avert the evil plot of Haman the Agagite and his plan which he had devised against the Jews [because the decree to annihilate the Jews was still in effect].  
Es0804 Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose and stood before the king.  
Es0805 Then she said, “If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter is proper in the king’s view and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote [in order] to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.  
Es0806 For how can I endure to see the tragedy that will happen to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?”  
Es0807 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he stretched out his hand against the Jews.  
Es0808 Also, concerning the Jews, write as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for a decree which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”  
Es0809 So the king’s scribes were called at that time in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan) on the twenty-third day; and it was written in accordance with everything that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, to the chief rulers (satraps), and the governors and officials of the provinces which extended from India to Ethiopia (Cush), 127 provinces, to every province in its own script (writing), and to every people in their own language and to the Jews according to their script and their language.  
Es0810 He wrote [a decree] in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on the royal [mail] relay horses, the offspring of the racing mares.  
Es0811 In it the king granted the Jews who were in every city the right to assemble and to defend their lives; to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force that might attack them, their little children, and women; and to take the enemies’ goods as plunder,  
Es0812 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).  
Es0813 A copy of the edict was to be issued as a law in every province and as a proclamation to all peoples, so that the Jews would be ready on that day, to avenge themselves on their enemies.  
Es0814 So the couriers, who were mounted on the royal relay horses, left quickly, urged on by the king’s command; and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa [the capital].  
Es0815 Then Mordecai departed from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and with a robe of fine linen and purple wool; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.  
Es0816 For [at this time] the Jews had light [a dawn of new hope] and gladness and joy and honor.  
Es0817 In each and every province and in each and every city, wherever the king’s command and his decree arrived, the Jews celebrated with gladness and joy, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews [and their God] had fallen on them.  
Es0901 Now in the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar) on the thirteenth day when the king’s command and edict were about to be executed, on the [very] day when the enemies of the Jews had hoped to gain power over them [and slaughter them], it happened the other way around so that the Jews themselves gained power over those who hated them.  
Es0902 The Jews assembled in their cities throughout the provinces of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) to apprehend those who wanted to do them harm; and no one could stand before them, for the fear of them [and their God] had fallen on all the peoples.  
Es0903 Even all the officials of the provinces and the chief rulers (satraps) and the governors and those who attended to the king’s business supported the Jews [in defeating their enemies], because the fear of Mordecai [and his God’s power] had fallen on them.  
Es0904 For Mordecai was great and respected in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai became greater and greater.  
Es0905 So the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.  
Es0906 At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men,  
Es0907 and [they killed] Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,  
Es0908   Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,   
Es0909 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha,  
Es0910 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.  
Es0911 On that day the number of those who were killed at the citadel in Susa was reported to the king.  
Es0912 The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman at the citadel in Susa. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. What is your further request? It shall also be done.”  
Es0913 Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to act tomorrow also in accordance with the decree of today; and let [the dead bodies of] Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”  
Es0914 So the king commanded it to be done; the decree was given in Susa, and they hanged [the bodies of] Haman’s ten sons.  
Es0915 The Jews who were in Susa also gathered together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men in Susa, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.  
Es0916 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces assembled, to defend their lives and rid themselves of their enemies, and kill 75,000 of those who hated them; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.  
Es0917 This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.  
Es0918 But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth of the same month, and on the fifteenth day they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.  
Es0919 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural [unwalled] towns, make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a holiday for rejoicing and feasting and sending choice portions of food to one another.  
Es0920 Now Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews who lived in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,  
Es0921 obliging them to celebrate the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same month, annually,  
Es0922 because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and as the month which was turned for them from grief to joy and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending choice portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.  
Es0923 So the Jews undertook what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.  
Es0924 For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, [to find the right time] to disturb and destroy them.  
Es0925 But when it came before the king, he commanded in writing that Haman’s wicked scheme which he had devised against the Jews was to return on his own head, and that he and his sons should [endure what he planned for the Jews and] be hanged on the gallows.  
Es0926 Therefore they called these days Purim after the name Pur (lot). And because of all the instructions in this letter, and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them,  
Es0927 the Jews established and made it a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all who joined them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days as it was written and at the appointed time annually.  
Es0928 So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and these days of Purim were not to cease from among the Jews, nor their memory fade from their descendants.  
Es0929 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full power and authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.  
Es0930 He sent letters to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,  
Es0931 to establish these days of Purim [to be observed] at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established for them, and as they had established for themselves and for their descendants with instructions regarding their times of fasting and their lamentations (expressions of needing help).  
Es0932 The command of Esther established these customs for Purim, and it was written in the book [of the royal archives].  
Es1001 King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) imposed a tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.  
Es1002 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?  
Es1003 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many fellow people, for he worked for the good of his people and spoke for the welfare and peace of his whole nation.  
Jb0101 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God [with reverence] and abstained from and turned away from evil [because he honored God].  
Jb0102 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.  
Jb0103 He also possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke (pairs) of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great number of servants, so that this man was the greatest [and wealthiest and most respected] of all the men of the east (northern Arabia).  
Jb0104 His sons used to go [in turn] and feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.  
Jb0105 When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this at all [such] times.  
Jb0106 Now there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them.  
Jb0107 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”  
Jb0108 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”  
Jb0109 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?  
Jb0110 Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land.  
Jb0111 But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”  
Jb0112 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.  
Jb0113 Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,  
Jb0114 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them,  
Jb0115 and the Sabeans attacked and swooped down on them and took away the animals. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  
Jb0116 While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  
Jb0117 While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and have taken them away and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  
Jb0118 While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,  
Jb0119 and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”  
Jb0120 Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [in mourning for the children], and he fell to the ground and worshiped [God].  
Jb0121 He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  
Jb0122 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.  
Jb0201 Again there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them to present himself before the LORD.  
Jb0202 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”  
Jb0203 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.”  
Jb0204 Satan answered the LORD, “Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life.  
Jb0205 But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh [and severely afflict him]; and he will curse You to Your face.”  
Jb0206 So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”  
Jb0207 So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome boils and agonizingly painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.  
Jb0208 And Job took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself, and he sat [down] among the ashes (rubbish heaps).  
Jb0209 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!”  
Jb0210 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.  
Jb0211 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.  
Jb0212 When they looked from a distance and did not recognize him [because of his disfigurement], they raised their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe [in grief] and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky [in sorrow].  
Jb0213 So they sat down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.  
Jb0301 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  
Jb0302 And Job said,  
Jb0303 “Let the day on which I was born perish, And the night which announced: ‘There is a man-child conceived.’  
Jb0304 “May that day be darkness; Let God above not care about it, Nor light shine on it.  
Jb0305 “Let darkness and gloom claim it for their own; Let a cloud settle upon it; Let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born).  
Jb0306 “As for that night, let darkness seize it; Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not be counted in the number of the months.  
Jb0307 “Behold, let that night be barren [and empty]; Let no joyful voice enter it.  
Jb0308 “Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan.  
Jb0309 “Let the stars of its early dawn be dark; Let the morning wait in vain for the light, Let it not see the eyelids of morning (the day’s dawning),  
Jb0310 Because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide trouble from my eyes.  
Jb0311 “Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?  
Jb0312 “Why did the knees receive me? And why the breasts, that I would nurse?  
Jb0313 “For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest [in death],  
Jb0314 With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up [now desolate] ruins for themselves;  
Jb0315 Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver.  
Jb0316 “Or like a miscarriage which is hidden and put away, I would not exist, Like infants who never saw light.  
Jb0317 “There [in death] the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.  
Jb0318 “There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the taskmaster’s voice.  
Jb0319 “The small and the great are there, And the servant is free from his master.  
Jb0320 “Why is the light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter in soul,  
Jb0321 Who wait for death, but it does not come, And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures,  
Jb0322 Who rejoice exceedingly, And rejoice when they find the grave?  
Jb0323 “Why is the light of day given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?  
Jb0324 “For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries [of despair] are poured out like water.  
Jb0325 “For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, And that of which I am afraid has come upon me.  
Jb0326 “I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”  
Jb0401 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  
Jb0402 “If we dare to converse with you, will you be impatient [or offended]? But who can restrain himself from speaking?  
Jb0403 “Behold, you have admonished and instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.  
Jb0404 “Your words have helped the one who was stumbling to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees.  
Jb0405 “But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant; It touches you, and you are horrified.  
Jb0406 “Is not your fear of God your confidence, And [is not] the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?  
Jb0407 “Remember now, who, being innocent, ever perished? Or where [and in what circumstances] were those upright and in right standing with God destroyed?  
Jb0408 “As I have seen, those who plow wickedness And those who sow trouble and harm harvest it.  
Jb0409 “By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they are consumed.  
Jb0410 “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.  
Jb0411 “The lion perishes for lack of prey, And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.  
Jb0412 “Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it.  
Jb0413 “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,  
Jb0414 Dread and trembling came upon me, Which made all my bones shake.  
Jb0415 “Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my skin stood on end!  
Jb0416 “The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, and then I heard a voice, saying:  
Jb0417 ‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He? Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?  
Jb0418 ‘God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants, And He charges His angels with error.  
Jb0419 ‘How much more [will He blame and charge] those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay, Whose foundations are in the dust, Who are crushed like a moth.  
Jb0420 ‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces and destroyed; Unobserved and unnoticed, they perish forever.  
Jb0421 ‘Is not their tent-cord drawn up within them [so that the tent collapses]? Do they not die, and yet without [acquiring] wisdom?’  
Jb0501 “Call now —is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones (angels) will you turn?  
Jb0502 “For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple (naive).  
Jb0503 “I have seen the foolish taking root [and outwardly prospering], But I cursed his dwelling immediately [for his destruction was certain].  
Jb0504 “His children are far from safety [and included in their father’s ruin], They are oppressed and crushed in the [court of justice in the city’s] gate, And there is no one to rescue them.  
Jb0505 “The hungry devour his harvest And take it even [when it grows] among the thorns; The trap opens for [his] wealth.  
Jb0506 “For affliction does not come forth from the dust, Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground.  
Jb0507 “For man is born for trouble, [As naturally] as sparks fly upward.  
Jb0508 “As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him, And I would commit my cause to God;  
Jb0509 Who does great and unsearchable things, Marvelous things without number.  
Jb0510 “He gives rain upon the earth And sends waters upon the fields,  
Jb0511 So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And He lifts to safety those who mourn.  
Jb0512 “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.  
Jb0513 “He catches the [so-called] wise in their own shrewdness, And the advice of the devious is quickly thwarted.  
Jb0514 “In the daytime they meet in darkness, And at noon they grope as in the night.  
Jb0515 “But God saves [the innocent] from the sword of the mouth of the devious, And the poor from the hand of the mighty.  
Jb0516 “So the helpless have hope, And injustice shuts its mouth.  
Jb0517 “Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].  
Jb0518 “For He inflicts pain, but He binds up and gives relief; He wounds, but His hands also heal.  
Jb0519 “He will rescue you from six troubles; Even in seven, evil will not touch you.  
Jb0520 “In famine He will redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.  
Jb0521 “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.  
Jb0522 “You will laugh at violence and famine, And you will not be afraid of the wild beasts of the earth.  
Jb0523 “For you will be in harmony with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.  
Jb0524 “You will know also that your tent is secure and at peace, And you will visit your dwelling and fear no loss [nor find anything amiss].  
Jb0525 “You will know also that your descendants will be many, And your offspring as the grass of the earth.  
Jb0526 “You will come to your grave in old age, Like the stacking of grain [on the threshing floor] in its season.  
Jb0527 “Behold this; we have investigated it, and it is true. Hear and heed it, and know for yourself [for your own good].”  
Jb0601 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb0602 “Oh, that my grief could actually be weighed And placed in the balances together with my tragedy [to see if my grief is the grief of a coward]!  
Jb0603 “For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; Therefore my words have been incoherent,  
Jb0604 Because the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.  
Jb0605 “Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?  
Jb0606 “Can something that has no taste to it be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?  
Jb0607 “My soul refuses to touch them; Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].  
Jb0608 “Oh that my request would come to pass, And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!  
Jb0609 “I wish that it would please God to crush me, That He would let loose His hand and cut me off.  
Jb0610 “Then I would still have consolation, And I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain, That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One.  
Jb0611 “What strength do I have left, that I should wait [and hope]? And what is ahead of me, that I should be patient and endure?  
Jb0612 “Is my strength and endurance that of stones, Or is my flesh made of bronze?  
Jb0613 “Is it that I have no help within myself, And that success and wisdom have been driven from me?  
Jb0614 “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty.  
Jb0615 “My brothers have acted deceitfully like a brook, Like the torrents of brooks that vanish,  
Jb0616 Which are dull and dirty because of ice, And into which the snow melts and hides itself;  
Jb0617 When it is warm, they are silent and cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place.  
Jb0618 “The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish. [Your counsel is as helpful to me as a dry streambed in the heat of summer.]  
Jb0619 “The caravans of Tema looked [for water], The caravans of Sheba waited for them [in vain].  
Jb0620 “They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water]; They came there and were ashamed.  
Jb0621 “Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream, You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].  
Jb0622 “Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’  
Jb0623 Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?  
Jb0624 “Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.  
Jb0625 “How painful are words of honesty. But what does your argument prove?  
Jb0626 “Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument], When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?  
Jb0627 “You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless And bargain away your friend.  
Jb0628 “Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].  
Jb0629 “Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice; Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.  
Jb0630 “Is there injustice or malice on my tongue? Can my palate not discern what is destructive?  
Jb0701 “Is not man forced to labor on earth? And are not his days like the days of a hired man?  
Jb0702 “As a slave earnestly longs for the shade, And as a hired man eagerly awaits his wages,  
Jb0703 So am I allotted months of futility and suffering, And [long] nights of trouble and misery are appointed to me.  
Jb0704 “When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise [and the night be gone]?’ But the night continues, And I am continually tossing until the dawning of day.  
Jb0705 “My body is clothed with worms and a crust of dust; My skin is hardened [and broken and loathsome], and [breaks out and] runs.  
Jb0706 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.  
Jb0707 “Remember that my life is but breath [a puff of wind, a sigh]; My eye will not see good again.  
Jb0708 “The eye of him who sees me [now] will see me no more; Your eyes will be upon me, but I will not be.  
Jb0709 “As a cloud vanishes and is gone, So he who goes down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) does not come up.  
Jb0710 “He will not return again to his house, Nor will his place know about him anymore.  
Jb0711 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul [O Lord].  
Jb0712 “Am I the sea, or the sea monster, That You set a guard over me?  
Jb0713 “When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,’  
Jb0714 Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me through visions,  
Jb0715 So that I would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pain.  
Jb0716 “I waste away and loathe my life; I will not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath [futile and without substance].  
Jb0717 “What is man that You [should] magnify him [and think him important]? And that You are concerned about him?  
Jb0718 “And that You examine him every morning And try and test him every moment?  
Jb0719 “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me [it plagues me], Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?  
Jb0720 “If I have sinned, what [harm] have I done to You, O Watcher of mankind? Why have You set me as a target for You, So that I am a burden to myself?  
Jb0721 “Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my sin and guilt? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me [diligently], but I will not be.”  
Jb0801 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,  
Jb0802 “How long will you say these things? And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?  
Jb0803 “Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?  
Jb0804 “If your children have sinned against Him, Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.  
Jb0805 “If you would [diligently] seek God And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,  
Jb0806 Then, if you are pure and upright, Surely now He will awaken for you And restore your righteous place.  
Jb0807 “Though your beginning was insignificant, Yet your end will greatly increase.  
Jb0808 “Inquire, please, of past generations, And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.  
Jb0809 “For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].  
Jb0810 “Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you, And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?  
Jb0811 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?  
Jb0812 “While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].  
Jb0813 “So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,  
Jb0814 For his confidence is fragile and breaks, And his trust is [like] a spider’s web.  
Jb0815 “He trusts in his house, but it does not stand; He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.  
Jb0816 “He thrives and prospers [like a green plant] before the sun, And his branches spread out over his garden.  
Jb0817 “His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks, And he gazes at a house of stones.  
Jb0818 “If he is snatched from his place [in the garden], Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’  
Jb0819 “Behold, this is the joy of His way; And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].  
Jb0820 “Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.  
Jb0821 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].  
Jb0822 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tents of the wicked will be no longer.”  
Jb0901 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb0902 “Yes, I know it is true. But how can a mortal man be right before God?  
Jb0903 “If one should want to contend or dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.  
Jb0904 “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?  
Jb0905 “It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know it, When He overturns them in His anger;  
Jb0906 Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;  
Jb0907 Who commands the sun, and it does not shine; Who seals up the stars [from view];  
Jb0908 Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;  
Jb0909 Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the [vast starry] spaces of the south;  
Jb0910 Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable, Yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number.  
Jb0911 “Behold, He passes by me, and I do not see Him; He moves past me, but I do not perceive Him.  
Jb0912 “Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’  
Jb0913 “God will not turn back His anger; The [proud] helpers of Rahab [the arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.  
Jb0914 “How can I answer Him [and plead my case], Choosing my words [to reason] with Him?  
Jb0915 “For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.  
Jb0916 “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.  
Jb0917 “For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.  
Jb0918 “He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills and saturates me with bitterness.  
Jb0919 “If it is a matter of strength and power, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, who can summon and challenge Him?  
Jb0920 “Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty; Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.  
Jb0921 “[Though] I am blameless, I do not care about myself; I despise my life.  
Jb0922 “It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys [both] the blameless and the wicked.’  
Jb0923 “When [His] scourge kills suddenly, He mocks at the despair of the innocent.  
Jb0924 “The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice]. If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?  
Jb0925 “Now my days are swifter than a runner; They vanish, they see no good.  
Jb0926 “They pass by like the [swift] boats made of reeds, Like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.  
Jb0927 “If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad appearance, and be cheerful and brighten up,’  
Jb0928 I am afraid of all my pains and worries [yet to come]; I know that You will not acquit me and leave me unpunished.  
Jb0929 “I am accounted wicked and held guilty; Why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?  
Jb0930 “If I were to wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,  
Jb0931 You would still plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would hate me [and refuse to cover my foul body].  
Jb0932 “For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him, That we may go to court and judgment together.  
Jb0933 “There is no arbitrator between us, Who could lay his hand upon us both [would that there were].  
Jb0934 “Let Him take His rod away from me, And let not the dread and fear of Him terrify me.  
Jb0935 “Then I would speak [my defense] and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.  
Jb1001 “I am disgusted with my life and loathe it! I will give free expression to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.  
Jb1002 “I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me [and declare me guilty]! Show me why You contend and argue and struggle with me.  
Jb1003 ‘Does it indeed seem right to You to oppress, To despise and reject the work of Your hands, And to look with favor on the schemes of the wicked?  
Jb1004 ‘Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as a man sees?  
Jb1005 ‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal, Are Your years as man’s years,  
Jb1006 That You seek my guilt And search for my sin?  
Jb1007 ‘Although You know that I am not guilty or wicked, Yet there is no one who can rescue me from Your hand.  
Jb1008 ‘Your hands have formed and made me altogether. Would You [turn around and] destroy me?  
Jb1009 ‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay; So will You turn me into dust again?  
Jb1010 ‘Have You not poured me out like milk And curdled me like cheese?  
Jb1011 ‘[You have] clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.  
Jb1012 ‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your providence (divine care, supervision) has preserved my spirit.  
Jb1013 ‘Yet these [present evils] You have hidden in Your heart [since my creation]: I know that this was within You [in Your purpose and thought].  
Jb1014 ‘If I sin, then You would take note and observe me, And You would not acquit me of my guilt.  
Jb1015 ‘If I am wicked, woe to me [for judgment comes]! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.  
Jb1016 ‘Should I lift my head up, You would hunt me like a lion; And again You would show Your marvelous power against me.  
Jb1017 ‘You renew Your witnesses against me And increase Your indignation and anger toward me; Hardship after hardship is with me [attacking me time after time].  
Jb1018 ‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb? Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!  
Jb1019 ‘I should have been as though I had not existed; [I should have been] carried from the womb to the grave.’  
Jb1020 “Would He not let my few days alone, Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer  
Jb1021 Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],  
Jb1022 The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself, [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”  
Jb1101 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,  
Jb1102 “Shall a multitude of words not be answered? And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?  
Jb1103 “Should your boasts and babble silence men? And shall you scoff and no one put you to shame?  
Jb1104 “For you have said, ‘My teaching (doctrine) [that God knowingly afflicts the righteous] is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.’  
Jb1105 “But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips [to speak] against you,  
Jb1106 And [that He would] show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God forgets a part of your wickedness and guilt.  
Jb1107 “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?  
Jb1108 “His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven. What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). What can you know?  
Jb1109 “It is longer in measure [and scope] than the earth, And broader than the sea.  
Jb1110 “If God passes by or arrests, Or calls an assembly [of judgment], who can restrain Him? [If He is against a man, who can call Him to account for it?]  
Jb1111 “For He recognizes and knows false and worthless men, And He sees wickedness, will He not consider it?  
Jb1112 “But a hollow (empty-headed) man will become intelligent and wise [Only] when the colt of a wild donkey is born as a man.  
Jb1113 “If you direct your heart [on the right path] And stretch out your hands to Him,  
Jb1114 If sin is in your hand, put it far away [from you], And do not let wrongdoing dwell in your tents;  
Jb1115 Then, indeed, you could lift up your face [to Him] without moral defect, And you would be firmly established and secure and not fear.  
Jb1116 “For you would forget your trouble; You would remember it as waters that have passed by.  
Jb1117 “And your life would be brighter than the noonday; Darkness [then] would be like the morning.  
Jb1118 “Then you would trust [with confidence], because there is hope; You would look around you and rest securely.  
Jb1119 “You would lie down with no one to frighten you, And many would entreat and seek your favor.  
Jb1120 “But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they will not escape [the justice of God]; And their hope is to breathe their last [and die].”  
Jb1201 Then Job responded,  
Jb1202 “No doubt you are the [only wise] people [in the world], And wisdom will die with you!  
Jb1203 “But I have intelligence and understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these [of God’s wisdom and might]?  
Jb1204 “I am a joke to my friends; I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him— A just and blameless man is a joke [and laughed to scorn].  
Jb1205 “He who is at ease has contempt for misfortune, But misfortune is ready [and anxiously waiting] for those whose feet slip.  
Jb1206 “The tents of the destroyers prosper; And those who provoke God are [apparently] secure, Whom God brings into their power.  
Jb1207 “Now ask the animals, and let them teach you [that God does not deal with His creatures according to their character]; And ask the birds of the air, and let them tell you;  
Jb1208 Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.  
Jb1209 “Who among all these does not recognize [in all these things that good and evil are randomly scattered throughout nature and human life] That the hand of the LORD has done this,  
Jb1210 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?  
Jb1211 “Does the ear not put words to the test, Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]?  
Jb1212 “With the aged [you say] is wisdom, And with long life is understanding.  
Jb1213 “But [only] with Him are [perfect] wisdom and might; He [alone] has [true] counsel and understanding.  
Jb1214 “Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.  
Jb1215 “Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up; Again, He sends the waters out, and they overwhelm and devastate the earth.  
Jb1216 “With Him are might and sound wisdom, The misled and the misleader are His [and in His power].  
Jb1217 “He makes [great and scheming] counselors walk barefoot And makes fools of judges.  
Jb1218 “He loosens the bond of kings And binds their loins with a loincloth.  
Jb1219 “He makes priests walk barefoot, And He overturns men firmly seated and secure.  
Jb1220 “He deprives the trusted ones of speech And takes away the discernment and discretion of the aged.  
Jb1221 “He pours contempt on princes and nobles And loosens the belt of the strong [disabling them].  
Jb1222 “He uncovers mysteries [that are difficult to grasp and understand] out of the darkness And brings black gloom and the shadow of death into light.  
Jb1223 “He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away [captive].  
Jb1224 “He removes intelligence and understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth And makes them wander and move blindly in a pathless waste.  
Jb1225 “They grope in darkness without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”  
Jb1301 [Job continued:] “Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.  
Jb1302 “What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you.  
Jb1303 “But I wish to speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.  
Jb1304 “But you smear me with lies [you defame my character most untruthfully]; You are all worthless physicians and have no remedy to offer.  
Jb1305 “Oh, that you would be completely silent, And that silence would be your wisdom!  
Jb1306 “Please hear my argument And listen to the pleadings of my lips.  
Jb1307 “Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him?  
Jb1308 “Will you show partiality for Him [and be unjust to me so that you may gain favor with Him]? Will you contend and plead for God?  
Jb1309 “Will it be well for you when He investigates you [and your tactics against me]? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?  
Jb1310 “He will surely reprimand you If you secretly show partiality.  
Jb1311 “Will not His majesty terrify you, And will not the dread of Him fall upon you?  
Jb1312 “Your memorable sayings are [worthless, merely] proverbs of ashes; Your defenses are defenses of [crumbling] clay.  
Jb1313 “Be silent before me so that I may speak; And let happen to me what may.  
Jb1314 “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]?  
Jb1315 “Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.  
Jb1316 “This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before Him.  
Jb1317 “Listen diligently to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears.  
Jb1318 “Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.  
Jb1319 “Who will argue and contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.  
Jb1320 “Only [O Lord,] do not do two things to me, And then I will not hide myself from Your face:  
Jb1321 Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering, And let not the dread of You terrify me.  
Jb1322 “Then [Lord,] call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and then reply to me.  
Jb1323 “How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]? Make me recognize and understand my transgression and my sin.  
Jb1324 “Why do You hide Your face [as if offended] And consider me Your enemy?  
Jb1325 “Will You cause a windblown leaf to tremble? Will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?  
Jb1326 “For You write bitter things against me [in Your indictment] And make me inherit and suffer for the iniquities of my youth.  
Jb1327 “You also put my feet in the stocks [as punishment] And [critically] observe all my paths; You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep],  
Jb1328 While I waste away like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.  
Jb1401 “Man, who is born of a woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.  
Jb1402 “Like a flower he comes forth and withers; He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.  
Jb1403 “You also open Your eyes upon him And bring him into judgment with Yourself.  
Jb1404 “Who can make a clean thing out of the unclean? No one!  
Jb1405 “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You [in Your control], And You have made his limits so he cannot pass [his allotted time].  
Jb1406 “[O God] turn your gaze from him so that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day [on earth] like a hired man.  
Jb1407 “For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the shoots of it will not cease nor fail, [but there is no such hope for man].  
Jb1408 “Though its roots grow old in the earth And its stump dies in the dry soil,  
Jb1409 Yet at the scent of water [the stump of the tree] will flourish And bring forth sprigs and shoots like a seedling.  
Jb1410 “But [the brave, strong] man must die and lie face down; Man breathes his last, and where is he?  
Jb1411 “As water evaporates from the sea, And a river drains and dries up,  
Jb1412 So man lies down and does not rise [again]. Until the heavens are no longer, The dead will not awake nor be raised from their sleep.  
Jb1413 “Oh, that You would hide me in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would set a definite time and then remember me [and in Your lovingkindness imprint me on your heart]!  
Jb1414 “If a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my struggle Until my change and release will come.  
Jb1415 “[Then] You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for [me] the work of Your hands.  
Jb1416 “But now You number [each of] my steps; You do not observe nor take note of my sin.  
Jb1417 “My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my wickedness [from Your view].  
Jb1418 “But as a mountain, if it falls, crumbles into nothing, And as the rock is moved from its place,  
Jb1419 Water wears away the stones, Its floods and torrents wash away the soil of the earth, So You [O Lord] destroy the hope of man.  
Jb1420 “You prevail forever against him and overpower him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away [from the presence of the living].  
Jb1421 “His sons achieve honor, and he does not know it; They become insignificant, and he is not aware of it.  
Jb1422 “But his body [lamenting its decay] grieves in pain over it, And his soul mourns over [the loss of] himself.”  
Jb1501 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered [Job] and said,  
Jb1502 “Should a wise man [such as you] utter such windy and vain knowledge [as we have just heard] And fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]?  
Jb1503 “Should he rebuke and argue with useless talk? Or with words in which there is no benefit?  
Jb1504 “Indeed, you are doing away with fear, And you are diminishing meditation before God.  
Jb1505 “For your guilt teaches your mouth, And you choose [to speak] the language of the crafty and cunning.  
Jb1506 “Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.  
Jb1507 “Were you the first man to be born [the original wise man], Or were you created before the hills?  
Jb1508 “Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And do you limit [the possession of] wisdom to yourself?  
Jb1509 “What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not equally clear to us?  
Jb1510 “Among us are both the gray-haired and the aged, Older than your father.  
Jb1511 “Are the consolations of God [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you, [Or] were we too gentle toward you [in our first speech] to be effective?  
Jb1512 “Why does your heart carry you away [allowing you to be controlled by emotion]? And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt],  
Jb1513 That you should turn your spirit against God And let such words [as you have spoken] go out of your mouth?  
Jb1514 “What is man, that he should be pure and clean, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just?  
Jb1515 “Behold, God puts no trust in His holy ones (angels); Indeed, the heavens are not pure in His sight—  
Jb1516 How much less [pure and clean is] the one who is repulsive and corrupt, Man, who drinks unrighteousness and injustice like water!  
Jb1517 “I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare;  
Jb1518 What wise men have [freely] told, And have not hidden [anything passed on to them] from their fathers,  
Jb1519 To whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them [corrupting the truth].  
Jb1520 “The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for him, the ruthless one.  
Jb1521 “A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears; While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace].  
Jb1522 “He does not believe that he will return out of the darkness [for fear of being murdered], And he is destined for the sword [of God’s vengeance].  
Jb1523 “He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’ He knows that the day of darkness and destruction is already at hand.  
Jb1524 “Distress and anxiety terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for battle.  
Jb1525 “Because he has stretched out his hand against God And behaves arrogantly against the Almighty,  
Jb1526 Running and charging headlong against Him With his ornamented and massive shield;  
Jb1527 For he has covered his face with his fat, Adding layers of fat to his thighs [giving himself up to pleasures],  
Jb1528 And he has lived in desolate [God-forsaken] cities, In houses which no one should inhabit, Which were destined to become heaps [of ruins];  
Jb1529 He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend to the earth nor his possessions be extended on the earth.  
Jb1530 “He will not escape from darkness [fleeing disaster]; The flame [of God’s wrath] will wither his branch, And by the blast of His mouth he will go away.  
Jb1531 “Let him not trust in vanity (emptiness, futility) and be led astray; For emptiness will be his reward [for such living].  
Jb1532 “It will be fulfilled while he still lives, And his branch will not be green [but shall wither away].  
Jb1533 “He will fail to bring his grapes to maturity [leaving them to wither unnourished] on the vine, And will cast off blossoms [and fail to bring forth fruit] like the olive tree.  
Jb1534 “For the company of the godless is barren, And fire consumes the tents of bribery (wrong and injustice).  
Jb1535 “They conceive mischief and bring forth wickedness, And their inmost soul prepares deceit and fraud.”  
Jb1601 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb1602 “I have heard many such things; Wearisome and miserable comforters are you all.  
Jb1603 “Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind? Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?  
Jb1604 “I also could speak like you, If you were in my place; I could compose and join words together against you And shake my head at you.  
Jb1605 “[But instead] I could strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, And the consolation and solace of my lips would soothe your suffering and lessen your anguish.  
Jb1606 “If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my pain is not relieved; And if I refrain [from speaking], what [pain or anguish] leaves me?  
Jb1607 “But now God has exhausted me. You [O Lord] have destroyed all my family and my household.  
Jb1608 “You have taken a firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, It has become a witness [against me]; And my leanness [and infirmity] rises up [as evidence] against me, It testifies to my face [about my guilt].  
Jb1609 “His wrath has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with his teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze and glares [with piercing eyes] at me.  
Jb1610 “They have gaped at me with their mouths, With contempt they have struck me on the cheek; They massed themselves together [and conspired] against me.  
Jb1611 “God hands me over to criminals And tosses me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked.  
Jb1612 “I was [living] at ease, but He crushed me and broke me apart, And He has seized me by the neck and has shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.  
Jb1613 “His arrows surround me. He pierces my kidneys (vital organs) without mercy; He pours out my gall on the ground.  
Jb1614 “He attacks me, making wound after wound; He runs at me like a warrior.  
Jb1615 “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin [as a sign of mourning] And have defiled my horn (symbol of strength) in the dust.  
Jb1616 “My face is red and swollen with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],  
Jb1617 Although there is no violence or wrongdoing in my hands, And my prayer is pure.  
Jb1618 “O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no [resting] place for my cry [where it will cease being heard].  
Jb1619 “Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, And my Advocate [who vouches and testifies for me] is on high.  
Jb1620 “My friends are scoffers [who ridicule]; My eye pours out tears to God.  
Jb1621 “Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me] Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.  
Jb1622 “For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.  
Jb1701 “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me.  
Jb1702 “Surely there are mockers and mockery with me, And my eye gazes on their obstinacy and provocation.  
Jb1703 “Give me a pledge (guarantee, promise) with Yourself [acknowledge my innocence before my death]; Who is there that will be my guarantor and give security for me?  
Jb1704 “But You [Lord] have closed their hearts to understanding, Therefore You will not exalt them [by giving a verdict against me].  
Jb1705 “He who denounces and informs against his friends for a share of the spoil, The eyes of his children will also languish and fail.  
Jb1706 “But He has made me a byword and mockery among the people, And I have become one in whose face people spit.  
Jb1707 “My eye has grown dim (unexpressive) because of grief, And all my [body’s] members are [wasted away] like a shadow.  
Jb1708 “The upright will be [astonished and] appalled at this, And the innocent will stir himself up against the godless and polluted.  
Jb1709 “Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his ways, And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.  
Jb1710 “But as for all of you, come back again, Even though I do not find a wise man among you.  
Jb1711 “My days are past, my purposes and plans are frustrated and torn apart; The wishes of my heart [are broken].  
Jb1712 “These [thoughts try to] make the night into the day; ‘The light is near,’ they say in the presence of darkness [but they pervert the truth].  
Jb1713 “But if I look to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) as my home, If I make my bed in the darkness,  
Jb1714 If I call out to the pit (grave), ‘You are my father’; And to the worm [that feeds on decay], ‘You are my mother and my sister [because I will soon be closest to you],’  
Jb1715 Where now is my hope? And who regards or considers or is even concerned about my hope?  
Jb1716 “Will my hope go down with me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Shall we go down together in the dust?”  
Jb1801 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,  
Jb1802 “How long will you hunt for words and continue these speeches? Do some clear thinking and show understanding and then we can talk.  
Jb1803 “Why are we regarded as beasts, As if [we are] stupid (senseless) in your eyes?  
Jb1804 “You who tear yourself apart in anger, Is the earth to be abandoned for your sake, Or the rock to be moved out of its place?  
Jb1805 “Indeed, the light of the wicked will be put out, And the flame of his fire will not shine.  
Jb1806 “The light will be dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him will be put out.  
Jb1807 “The vigorous stride will be shortened, And his own counsel and the scheme [in which he trusted] will bring his downfall.  
Jb1808 “For the wicked is thrown into a net by his own feet (wickedness), And he steps on the webbing [of the lattice-covered pit].  
Jb1809 “A snare catches him by the heel, And a trap snaps shut on him.  
Jb1810 “A noose is hidden for him on the ground, And a trap for him on the path.  
Jb1811 “Terrors frighten him on every side And chase at his heels.  
Jb1812 “The strength [of the wicked] is famished and weakened, And disaster is ready at his side [if he stops].  
Jb1813 “His skin is devoured by disease; The firstborn of death [the worst of diseases] consumes his limbs.  
Jb1814 “He is torn from his tent which he trusted [for safety], And he is marched and brought to the king of terrors (death).  
Jb1815 “Nothing of his dwells in his tent; Brimstone (burning sulfur) is scattered over his dwelling [to purify it].  
Jb1816 “The roots [of the wicked] are dried up below, And above, his branch is cut off and withers.  
Jb1817 “Memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name on the street.  
Jb1818 “He is driven and propelled from light into darkness, And chased from the inhabited world.  
Jb1819 “He has no offspring or prosperity among his people, Nor any survivor where he sojourned.  
Jb1820 “Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate, And those in the east are seized with horror.  
Jb1821 “Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly, And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God.”  
Jb1901 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb1902 “How long will you torment and exasperate me And crush me with words?  
Jb1903 “These ten times you have insulted me; You are not ashamed to wrong me [and harden your hearts against me].  
Jb1904 “And if it were true that I have erred, My error would remain with me [and I would be conscious of it].  
Jb1905 “If indeed you [braggarts] vaunt and magnify yourselves over me And prove my disgrace (humiliation) to me,  
Jb1906 Know then that God has wronged me and overthrown me And has closed His net around me.  
Jb1907 “Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not heard; I shout for help, but there is no justice.  
Jb1908 “He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, And He has set darkness upon my paths.  
Jb1909 “He has stripped me of my honor And removed the crown from my head.  
Jb1910 “He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone; He has uprooted my hope like a tree.  
Jb1911 “He has also kindled His wrath [like a fire] against me And He considers and counts me as one of His adversaries.  
Jb1912 “His troops come together And build up their way and siege works against me And camp around my tent.  
Jb1913 “He has put my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.  
Jb1914 “My relatives have failed [me], And my intimate friends have forgotten me.  
Jb1915 “Those who live [temporarily] in my house and my maids consider me a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.  
Jb1916 “I call to my servant, but he does not answer; I have to implore him with words.  
Jb1917 “My breath is repulsive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers.  
Jb1918 “Even young children despise me; When I get up, they speak against me.  
Jb1919 “All the men of my council hate me; Those I love have turned against me.  
Jb1920 “My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, And I have escaped [death] by the skin of my teeth.  
Jb1921 “Have pity on me! Have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has touched me.  
Jb1922 “Why do you persecute me as God does? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh (anguish)?  
Jb1923 “Oh, that the words I now speak were written! Oh, that they were recorded in a scroll!  
Jb1924 “That with an iron stylus and [molten] lead They were engraved in the rock forever!  
Jb1925 “For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, And at the last He will take His stand upon the earth.  
Jb1926 “Even after my [mortal] skin is destroyed [by death], Yet from my [immortal] flesh I will see God,  
Jb1927 Whom I, even I, will see for myself, And my eyes will see Him and not another! My heart faints within me.  
Jb1928 “If you say, ‘How shall we [continue to] persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find [since we claim the root of these afflictions is found in him]?’  
Jb1929 “Then beware and be afraid of the sword [of divine vengeance] for yourselves, For wrathful are the punishments of that sword, So that you may know there is judgment.”  
Jb2001 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,  
Jb2002 “Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer, Because of the uneasiness that is within me.  
Jb2003 “I have heard the reproof which insults me, But the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.  
Jb2004 “Do you not know this from the old days, Since the time that man was placed on the earth,  
Jb2005 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless is only for a moment?  
Jb2006 “Though his pride reaches the heavens And his head touches the clouds,  
Jb2007 Yet he perishes forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’  
Jb2008 “He flies away like a dream and cannot be found; Yes, he is chased away like a vision of the night.  
Jb2009 “The eye which saw him sees him no longer, Neither does his [accustomed] place behold him any longer.  
Jb2010 “His sons favor the poor [and pay his obligations], And his hands give back his [ill-gotten] wealth.  
Jb2011 “His bones are full of youthful strength But it lies down with him in the dust.  
Jb2012 “Though evil and wickedness are sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,  
Jb2013 Though he desires it and will not let it go But holds it in his mouth,  
Jb2014 Yet his food turns [to poison] in his stomach; It is the venom of vipers within him.  
Jb2015 “He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches, But will vomit them up; God will drive them out of his belly.  
Jb2016 “He sucks the poison of vipers [which ill-gotten wealth contains]; The viper’s tongue slays him.  
Jb2017 “He does not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter [to enjoy his wealth].  
Jb2018 “He gives back what he has labored for and attained And cannot swallow it [down to enjoy it]; As to the riches of his labor, He cannot even enjoy them.  
Jb2019 “For he has oppressed and neglected the poor; He has violently taken away houses which he did not build.  
Jb2020 “Because he knew no quietness or calm within him [because of his greed], He does not retain anything he desires.  
Jb2021 “There is nothing left of what he devoured; Therefore his prosperity does not endure.  
Jb2022 “In the fullness of his excess (great abundance) he will be in trouble; The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him [he is miserable on every side].  
Jb2023 “When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And will rain it upon him while he is eating.  
Jb2024 “He may flee from the iron weapon, But the bow of bronze will pierce him through.  
Jb2025 “The arrow is drawn forth and it comes out of his back [after passing through his body]; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors march in upon him;  
Jb2026 Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures. An unfanned fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.  
Jb2027 “The heavens will reveal his wickedness and guilt, And the earth will rise up against him.  
Jb2028 “The produce and increase of his house will depart [with the victors]; His possessions will be dragged away in the day of God’s wrath.  
Jb2029 “This is the wicked man’s portion from God, And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God.”  
Jb2101 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb2102 “Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be the consolation.  
Jb2103 “Bear with me, and I also will speak; And after I have spoken, you may [continue to] mock [me].  
Jb2104 “As for me, is my complaint to man or about him? And why should I not be impatient and my spirit troubled?  
Jb2105 “Look at me and be astonished and appalled; And put your hand over your mouth.  
Jb2106 “Even when I remember, I am troubled and afraid; Horror and trembling take hold of my flesh.  
Jb2107 “Why do the wicked still live, Become old, and become mighty in power?  
Jb2108 “Their children and descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.  
Jb2109 “Their houses are safe from fear; And the rod of God is not on them.  
Jb2110 “His bull breeds and does not fail; His cow calves and does not miscarry.  
Jb2111 “They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children skip about.  
Jb2112 “They lift up their voices and sing to the tambourine and the lyre And rejoice to the sound of the flute.  
Jb2113 “They fully enjoy their days in prosperity, And so go down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) in a [peaceful] moment.  
Jb2114 “Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.  
Jb2115 ‘Who [and what] is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what would we gain if we plead with Him?’  
Jb2116 “But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their hand (in their power); The counsel of the wicked [and the mystery of God’s dealings with the ungodly] is far from my comprehension.  
Jb2117 “How often [then] is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, And that their disaster falls on them? Does God distribute pain and destruction and sorrow [to them] in His anger?  
Jb2118 “Are they like straw before the wind, And like chaff that the storm steals and carries away?  
Jb2119 “You say, ‘God stores away [the punishment of] man’s wickedness for his children.’ Let God repay him so that he may know and experience it.  
Jb2120 “Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  
Jb2121 “For what pleasure does he have in his house and family after he is dead, When the number of his months [of life] is cut off?  
Jb2122 “Can anyone teach God knowledge, Seeing that He judges those on high?  
Jb2123 “One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet and satisfied;  
Jb2124 His pails are full of milk [his sides are filled out with fat], And the marrow of his bones is moist,  
Jb2125 Whereas another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting pleasure or good fortune.  
Jb2126 “Together they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.  
Jb2127 “Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plots by which you would wrong me.  
Jb2128 “For you say, ‘Where is the house of the noble man? And where is the tent, the dwelling place of the wicked?’  
Jb2129 “Have you not asked those who travel this way, And do you not recognize their witness?  
Jb2130 “That evil men are [now] reserved for the day of disaster and destruction, They will be led away on the day of [God’s] wrath?  
Jb2131 “But who will confront him with his actions and rebuke him face to face, And who will repay him for what he has done?  
Jb2132 “When he is carried to his grave, A guard will keep watch over his tomb.  
Jb2133 “The [dirt] clods of the valley are sweet to him [and gently cover him], Moreover, all men will follow after him [to a grave], While countless ones go before him.  
Jb2134 “How then can you vainly comfort me with empty words, Since your answers remain untrue?”  
Jb2201 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  
Jb2202 “Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?  
Jb2203 “Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?  
Jb2204 “Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, That He enters into judgment against you?  
Jb2205 “Is not your wickedness great, And your sins without end?  
Jb2206 “For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause, And stripped men naked.  
Jb2207 “You have not given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.  
Jb2208 “But the land is possessed by the man with power, And the favored and honorable man dwells in it.  
Jb2209 “You have sent widows away empty-handed, And the arms (strength) of the fatherless have been broken.  
Jb2210 “Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies and overwhelms you;  
Jb2211 Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And a flood of water covers you.  
Jb2212 “Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the distant stars, how high they are!  
Jb2213 “You say, ‘What does God know [about me]? Can He judge through the thick darkness?  
Jb2214 ‘Thick clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks on the vault (circle) of the heavens.’  
Jb2215 “Will you keep to the ancient path That wicked men walked [in the time of Noah],  
Jb2216 Men who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundations were poured out like a river?  
Jb2217 “They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do for us or to us?’  
Jb2218 “Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked and ungodly is far from me.  
Jb2219 “The righteous see it and are glad; And the innocent mock and laugh at them, saying,  
Jb2220 ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off and destroyed, And fire has consumed their abundance.’  
Jb2221 “Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace; In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.  
Jb2222 “Please receive the law and instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart and keep them.  
Jb2223 “If you return to the Almighty [and submit and humble yourself before Him], you will be built up [and restored]; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tents,  
Jb2224 And place your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks [considering it of little value],  
Jb2225 And make the Almighty your gold And your precious silver,  
Jb2226 Then you will have delight in the Almighty, And you will lift up your face to God.  
Jb2227 “You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.  
Jb2228 “You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways.  
Jb2229 “When you are cast down and humbled, you will speak with confidence, And the humble person He will lift up and save.  
Jb2230 “He will even rescue the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; And he will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”  
Jb2301 Then Job answered and said,  
Jb2302 “Even today my complaint is contentious; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.  
Jb2303 “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might [even] come to His seat!  
Jb2304 “I would present my cause before Him And fill my mouth with arguments.  
Jb2305 “I would learn the words which He would answer, And understand what He would say to me.  
Jb2306 “Would He contend against me with His great power? No, surely He would give attention to me.  
Jb2307 “There the righteous and upright could reason with Him; So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.  
Jb2308 “Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there; I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;  
Jb2309 To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him; He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.  
Jb2310 “But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].  
Jb2311 “My feet have carefully followed His steps; I have kept His ways and not turned aside.  
Jb2312 “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.  
Jb2313 “But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.  
Jb2314 “For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me, And He is mindful of many such things.  
Jb2315 “Therefore I would be terrified at His presence; When I consider [all of this], I tremble in dread of Him.  
Jb2316 “For God has made my heart faint, And the Almighty has terrified me,  
Jb2317 But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me], Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face.  
Jb2401 “Why does the Almighty not set seasons for judgment? Why do those who know Him not see His days [for punishment of the wicked]?  
Jb2402 “Some remove the landmarks; They [violently] seize and pasture flocks [appropriating land and flocks openly].  
Jb2403 “They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; They take the widow’s ox for a pledge.  
Jb2404 “They crowd the needy off the road; The poor of the land all hide themselves.  
Jb2405 “Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, The poor go to their work, diligently seeking food; As bread for their children in the desert.  
Jb2406 “They harvest their fodder in a field [that is not their own], And glean the vineyard of the wicked.  
Jb2407 “They spend the night naked, without clothing, And have no covering against the cold.  
Jb2408 “They are wet from the rain of the mountains And cling to the rock for lack of shelter.  
Jb2409 “Others snatch the fatherless [infants] from the breast [to sell or make them slaves], And against the poor they take a pledge [of clothing].  
Jb2410 “They cause the poor to go about naked without clothing, And they take away the sheaves [of grain] from the hungry.  
Jb2411 “Within the walls [of the wicked] the poor make [olive] oil; They tread [the grapes in] the wine presses, but thirst.  
Jb2412 “From the [populous and crowded] city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out for help; Yet God [seemingly] does not pay attention to the wrong [done to them].  
Jb2413 “Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor stay in its paths.  
Jb2414 “The murderer rises at dawn; He kills the poor and the needy, And at night he becomes a thief.  
Jb2415 “The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, ‘No eye will see me,’ And he covers his face.  
Jb2416 “In the dark they dig into [the penetrable walls of] houses; They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light [of day].  
Jb2417 “For the morning is the same to him as the thick darkness [of midnight]; For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.  
Jb2418 “They are insignificant on the surface of the water; Their portion is cursed on the earth; They do not turn toward the vineyards.  
Jb2419 “Drought and heat consume the snow waters; So does Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) [consume] those who have sinned.  
Jb2420 “A mother will forget him; The worm feeds on him until he is no longer remembered. And wickedness will be broken like a tree [which cannot be restored].  
Jb2421 “He preys on the barren (childless) woman And does no good for the widow.  
Jb2422 “Yet God draws away the mighty by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.  
Jb2423 “God gives them security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways.  
Jb2424 “They are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone; Moreover, they are brought low and like everything [they are] gathered up and taken out of the way; Even like the heads of grain they are cut off.  
Jb2425 “And if this is not so, who can prove me a liar And make my speech worthless?”  
Jb2501 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,  
Jb2502 “Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes peace and order in His high places.  
Jb2503 “Is there any number to His [vast celestial] armies? And upon whom does His light not rise?  
Jb2504 “How then can man be justified and righteous with God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?  
Jb2505 “Behold, even the moon has no brightness [compared to God’s majesty and glory] And the stars are not pure in His sight,  
Jb2506 How much less man, that maggot, And the son of man, that worm!”  
Jb2601 But Job answered and said,  
Jb2602 “What a help you are to the weak (powerless)! How you have saved the arm that is without strength!  
Jb2603 “How you have counseled the one who has no wisdom! And how abundantly you have provided sound wisdom and helpful insight!  
Jb2604 “To whom have you uttered [these] words? And whose spirit [inspired what] came forth from you?  
Jb2605 “The spirits of the dead tremble Underneath the waters and their inhabitants.  
Jb2606 “Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) is naked before God, And Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes].  
Jb2607 “It is He who spreads out the north over emptiness And hangs the earth on nothing.  
Jb2608 “He wraps the waters in His clouds [which otherwise would spill on earth all at once], And the cloud does not burst under them.  
Jb2609 “He covers the face of the full moon And spreads His cloud over it.  
Jb2610 “He has inscribed a circular limit (the horizon) on the face of the waters At the boundary between light and darkness.  
Jb2611 “The pillars of the heavens tremble And are terrified at His rebuke.  
Jb2612 “He stirred up the sea by His power, And by His understanding He smashed [proud] Rahab.  
Jb2613 “By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the [swiftly] fleeing serpent.  
Jb2614 “Yet these are just the fringes of His ways [mere samples of His power], The faintest whisper of His voice! Who can contemplate the thunder of His [full] mighty power?”  
Jb2701 Job continued his discourse and said,  
Jb2702 “As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice, And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,  
Jb2703 As long as my life is within me, And the breath of God is [still] in my nostrils,  
Jb2704 My lips will not speak unjustly, Nor will my tongue utter deceit.  
Jb2705 “Far be it from me that I should admit you are right [in your accusations against me]; Until I die, I will not remove my integrity from me.  
Jb2706 “I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go; My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.  
Jb2707 “May my enemy be as the wicked, And he who rises up against me be as the unrighteous (unjust).  
Jb2708 “For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?  
Jb2709 “Will God hear his cry When trouble and distress come upon him?  
Jb2710 “Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?  
Jb2711 “I will teach you regarding the hand (power) of God; I will not conceal what is with the Almighty [God’s actual treatment of the wicked].  
Jb2712 “Behold, all of you have seen it; Why then do you act vainly and foolishly [cherishing worthless concepts]?  
Jb2713 “This [which I am about to explain] is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the inheritance which tyrants and oppressors receive from the Almighty:  
Jb2714 Though his children are many, they are destined for the sword; And his descendants will not have sufficient bread.  
Jb2715 “Those who survive him will be buried because of the plague, And [their] widows will not be able to weep.  
Jb2716 “Though he heaps up silver like dust And piles up clothing like clay,  
Jb2717 He may prepare it, but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.  
Jb2718 “He builds his house like a spider’s web, Like a (temporary) hut which a watchman makes.  
Jb2719 “He lies down rich, but never will again; He opens his eyes, and it is gone.  
Jb2720 “Terrors overtake him like a [suddenly rising] flood; A windstorm steals him away in the night.  
Jb2721 “The east wind lifts him up, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place.  
Jb2722 “For it will hurl [thunderbolts of God’s wrath] at him unsparingly and without compassion; He flees in haste from its power.  
Jb2723 “People will clap their hands at him [to mock and ridicule him] And hiss him out of his place.  
Jb2801 “Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine gold.  
Jb2802 “Iron is taken out of the earth, And copper is smelted from the stone ore.  
Jb2803 “Man puts an end to darkness [by bringing in a light], And to the farthest bounds he searches out The rock buried in gloom and deep shadow.  
Jb2804 “He breaks open (mine) shafts far away from where people live, [In places] forgotten by the [human] foot; They dangle [in the mines] and hang away from men.  
Jb2805 “[As for] the earth, out of it comes food, But underneath [its surface, down deep] it is turned over as fire.  
Jb2806 “Its stones are the bed of sapphires; It holds dust of gold.  
Jb2807 “The path [deep within] no bird of prey knows, And the falcon’s eye has not caught sight of it.  
Jb2808 “The proud beasts [and their young] have not walked on it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.  
Jb2809 “Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure].  
Jb2810 “He cuts out channels and passages among the rocks; And his eye sees every precious thing.  
Jb2811 “Man dams up the streams from flowing [so that they do not trickle into the mine], And what is hidden he brings out to the light.  
Jb2812 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?  
Jb2813 “Man does not know the value of it; Nor is it found in the land of the living.  
Jb2814 “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’  
Jb2815 “It cannot be obtained for pure gold, Nor can silver be weighed as its price.  
Jb2816 “It cannot be valued in [terms of] the gold of Ophir, In the precious onyx or beryl, or the sapphire.  
Jb2817 “Gold and glass cannot equal wisdom, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.  
Jb2818 “No mention of coral and crystal can be made; For the possession of wisdom is even above [that of] rubies or pearls.  
Jb2819 “The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.  
Jb2820 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?  
Jb2821 “It is hidden from the eyes of all the living And concealed from the birds of the heavens.  
Jb2822 “Abaddon (the place of destruction) and Death say, ‘We have [only] heard a report of it with our ears.’  
Jb2823 “God understands the way [to wisdom] And He knows its place [for wisdom is with God alone].  
Jb2824 “For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens.  
Jb2825 “When He gave weight and pressure to the wind And allotted the waters by measure,  
Jb2826 When He made a limit for the rain And a way for the thunderbolt,  
Jb2827 Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He established it and searched it out.  
Jb2828 “But to man He said, ‘Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”  
Jb2901 And Job again took up his discussion and said,  
Jb2902 “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me,  
Jb2903 When His lamp shone upon my head And by His light I walked through darkness;  
Jb2904 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,  
Jb2905 When the Almighty was still with me And my boys were around me,  
Jb2906 When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butter and cream [from my livestock], And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].  
Jb2907 “When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat [as a city father] in the square,  
Jb2908 The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged arose and stood [respectfully];  
Jb2909 The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;  
Jb2910 The voices of the nobles were hushed, And their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.  
Jb2911 “For when an ear heard [my name mentioned], it called me happy and fortunate; And when an eye saw [me], it testified for me [approvingly],  
Jb2912 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper.  
Jb2913 “The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.  
Jb2914 “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban!  
Jb2915 “I was eyes to the blind And I was feet to the lame.  
Jb2916 “I was a father to the needy; I investigated the case I did not know [and assured justice].  
Jb2917 “And I smashed the jaws of the wicked And snatched the prey from his teeth.  
Jb2918 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand.  
Jb2919 ‘My root is spread out and open to the waters, And the dew lies all night upon my branch.  
Jb2920 ‘My glory and honor are fresh in me [being constantly renewed], And my bow gains [ever] new strength in my hand.’  
Jb2921 “They listened to me and waited And kept silent for my counsel.  
Jb2922 “After I spoke, they did not speak again, And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower].  
Jb2923 “They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain, And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.  
Jb2924 “I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not diminish the light of my face.  
Jb2925 “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among his soldiers, As one who comforts mourners.  
Jb3001 “But now those younger than I mock and laugh at me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the sheepdogs of my flock.  
Jb3002 “Indeed, how could the strength of their hands profit me? Vigor had perished from them.  
Jb3003 “They are gaunt with want and famine; They gnaw the dry and barren ground by night in [the gloom of] waste and desolation.  
Jb3004 “They pluck [and eat] saltwort (mallows) among the bushes, And their food is the root of the broom shrub.  
Jb3005 “They are driven from the community; They shout after them as after a thief.  
Jb3006 “They must dwell on the slopes of wadis And in holes in the ground and in rocks.  
Jb3007 “Among the bushes they cry out [like wild animals]; Beneath the prickly scrub they gather and huddle together.  
Jb3008 “They are the sons of [worthless and nameless] fools, They have been driven out of the land.  
Jb3009 “And now I have become [the subject of] their taunting; Yes, I am a byword and a laughingstock to them.  
Jb3010 “They hate me, they stand aloof from me, And do not refrain from spitting in my face.  
Jb3011 “For God has loosed His bowstring [attacking me] and [He has] afflicted and humbled me; They have cast off the bridle [of restraint] before me.  
Jb3012 “On my right the [rabble] brood rises; They push my feet away, and they build up their ways of destruction against me [like an advancing army].  
Jb3013 “They break up and clutter my path [upsetting my plans], They profit from my destruction; No one restrains them.  
Jb3014 “As through a wide breach they come, Amid the crash [of falling walls] they roll on [over me].  
Jb3015 “Terrors are turned upon me; They chase away my honor and reputation like the wind, And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.  
Jb3016 “And now my soul is poured out within me; The days of affliction have seized me.  
Jb3017 “My bones are pierced [with aching] in the night season, And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.  
Jb3018 “By the great force [of my disease] my garment (skin) is disfigured and blemished; It binds about me [choking me] like the collar of my coat.  
Jb3019 “God has cast me into the mire [a swampland of crisis], And I have become [worthless] like dust and ashes.  
Jb3020 “I cry to You for help, [Lord,] but You do not answer me; I stand up, but You [only] gaze [indifferently] at me.  
Jb3021 “You have become harsh and cruel to me; With the might of Your hand You [keep me alive only to] persecute me.  
Jb3022 “You lift me up on the wind and cause me to ride [upon it]; And You toss me about in the tempest and dissolve me in the storm.  
Jb3023 “For I know that You will bring me to death And to the house of meeting [appointed] for all the living.  
Jb3024 “However, does not one falling in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand? Or in his disaster [will he not] therefore cry out for help?  
Jb3025 “Did I not weep for one whose life was hard and filled with trouble? Was not my heart grieved for the needy?  
Jb3026 “When I expected good, then came evil [to me]; And when I waited for light, then came darkness.  
Jb3027 “I am seething within and my heart is troubled and cannot rest; Days of affliction come to meet me.  
Jb3028 “I go about mourning without comfort [my skin blackened by disease, not by the heat of the sun]; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.  
Jb3029 “I am a brother to [howling] jackals, And a companion to ostriches [which scream dismally].  
Jb3030 “My skin falls from me in blackened flakes, And my bones are burned with fever.  
Jb3031 “Therefore my lyre (harp) is used for [the sound of] mourning, And my flute for the [sound of the] voices of those who weep.  
Jb3101 “I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes; How then could I gaze [lustfully] at a virgin?  
Jb3102 “For what is the portion I would have from God above, And what heritage from the Almighty on high?  
Jb3103 “Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjust And disaster to those who work wickedness?  
Jb3104 “Does not God see my ways And count all my steps?  
Jb3105 “If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has chased after deceit,  
Jb3106 Oh, let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity.  
Jb3107 “If my step has turned away from the way [of God], Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes, Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,  
Jb3108 Then let me plant and [let] another eat [from the results of my labor], And let my crops be uprooted and ruined.  
Jb3109 “If my heart has been enticed and I was made a fool by a woman, Or if I have [covetously] lurked at my neighbor’s door [until his departure],  
Jb3110 Let my wife grind [meal, like a bond slave] for another [man], And let others kneel down over her.  
Jb3111 “For adultery is a heinous and lustful crime; Moreover, it would be a sin punishable by the judges.  
Jb3112 “For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment); And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].  
Jb3113 “If I have despised and rejected the claim of my male or female servants When they filed a complaint against me,  
Jb3114 What then could I do when God arises [to judge me]? When He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?  
Jb3115 “Did not He who made me in the womb make my servant, And did not the same One fashion us both in the womb?  
Jb3116 “If I have withheld from the poor what they desired, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],  
Jb3117 Or have eaten my morsel [of food] alone, And did not share it with the orphan  
Jb3118 (But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide),  
Jb3119 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor person without covering,  
Jb3120 If his loins have not thanked and blessed me [for clothing them], And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,  
Jb3121 If I have lifted my hand against the orphan, Because I saw [that the judges would be] my help at the [council] gate,  
Jb3122 Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.  
Jb3123 “For tragedy from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty and exaltation I can do nothing [nor endure facing Him].  
Jb3124 “If I have put my trust and confidence in gold, Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance,  
Jb3125 If I gloated and rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my [powerful] hand [alone] had obtained so much,  
Jb3126 If I beheld the sun [as an object of worship] when it shone Or the moon going in its splendor,  
Jb3127 And my heart became secretly enticed [by them], And my hand threw a kiss from my mouth [in respect to them],  
Jb3128 This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.  
Jb3129 “Have I rejoiced at the destruction of the enemy [who hated me], Or exulted [in malicious triumph] when evil overtook him?  
Jb3130 “No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By cursing my enemy and asking for his life.  
Jb3131 “I assure you, the men of my tent have said, ‘Who can find one [in need] who has not been satisfied with his meat’?  
Jb3132 “The stranger has not lodged in the street, Because I have opened my door to the traveler.  
Jb3133 “Have I concealed my transgressions like Adam or like other men, By hiding my wickedness in my bosom,  
Jb3134 Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence and did not acknowledge my sin and did not go out of the door?  
Jb3135 “Oh, that I had one to listen to me! Look, here is my signature (mark); Let the Almighty answer me! Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].  
Jb3136 “Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder, And bind the scroll around my head like a crown.  
Jb3137 “I would count out to Him the number of my steps [with every detail of my life], Approaching His presence as if I were a prince.  
Jb3138 “For if my land has cried out against me, And its furrows weep together;  
Jb3139 If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them, Or have caused its [rightful] owners to lose their lives,  
Jb3140 Let thorns grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed and cockleburs instead of barley.” So the words of Job [with his friends] are finished.  
Jb3201 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them].  
Jb3202 But Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became indignant. His indignation was kindled and burned and he became upset with Job because he justified himself rather than God [and even expressed doubts about God’s character].  
Jb3203 Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s three friends because they had found no answer [and were unable to determine Job’s error], and yet they had condemned Job and declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions].  
Jb3204 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were years older than he.  
Jb3205 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he burned with anger.  
Jb3206 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite said, “I am young, and you are aged; For that reason I was anxious and dared not tell you what I think.  
Jb3207 “I thought age should speak, And a multitude of years should teach wisdom.  
Jb3208 “But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.  
Jb3209 “Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise, Nor may the elders [always] understand justice.  
Jb3210 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I also will give you my opinion [about Job’s situation] and tell you plainly what I think.’  
Jb3211 “You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your [wise] reasons, While you pondered and searched out what to say.  
Jb3212 “I even paid close attention to [what] you [said], Indeed, not one of you convinced Job [nor could you refute him], Not one of you supplied [satisfactory] answers to his words.  
Jb3213 “Beware if you say, ‘We have found wisdom; God thrusts Job down [justly], not man [for God alone is dealing with him].’  
Jb3214 “Now Job has not directed his words against me [therefore I have no reason to be offended], Nor will I answer him with arguments like yours. [I speak for truth, not for revenge.]  
Jb3215 “They (Job’s friends) are dismayed and embarrassed, they no longer answer; The words have moved away and failed them,” [says Elihu].  
Jb3216 “And shall I wait, because they say nothing, But stand still and say no more?  
Jb3217 “I too will give my share of answers; I too will express my opinion and share my knowledge.  
Jb3218 “For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me.  
Jb3219 “My belly is like unvented wine; Like new wineskins it is about to burst.  
Jb3220 “I must speak so that I may get relief; I will open my lips and answer.  
Jb3221 “I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say]; Nor flatter any man.  
Jb3222 “For I do not know how to flatter, [in an appropriate way, and I fear that], My Maker would soon take me away.  
Jb3301 “However, Job, please listen to my words, And pay attention to everything I say.  
Jb3302 “Behold, I have opened my mouth [to begin my speech]; My tongue in my mouth is going to speak.  
Jb3303 “My words will express the uprightness of my heart, And my lips will speak what they know with utter sincerity.  
Jb3304 “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].  
Jb3305 “Answer me, if you can; Set yourselves before me, take your stand.  
Jb3306 “Behold, I belong to God like you; I too was formed out of the clay.  
Jb3307 “Behold, I will not make you afraid or terrified of me [for I am only mortal and not God], Nor should any pressure from me weigh heavily upon you.  
Jb3308 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying:  
Jb3309 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.  
Jb3310 ‘Behold, God finds pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy.  
Jb3311 ‘He puts my feet in the stocks [to hinder and humiliate me]; He [suspiciously] watches all my paths,’ [you say].  
Jb3312 “Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just; For God is greater and far superior to man.  
Jb3313 “Why do you complain against Him? That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.  
Jb3314 “For God speaks once, And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].  
Jb3315 “In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], When deep sleep falls on men While slumbering upon the bed,  
Jb3316 Then He opens the ears of men And seals their instruction,  
Jb3317 That He may turn man aside from his conduct, And keep him from pride;  
Jb3318 He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).  
Jb3319 “Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones,  
Jb3320 So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes.  
Jb3321 “His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out.  
Jb3322 “Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).  
Jb3323 “If there is an angel as a mediator for him, One out of a thousand, To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],  
Jb3324 Then the angel is gracious to him, and says, ‘Spare him from going down to the pit [of destruction]; I have found a ransom [a consideration, or reason for redemption, an atonement]!’  
Jb3325 “Let his flesh be restored and become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful strength.  
Jb3326 “He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him, So that he looks at His face with joy; For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].  
Jb3327 “He sings out to other men, ‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right, And it was not proper for me!  
Jb3328 ‘God has redeemed my life from going to the pit [of destruction], And my life shall see the light.’”  
Jb3329 [Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,  
Jb3330 To bring his life back from the pit [of destruction], That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.  
Jb3331 “Pay attention, Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will speak.  
Jb3332 “If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.  
Jb3333 “If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”  
Jb3401 Elihu continued his discourse and said,  
Jb3402 “Hear my words, you wise men, And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.  
Jb3403 “For the ear puts words to the test As the palate tastes food.  
Jb3404 “Let us choose for ourselves that which is right; Let us know among ourselves what is good.  
Jb3405 “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent], But God has taken away my right;  
Jb3406 Although I am right, I am accounted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’  
Jb3407 “What man is like Job, Who drinks up derision like water,  
Jb3408 Who goes in company with those who do evil And walks with wicked men?  
Jb3409 “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing When he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.’  
Jb3410 “Therefore hear me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God that He would do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.  
Jb3411 “For God pays a man according to his work, And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.  
Jb3412 “Surely God will not act wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.  
Jb3413 “Who put God in charge over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?  
Jb3414 “If God should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,  
Jb3415 All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.  
Jb3416 “If you now have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.  
Jb3417 “Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern? And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?  
Jb3418 “God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’ Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?  
Jb3419 “Who is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands.  
Jb3420 “In a moment they die, even at midnight The people are shaken and pass away, And the powerful are taken away without a [human] hand.  
Jb3421 “For God’s eyes are on the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.  
Jb3422 “There is no darkness nor deep shadow Where the evildoers may hide themselves.  
Jb3423 “For He sets no appointed time for a man, That he should appear before Him in judgment.  
Jb3424 “He breaks mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.  
Jb3425 “Therefore He knows of their works, And He overthrows them in the night, So that they are crushed and destroyed.  
Jb3426 “He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,  
Jb3427 Because they turned aside from following Him And would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,  
Jb3428 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And He heard the cry of the afflicted.  
Jb3429 “When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him], Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—  
Jb3430 “So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares for the people.  
Jb3431 “For has anyone said to God, ‘I have endured my chastisement; I will not offend anymore;  
Jb3432 Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned]; If I have done wrong (injustice, unrighteousness), I will not do it again’?  
Jb3433 “Shall God’s retribution [for your sins] be on your terms, because you refuse to accept it? For you must do the choosing, and not I; Therefore say what you [truthfully] know.  
Jb3434 “Men of understanding will tell me, Indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],  
Jb3435 ‘Job speaks without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom and insight.  
Jb3436 ‘Job ought to be tried to the limit Because he answers like wicked men!  
Jb3437 ‘For he adds rebellion [in his unsubmissive, defiant attitude toward God] to his [unacknowledged] sin; He claps his hands among us [in open mockery and contempt of God], And he multiplies his words [of accusation] against God.’”  
Jb3501 Elihu continued speaking [to Job] and said,  
Jb3502 “Do you think this is according to [your] justice? Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?  
Jb3503 “For you say, ‘What advantage have you [by living a righteous life]? What profit will I have, more [by being righteous] than if I had sinned?’  
Jb3504 “I will answer you, And your companions with you.  
Jb3505 “Look to the heavens and see; And behold the skies which are [much] higher than you.  
Jb3506 “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?  
Jb3507 “If you are righteous, what do you give God, Or what does He receive from your hand?  
Jb3508 “Your wickedness affects only a man such as you, And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].  
Jb3509 “Because of the multitudes of oppressions the people cry out; They cry for help because of the [violent] arm of the mighty.  
Jb3510 “But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night,  
Jb3511 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’  
Jb3512 “The people cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men.  
Jb3513 “Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust], Nor will the Almighty regard it.  
Jb3514 “Even though you say that you do not see Him [when missing His righteous judgment on earth], Yet your case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!  
Jb3515 “And now, because He has not [quickly] punished in His anger, Nor has He acknowledged transgression and arrogance well [and seems unaware of the wrong of which a person is guilty],  
Jb3516 Job uselessly opens his mouth And multiplies words without knowledge [drawing the worthless conclusion that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked].”  
Jb3601 Elihu continued and said,  
Jb3602 “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you, That there is yet more to say on God’s behalf.  
Jb3603 “I will bring my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.  
Jb3604 “For truly my words are not false; He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.  
Jb3605 “Behold, God is mighty, and yet does not despise anyone [nor regard any as trivial]; He is mighty in the strength and power of understanding.  
Jb3606 “He does not prolong the life of the wicked, But gives the afflicted their justice.  
Jb3607 “He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous [those in right standing with Him]; But with kings upon the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.  
Jb3608 “And if they are bound in bonds [of adversity], And held by cords of affliction,  
Jb3609 Then He declares to them [the true character of] their deeds And their transgressions, that they have acted arrogantly [with presumption and notions of self-sufficiency].  
Jb3610 “He opens their ears to instruction and discipline, And commands that they return from evil.  
Jb3611 “If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasantness and joy.  
Jb3612 “But if they do not hear and obey, they will die by the sword [of God’s destructive judgments] And they will die [in ignorance] without [true] knowledge.  
Jb3613 “But the godless in heart store up anger [at the divine discipline]; They do not cry [to Him] for help when He binds them [with cords of affliction].  
Jb3614 “They die in youth, And their life ends among the cult prostitutes.  
Jb3615 “He rescues the afflicted in their affliction, And opens their ears [so that they pay attention to His voice] in times of oppression.  
Jb3616 “Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress and confinement, Into a broad place where there is no constraint or distress; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness (rich food).  
Jb3617 “But you [Job] were full of judgment on the wicked, Judgment and justice take hold of you.  
Jb3618 “Do not let wrath entice you into scoffing; And do not let the greatness and the extent of the ransom turn you aside.  
Jb3619 “Will your wealth [be sufficient to] keep you from [the confinement of] distress, Or will all the force of your strength do it?  
Jb3620 “Do not long for the night, When people vanish from their places.  
Jb3621 “Take heed and be careful, do not turn to wickedness, For you have chosen this [the vice of complaining against God] rather than [learning from] affliction.  
Jb3622 “Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?  
Jb3623 “Who has appointed God His way, And who can say [to Him], ‘You have done wrong’?  
Jb3624 “Remember that you should magnify God’s work, Of which men have sung.  
Jb3625 “All men have seen God’s work; Man looks at it from a distance.  
Jb3626 “Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.  
Jb3627 “For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist,  
Jb3628 Which the clouds pour down, They drop abundantly upon mankind.”  
Jb3629 “Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds Or the thundering of His pavilion?  
Jb3630 “Behold, He spreads His lightning around Him [against the dark clouds], And He covers the depths of the sea.  
Jb3631 “For by these [mighty acts] He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.  
Jb3632 “He covers His hands with the lightning, And commands it to strike the mark.  
Jb3633 “His thundering voice declares [awesomely] His presence; The cattle also are told of His coming storm.  
Jb3701 “Indeed, at His thundering my heart trembles And leaps out of its place.  
Jb3702 “Listen carefully to the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that goes out of His mouth!  
Jb3703 “He lets it loose under the whole heaven, And His lightning to the ends of the earth.  
Jb3704 “After it, His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, And He does not restrain His lightning [against His adversaries] when His voice is heard.  
Jb3705 “God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.  
Jb3706 “For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; And [He speaks] to the showers and to the downpour [of His mighty rains], ‘Be strong.’  
Jb3707 “God seals (brings to a standstill, stops) [by severe weather] the hand of every man, That all men [whom He has made] may know His work [that is, His sovereign power and their subjection to it].  
Jb3708 “Then the beast goes into its lair And remains in its hiding place.  
Jb3709 “Out of its chamber comes the storm, And cold from the north wind.  
Jb3710 “Ice is made by the breath of God, And the expanse of the waters is frozen.  
Jb3711 “He loads the thick cloud with moisture; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.  
Jb3712 “Its direction is turned around by His guidance, That it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.  
Jb3713 “Whether [it be] for correction, or for His earth [generally] Or for [His] mercy and lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.  
Jb3714 “Listen to this, Job; Stand still and consider the wonders of God.  
Jb3715 “Do you know how God establishes and commands them, And makes the lightning of His [storm] cloud shine?  
Jb3716 “Do you know about the layers of thick clouds [and how they are balanced and poised in the heavens], The wonderful works of Him who is perfect in knowledge,  
Jb3717 You whose garments are hot, When He quiets the earth [in sultry summer] with the [oppressive] south wind?  
Jb3718 “Can you, with Him, spread out the sky, Strong as a molten mirror?  
Jb3719 “Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being; We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].  
Jb3720 “So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up [and destroyed by God]?  
Jb3721 “Now people cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies [without being blinded], When the wind has passed and cleared them.  
Jb3722 “Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it]; Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes].  
Jb3723 “The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness.  
Jb3724 “Men therefore fear Him; He does not regard nor respect any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].”  
Jb3801 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,  
Jb3802 “Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom] By words without knowledge?  
Jb3803 “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!  
Jb3804 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you know and have understanding.  
Jb3805 “Who determined the measurements [of the earth], if you know? Or who stretched the [measuring] line on it?  
Jb3806 “On what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,  
Jb3807 When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God (angels) shouted for joy?  
Jb3808 “Or who enclosed the sea with doors When it burst forth and went out of the womb;  
Jb3809 When I made the clouds its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band,  
Jb3810 And marked for it My [appointed] boundary And set bars and doors [defining the shorelines],  
Jb3811 And said, ‘This far you shall come, but no farther; And here your proud waves shall stop’?  
Jb3812 “Since your days began, have you ever commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place,  
Jb3813 So that light may take hold of the corners of the earth And shake the wickedness out of it?  
Jb3814 “The earth is changed like clay into which a seal is pressed; And the things [of the earth] stand out like a [multi-colored] garment.  
Jb3815 “Their light is withheld from the wicked, And the uplifted arm is broken.  
Jb3816 “Have you entered and explored the springs of the sea Or [have you] walked in the recesses of the deep?  
Jb3817 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?  
Jb3818 “Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.  
Jb3819 “Where is the way where light dwells? And as for darkness, where is its place,  
Jb3820 That you may take it to its territory And that you may know the paths to its house?  
Jb3821 “You [must] know, since you were born then, And because you are so extremely old!  
Jb3822 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,  
Jb3823 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?  
Jb3824 “Where is the way that the light is distributed, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?  
Jb3825 “Who has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain and for the flood, Or a path for the thunderbolt,  
Jb3826 To bring rain on the uninhabited land, And on the desert where no man lives,  
Jb3827 To satisfy the barren and desolate ground And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?  
Jb3828 “Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?  
Jb3829 “Out of whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?  
Jb3830 “Water becomes like stone [and hides itself], And the surface of the deep is frozen and imprisoned.  
Jb3831 “Can you bind the chains of [the cluster of stars called] Pleiades, Or loose the cords of [the constellation] Orion?  
Jb3832 “Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide [the stars of] the Bear with her sons?  
Jb3833 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, Or [can you] establish their rule over the earth?  
Jb3834 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you?  
Jb3835 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’?  
Jb3836 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being [of man, or in the layers of clouds] Or given understanding to the mind [of man, or to the heavenly display]?  
Jb3837 “Who can count the clouds by [earthly] wisdom, Or pour out the water jars of the heavens,  
Jb3838 When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together [because of the heat]?  
Jb3839 “Can you [Job] hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions  
Jb3840 When they crouch in their dens And lie in wait in their lair?  
Jb3841 “Who provides prey for the raven When its young cry to God And wander about without food?  
Jb3901 “Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock give birth [to their young]? Do you observe the calving of the deer?  
Jb3902 “Can you count the months that they carry offspring, Or do you know the time when they give birth?  
Jb3903 “They kneel down, they bring forth their young, They cast out their labor pains.  
Jb3904 “Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They leave and do not return to them.  
Jb3905 “Who sent out the wild donkey free [from dependence on man]? And who has loosed the bonds of the wild donkey [to survive in the wild],  
Jb3906 To whom I gave the wilderness as his home And the salt land as his dwelling place?  
Jb3907 “He scorns the tumult of the city, And does not hear the shouting of the taskmaster.  
Jb3908 “He explores the mountains as his pasture And searches after every green thing.  
Jb3909 “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you, Or remain beside your manger at night?  
Jb3910 “Can you bind the wild ox with a harness [to the plow] in the furrow? Or will he plow the valleys for you?  
Jb3911 “Will you trust him because his strength is great And leave your labor to him?  
Jb3912 “Will you have faith and depend on him to return your grain And gather it from your threshing floor?  
Jb3913 “The [flightless] wings of the ostrich wave joyously; With the pinion (shackles, fetters) and plumage of love,  
Jb3914 For she leaves her eggs on the ground And warms them in the dust,  
Jb3915 Forgetting that a foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.  
Jb3916 “She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers; Though her labor is in vain because she is unconcerned [for the safety of her brood],  
Jb3917 For God has made her forget wisdom, And has not given her a share of understanding.  
Jb3918 “Yet when she lifts herself on high, [So swift is she that] she laughs at the horse and his rider.  
Jb3919 “Have you given the horse his might? Have you clothed his neck with quivering and a shaking mane?  
Jb3920 “Have you [Job] made him leap like a locust? The majesty of his snorting [nostrils] is terrible.  
Jb3921 “He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; He goes out to meet the weapons [of armed men].  
Jb3922 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; And [in battle] he does not turn back from the sword.  
Jb3923 “The quiver rattles against him, [As do] the flashing spear and the lance [of his rider].  
Jb3924 “With fierceness and rage he races to devour the ground, And he does not stand still at the sound of the [war] trumpet.  
Jb3925 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’ And he smells the battle from far away, And senses the thunder of the captains and the war cry.  
Jb3926 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south [as winter approaches]?  
Jb3927 “Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up And makes his nest on high [in an inaccessible place]?  
Jb3928 “On the cliff he dwells and remains [securely], Upon the point of the rock and the inaccessible stronghold.  
Jb3929 “From there he spies out the prey; His eyes see it from far away.  
Jb3930 “His young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there is he.”  
Jb4001 Then the LORD said to Job,  
Jb4002 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who disputes with God answer it.”  
Jb4003 Then Job replied to the LORD and said,  
Jb4004 “Behold, I am of little importance and contemptible; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.  
Jb4005 “I have spoken once, but I will not reply again— Indeed, twice [I have answered], and I will add nothing further.”  
Jb4006 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, saying,  
Jb4007 “Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.  
Jb4008 “Will you really annul My judgment and set it aside as void? Will you condemn Me [your God] that you may [appear to] be righteous and justified?  
Jb4009 “Have you an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?  
Jb4010 “Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity [since you question the Almighty], And array yourself with honor and majesty.  
Jb4011 “Pour out the overflowings of your wrath, And look at everyone who is proud and make him low.  
Jb4012 “Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him, And [if you are so able] tread down the wicked where they stand.  
Jb4013 “[Crush and] hide them in the dust together; Shut them up in the hidden place [the house of death].  
Jb4014 “[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise you and acknowledge That your own right hand can save you.  
Jb4015 “Behold now, Behemoth, which I created as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.  
Jb4016 “See now, his strength is in his loins And his power is in the muscles and sinews of his belly.  
Jb4017 “He sways his tail like a cedar; The tendons of his thighs are twisted and knit together [like a rope].  
Jb4018 “His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.  
Jb4019 “He is the first [in magnitude and power] of the works of God; [Only] He who made him can bring near His sword [to master him].  
Jb4020 “Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the wild animals play there.  
Jb4021 “He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hidden shelter of the reeds in the marsh.  
Jb4022 “The lotus plants cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook surround him.  
Jb4023 “If a river rages and overflows, he does not tremble; He is confident, though the Jordan [River] swells and rushes against his mouth.  
Jb4024 “Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, Or pierce his nose with barbs [to trap him]?  
Jb4101 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?  
Jb4102 “Can you put a rope [made] of rushes into his nose Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?  
Jb4103 “Will he make many supplications to you [begging to be spared]? Or will he speak soft words to you [to coax you to treat him kindly]?  
Jb4104 “Will he make a covenant or an arrangement with you? Will you take him for your servant forever?  
Jb4105 “Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him [and put him on a leash] for your maidens?  
Jb4106 “Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?  
Jb4107 “Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?  
Jb4108 “Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle [with him]; you will not do such [an ill-advised thing] again!  
Jb4109 “Behold, his [assailant’s] hope and expectation [of defeating Leviathan] is false; Will not one be overwhelmed even at the sight of him?  
Jb4110 “No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dares to stir up Leviathan; Who then is he who can stand before Me [or dares to contend with Me, the beast’s creator]?  
Jb4111 “Who has first given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?]  
Jb4112 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his orderly frame.  
Jb4113 “Who can penetrate or strip off his outer armor? Who can come to his jaws with a double bridle?  
Jb4114 “Who can open the doors (jaws) of his face? Around his [open jaws and] teeth there is terror.  
Jb4115 “His strong scales are his pride, Bound together as with a tight seal.  
Jb4116 “One is so near to another That no air can come between them.  
Jb4117 “They are joined one to another; They stick together and cannot be separated.  
Jb4118 “His sneezes flash forth light, And his eyes are like the [reddish] eyelids of the dawn.  
Jb4119 “Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap out.  
Jb4120 “Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth As from a boiling pot and [as from] burning rushes.  
Jb4121 “His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes forth from his mouth.  
Jb4122 “In Leviathan’s neck resides strength, And dismay and terror dance before him.  
Jb4123 “The folds of his flesh are joined together, Firm on him and immobile [when he moves].  
Jb4124 “His heart is as hard as a stone, Indeed, as solid as a lower millstone.  
Jb4125 “When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of the crashing they are bewildered.  
Jb4126 “The sword that reaches him cannot avail, Nor [does] the spear, the dart, or the javelin.  
Jb4127 “He considers iron as straw, Bronze as rotten wood.  
Jb4128 “The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones are treated as stubble by him.  
Jb4129 “Clubs [also] are regarded as stubble; He laughs at the rushing and the rattling of the javelin.  
Jb4130 “His underparts are like sharp pieces of broken pottery; He moves across and spreads out [grooves] like a threshing sledge on the mire (muddy river banks).  
Jb4131 “He makes the deep water boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a [foaming] pot of ointment.  
Jb4132 “Behind him he makes a shining wake; One would think the deep to be gray-haired [with foam].  
Jb4133 “Upon earth there is nothing like him—no equal exists, A creature made without fear.  
Jb4134 “He looks on everything that is high [without terror]; He is monarch over all the sons of pride. [And now, Job, who are you who does not dare to disturb the beast, yet who dares resist Me, the beast’s creator? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]”  
Jb4201 Then Job answered the LORD and said,  
Jb4202 “I know that You can do all things, And that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.  
Jb4203 “[You said to me] ‘Who is this that darkens and obscures counsel [by words] without knowledge?’ Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.  
Jb4204 ‘Hear, please, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct [and answer] me.’  
Jb4205 “I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, But now my [spiritual] eye sees You.  
Jb4206 “Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself] And I repent in dust and ashes.”  
Jb4207 It came about that after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.  
Jb4208 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”  
Jb4209 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.  
Jb4210 The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.  
Jb4211 Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.  
Jb4212 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.  
Jb4213 He had seven sons and three daughters.  
Jb4214 And he called the name of the first [daughter] Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.  
Jb4215 In all the land there were found no women so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.  
Jb4216 After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.  
Jb4217 So Job died, an old man and full of days.  
Ps00101 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).  
Ps00102 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.  
Ps00103 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].  
Ps00104 The wicked [those who live in disobedience to God’s law] are not so, But they are like the chaff [worthless and without substance] which the wind blows away.  
Ps00105 Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  
Ps00106 For the LORD knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.  
Ps00201 Why are the nations in an uproar [in turmoil against God], And why do the people devise a vain and hopeless plot?  
Ps00202 The kings of the earth take their stand; And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and His Anointed (the Davidic King, the Messiah, the Christ), saying,  
Ps00203 “Let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint] And cast away their cords [of control] from us.”  
Ps00204 He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion]; The [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].  
Ps00205 Then He will speak to them in His [profound] anger And terrify them with His displeasure, saying,  
Ps00206 “Yet as for Me, I have anointed and firmly installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”  
Ps00207 “I will declare the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; This day [I proclaim] I have begotten You.  
Ps00208 ‘Ask of Me, and I will assuredly give [You] the nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth as Your possession.  
Ps00209 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall shatter them [in pieces] like earthenware.’”  
Ps00210 Now therefore, O kings, act wisely; Be instructed and take warning, O leaders (judges, rulers) of the earth.  
Ps00211 Worship the LORD and serve Him with reverence [with awe-inspired fear and submissive wonder]; Rejoice [yet do so] with trembling.  
Ps00212 Kiss (pay respect to) the Son, so that He does not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled and set aflame. How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him!  
Ps00301 A Psalm of David. When he fled from Absalom his son. O LORD, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me.  
Ps00302 Many are saying of me, “There is no help [no salvation] for him in God.” Selah.  
Ps00303 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head.  
Ps00304 With my voice I was crying to the LORD, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.  
Ps00305 I lay down and slept [safely]; I awakened, for the LORD sustains me.  
Ps00306 I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands Who have set themselves against me all around.  
Ps00307 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.  
Ps00308 Salvation belongs to the LORD; May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah.  
Ps00401 To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress; Be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.  
Ps00402 O sons of men, how long will my honor and glory be [turned into] shame? How long will you [my enemies] love worthless (vain, futile) things and seek deception and lies? Selah.  
Ps00403 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage—the one who does right]. The LORD hears and responds when I call to Him.  
Ps00404 Tremble [with anger or fear], and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still [reflect on your sin and repent of your rebellion]. Selah.  
Ps00405 Offer righteous sacrifices; Trust [confidently] in the LORD.  
Ps00406 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see some good!” Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.  
Ps00407 You have put joy in my heart, More than [others know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly.  
Ps00408 In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.  
Ps00501 To the Chief Musician; on wind instruments. A Psalm of David. Listen to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning and sighing.  
Ps00502 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray.  
Ps00503 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].  
Ps00504 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil [person] dwells with You.  
Ps00505 The boastful and the arrogant will not stand in Your sight; You hate all who do evil.  
Ps00506 You destroy those who tell lies; The LORD detests and rejects the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.  
Ps00507 But as for me, I will enter Your house through the abundance of Your steadfast love and tender mercy; At Your holy temple I will bow [obediently] in reverence for You.  
Ps00508 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight (direct, right) before me.  
Ps00509 For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say; Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies]. Their throat is an open grave; They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.  
Ps00510 Hold them guilty, O God; Let them fall by their own designs and councils! Cast them out because of the abundance of their transgressions, For they are mutinous and have rebelled against You.  
Ps00511 But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; Because You cover and shelter them, Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You.  
Ps00512 For You, O LORD, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You]; You surround him with favor as with a shield.  
Ps00601 To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger, Nor discipline me in Your wrath.  
Ps00602 Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am weak (faint, frail); Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.  
Ps00603 My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed. But as for You, O LORD—how long [until You act on my behalf]?  
Ps00604 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.  
Ps00605 For in death there is no mention of You; In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?  
Ps00606 I am weary with my groaning; Every night I soak my bed with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping.  
Ps00607 My eye grows dim with grief; It grows old because of all my enemies.  
Ps00608 Depart from me, all you who do evil, For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.  
Ps00609 The LORD has heard my supplication [my plea for grace]; The LORD receives my prayer.  
Ps00610 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified; Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].  
Ps00701 An Ode of David, [perhaps in a wild, irregular, enthusiastic strain,] which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, in You I take refuge; Save me and rescue me from all those who pursue me,  
Ps00702 So that my enemy will not tear me like a lion, Dragging me away while there is no one to rescue [me].  
Ps00703 O LORD my God, if I have done this, If there is injustice in my hands,  
Ps00704 If I have done evil to him who was at peace with me, Or without cause robbed him who was my enemy,  
Ps00705 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; And let him trample my life to the ground And lay my honor in the dust. Selah.  
Ps00706 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me; You have commanded judgment and vindication.  
Ps00707 Let the assembly of the nations be gathered around You, And return on high over them.  
Ps00708 The LORD judges the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, and grant me justice according to my righteousness and according to the integrity within me.  
Ps00709 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous [those in right standing with You]; For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.  
Ps00710 My shield and my defense depend on God, Who saves the upright in heart.  
Ps00711 God is a righteous judge, And a God who is indignant every day.  
Ps00712 If a man does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has strung and bent His [mighty] bow and made it ready.  
Ps00713 He has also prepared [other] deadly weapons for Himself; He makes His arrows fiery shafts [aimed at the unrepentant].  
Ps00714 Behold, the [wicked and irreverent] man is pregnant with sin, And he conceives mischief and gives birth to lies.  
Ps00715 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the [very] pit which he made [as a trap].  
Ps00716 His mischief will return on his own head, And his violence will come down on the top of his head [like loose dirt].  
Ps00717 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness and justice, And I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.  
Ps00801 To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute [or perhaps to a particular Hittite tune]. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.  
Ps00802 Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, That You might silence the enemy and make the revengeful cease.  
Ps00803 When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have established,  
Ps00804 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?  
Ps00805 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.  
Ps00806 You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,  
Ps00807 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,  
Ps00808 The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.  
Ps00809 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic and glorious and excellent is Your name in all the earth!  
Ps00901 To the Chief Musician; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks and praise the LORD, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds.  
Ps00902 I will rejoice and exult in you; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.  
Ps00903 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You.  
Ps00904 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.  
Ps00905 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked and unrepentant; You have wiped out their name forever and ever.  
Ps00906 The enemy has been cut off and has vanished in everlasting ruins, You have uprooted their cities; The very memory of them has perished.  
Ps00907 But the LORD will remain and sit enthroned forever; He has prepared and established His throne for judgment.  
Ps00908 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the nations with fairness (equity).  
Ps00909 The LORD also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble;  
Ps00910 And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not abandoned those who seek You.  
Ps00911 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His [great and wondrous] deeds.  
Ps00912 For He who avenges blood [unjustly shed] remembers them (His people); He does not forget the cry of the afflicted and abused.  
Ps00913 Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O LORD; See how I am afflicted by those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death,  
Ps00914 That I may tell aloud all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion (Jerusalem) I may rejoice in Your salvation and Your help.  
Ps00915 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.  
Ps00916 The LORD has made Himself known; He executes judgment; The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands. Higgaion (meditation) Selah.  
Ps00917 The wicked will turn to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), Even all the nations who forget God.  
Ps00918 For the poor will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the burdened perish forever.  
Ps00919 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You.  
Ps00920 Put them in [reverent] fear of You, O LORD, So that the nations may know they are but [frail and mortal] men. Selah.  
Ps01001 Why do You stand far away, O LORD? Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble?  
Ps01002 In pride and arrogance the wicked hotly pursue and persecute the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.  
Ps01003 For the wicked boasts and sings the praises of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns [and even despises] the LORD.  
Ps01004 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his face, will not seek nor inquire for Him; All his thoughts are, “There is no God [so there is no accountability or punishment].”  
Ps01005 His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments [LORD] are on high, out of his sight [so he never thinks about them]; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.  
Ps01006 He says to himself, “I will not be moved; For throughout all generations I will not be in adversity [for nothing bad will happen to me].”  
Ps01007 His mouth is full of curses and deceit (fraud) and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness [injustice and sin].  
Ps01008 He lurks in ambush in the villages; In hiding places he kills the innocent; He lies in wait for the unfortunate [the unhappy, the poor, the helpless].  
Ps01009 He lurks in a hiding place like a lion in his lair; He lies in wait to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.  
Ps01010 He crushes [his prey] and crouches; And the unfortunate fall by his mighty claws.  
Ps01011 He says to himself, “God has [quite] forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see my deed.”  
Ps01012 Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand [in judgment]; Do not forget the suffering.  
Ps01013 Why has the wicked spurned and shown disrespect to God? He has said to himself, “You will not require me to account.”  
Ps01014 You have seen it, for You have noted mischief and vexation (irritation) to take it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.  
Ps01015 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until You find no more.  
Ps01016 The LORD is King forever and ever; The nations will perish from His land.  
Ps01017 O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble and oppressed; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to hear,  
Ps01018 To vindicate and obtain justice for the fatherless and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer terrify them.  
Ps01101 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I take refuge [and put my trust]; How can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to your mountain;  
Ps01102 For look, the wicked are bending the bow; They take aim with their arrow on the string To shoot [by stealth] in darkness at the upright in heart.  
Ps01103 “If the foundations [of a godly society] are destroyed, What can the righteous do?”  
Ps01104 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven. His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of men.  
Ps01105 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And His soul hates the [malevolent] one who loves violence.  
Ps01106 Upon the wicked (godless) He will rain coals of fire; Fire and brimstone and a dreadful scorching wind will be the portion of their cup [of doom].  
Ps01107 For the LORD is [absolutely] righteous, He loves righteousness (virtue, morality, justice); The upright shall see His face.  
Ps01201 To the Chief Musician; set an octave below. A Psalm of David. Save and help and rescue, LORD, for godly people cease to be, For the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.  
Ps01202 They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.  
Ps01203 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaks great things [in boasting];  
Ps01204 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord and master over us?”  
Ps01205 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”  
Ps01206 The words and promises of the LORD are pure words, Like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.  
Ps01207 You, O LORD, will preserve and keep them; You will protect him from this [evil] generation forever.  
Ps01208 The wicked strut about [in pompous self-importance] on every side, As vileness is exalted and baseness is prized among the sons of men.  
Ps01301 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?  
Ps01302 How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?  
Ps01303 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,  
Ps01304 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.  
Ps01305 But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation.  
Ps01306 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.  
Ps01401 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed repulsive and unspeakable deeds; There is no one who does good.  
Ps01402 The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there are any who understand (act wisely), Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance].  
Ps01403 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.  
Ps01404 Have all the workers of wickedness and injustice no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the LORD?  
Ps01405 There they tremble with great fear, For God is with the [consistently] righteous generation.  
Ps01406 You [evildoers] shamefully plan against the poor, But the LORD is his safe refuge.  
Ps01407 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, Then Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.  
Ps01501 A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent? Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill?  
Ps01502 He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, And speaks and holds truth in his heart.  
Ps01503 He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;  
Ps01504 In his eyes an evil person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder]. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit];  
Ps01505 He does not put out his money at interest [to a fellow Israelite], And does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.  
Ps01601 A Mikhtam of David [probably intended to record memorable thoughts]. Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge.  
Ps01602 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”  
Ps01603 As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.  
Ps01604 The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry]; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.  
Ps01605 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.  
Ps01606 The [boundary] lines [of the land] have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.  
Ps01607 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my heart (mind) instructs me in the night.  
Ps01608 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  
Ps01609 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,  
Ps01610 For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.  
Ps01611 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.  
Ps01701 A Prayer of David. Hear the just (righteous) cause, O LORD; listen to my loud [piercing] cry; Listen to my prayer, that comes from guileless lips.  
Ps01702 Let my verdict of vindication come from Your presence; May Your eyes look with equity and behold things that are just.  
Ps01703 You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tested me and You find nothing [evil in me]; I intend that my mouth will not transgress.  
Ps01704 Concerning the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the violent.  
Ps01705 My steps have held closely to Your paths; My feet have not staggered.  
Ps01706 I have called upon You, for You, O God, will answer me; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.  
Ps01707 Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.  
Ps01708 Keep me [in Your affectionate care, protect me] as the apple of Your eye; Hide me in the [protective] shadow of Your wings  
Ps01709 From the wicked who despoil and deal violently with me, My deadly enemies who surround me.  
Ps01710 They have closed their unfeeling heart [to kindness and compassion]; With their mouths they speak proudly and make presumptuous claims.  
Ps01711 They track us down and have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to force us to the ground,  
Ps01712 He is like a lion eager to tear [his prey], And like a young lion lurking in hiding places.  
Ps01713 Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; Save my soul from the wicked with Your sword,  
Ps01714 From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.  
Ps01715 As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness; I will be [fully] satisfied when I awake [to find myself] seeing Your likeness.  
Ps01801 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said: “I love You [fervently and devotedly], O LORD, my strength.”  
Ps01802 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.  
Ps01803 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies.  
Ps01804 The cords of death surrounded me, And the streams of ungodliness and torrents of destruction terrified me.  
Ps01805 The cords of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.  
Ps01806 In my distress [when I seemed surrounded] I called upon the LORD And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry for help came before Him, into His very ears.  
Ps01807 Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of the mountains trembled; They were shaken because He was indignant and angry.  
Ps01808 Smoke went up from His nostrils, And fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it.  
Ps01809 He bowed the heavens also and came down; And thick darkness was under His feet.  
Ps01810 And He rode upon a cherub (storm) and flew; And He sped on the wings of the wind.  
Ps01811 He made darkness His hiding place (covering); His pavilion (canopy) around Him, The darkness of the waters, the thick clouds of the skies.  
Ps01812 Out of the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, Hailstones and coals of fire.  
Ps01813 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.  
Ps01814 He sent out His arrows and scattered them; And He sent an abundance of lightning flashes and confused and routed them [in defeat].  
Ps01815 Then the stream beds of the waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare At Your rebuke, O LORD, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.  
Ps01816 He reached from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.  
Ps01817 He rescued me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.  
Ps01818 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, But the LORD was my support.  
Ps01819 He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me because He was pleased with me and delighted in me.  
Ps01820 The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness (moral character, spiritual integrity); According to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.  
Ps01821 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.  
Ps01822 For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me.  
Ps01823 I was blameless before Him, And I kept myself free from my sin.  
Ps01824 Therefore the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness (moral character, spiritual integrity), According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.  
Ps01825 With the kind (merciful, faithful, loyal) You show Yourself kind, With the blameless You show Yourself blameless,  
Ps01826 With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.  
Ps01827 For You save an afflicted and humble people, But bring down those [arrogant fools] with haughty eyes.  
Ps01828 For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.  
Ps01829 For by You I can crush a troop, And by my God I can leap over a wall.  
Ps01830 As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the LORD is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless]; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.  
Ps01831 For who is God, but the LORD? Or who is a rock, except our God,  
Ps01832 The God who encircles me with strength And makes my way blameless?  
Ps01833 He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly and tread safely on paths of testing and trouble]; He sets me [securely] upon my high places.  
Ps01834 He trains my hands for war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  
Ps01835 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds and sustains me; Your gentleness [Your gracious response when I pray] makes me great.  
Ps01836 You enlarge the path beneath me and make my steps secure, So that my feet will not slip.  
Ps01837 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; And I did not turn back until they were consumed.  
Ps01838 I shattered them so that they were not able to rise; They fell [wounded] under my feet.  
Ps01839 For You have encircled me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.  
Ps01840 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me [in defeat], And I silenced and destroyed those who hated me.  
Ps01841 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— Even to the LORD [they cried], but He did not answer them.  
Ps01842 Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the dirt of the streets.  
Ps01843 You have rescued me from the contentions of the people; You have placed me as the head of the nations; A people whom I have not known serve me.  
Ps01844 As soon as they hear me, they respond and obey me; Foreigners feign obedience to me.  
Ps01845 Foreigners lose heart, And come trembling out of their strongholds.  
Ps01846 The LORD lives, blessed be my rock; And may the God of my salvation be exalted,  
Ps01847 The God who avenges me, And subdues peoples (nations) under me.  
Ps01848 He rescues me from my enemies; Yes, You lift me up above those who rise up against me; You deliver me from the man of violence.  
Ps01849 Therefore will I give thanks and praise You, O LORD, among the nations, And sing praises to Your name.  
Ps01850 He gives great triumphs to His king, And shows steadfast love and mercy to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.  
Ps01901 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.  
Ps01902 Day after day pours forth speech, And night after night reveals knowledge.  
Ps01903 There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars]; Their voice is not heard.  
Ps01904 Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth, Their words to the end of the world. In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,  
Ps01905 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.  
Ps01906 The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.  
Ps01907 The law of the LORD is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the LORD are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.  
Ps01908 The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  
Ps01909 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true, they are righteous altogether.  
Ps01910 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.  
Ps01911 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward.  
Ps01912 Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.  
Ps01913 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins; Let them not rule and have control over me. Then I will be blameless (complete), And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.  
Ps01914 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.  
Ps02001 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you (David) in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high [and defend you in battle]!  
Ps02002 May He send you help from the sanctuary (His dwelling place) And support and strengthen you from Zion!  
Ps02003 May He remember all your meal offerings And accept your burnt offering. Selah.  
Ps02004 May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your plans.  
Ps02005 We will sing joyously over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.  
Ps02006 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.  
Ps02007 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, But we will remember and trust in the name of the LORD our God.  
Ps02008 They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright.  
Ps02009 O LORD, save [the king]; May the King answer us in the day we call.  
Ps02101 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD the king will delight in Your strength, And in Your salvation how greatly will he rejoice!  
Ps02102 You have given him his heart’s desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.  
Ps02103 For You meet him with blessings of good things; You set a crown of pure gold on his head.  
Ps02104 He asked life of You, And You gave it to him, Long life forever and evermore.  
Ps02105 His glory is great because of Your victory; Splendor and majesty You bestow upon him.  
Ps02106 For You make him most blessed [and a blessing] forever; You make him joyful with the joy of Your presence.  
Ps02107 For the king [confidently] trusts in the LORD, And through the lovingkindness (faithfulness, goodness) of the Most High he will never be shaken.  
Ps02108 Your hand will reach out and defeat all your enemies; Your right hand will reach those who hate you.  
Ps02109 You will make them as [if in] a blazing oven in the time of your anger; The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath, And the fire will devour them.  
Ps02110 Their offspring You will destroy from the earth, And their descendants from the sons of men.  
Ps02111 For they planned evil against You; They devised a [malevolent] plot And they will not succeed.  
Ps02112 For You will make them turn their backs [in defeat]; You will aim Your bowstring [of divine justice] at their faces.  
Ps02113 Be exalted, LORD, in Your strength; We will sing and praise Your power.  
Ps02201 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] Aijeleth Hashshahar (The Doe of the Dawn). A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?  
Ps02202 O my God, I call out by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I find no rest nor quiet.  
Ps02203 But You are holy, O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].  
Ps02204 In You our fathers trusted [leaned on, relied on, and were confident]; They trusted and You rescued them.  
Ps02205 They cried out to You and were delivered; They trusted in You and were not disappointed or ashamed.  
Ps02206 But I am [treated as] a worm [insignificant and powerless] and not a man; I am the scorn of men and despised by the people.  
Ps02207 All who see me laugh at me and mock me; They [insultingly] open their lips, they shake their head, saying,  
Ps02208 “He trusted and committed himself to the LORD, let Him save him. Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”  
Ps02209 Yet You are He who pulled me out of the womb; You made me trust when on my mother’s breasts.  
Ps02210 I was cast upon You from birth; From my mother’s womb You have been my God.  
Ps02211 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near; And there is no one to help.  
Ps02212 Many [enemies like] bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.  
Ps02213 They open wide their mouths against me, Like a ravening and a roaring lion.  
Ps02214 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; It is melted [by anguish] within me.  
Ps02215 My strength is dried up like a fragment of clay pottery; And my [dry] tongue clings to my jaws; And You have laid me in the dust of death.  
Ps02216 For [a pack of] dogs have surrounded me; A gang of evildoers has encircled me, They pierced my hands and my feet.  
Ps02217 I can count all my bones; They look, they stare at me.  
Ps02218 They divide my clothing among them And cast lots for my garment.  
Ps02219 But You, O LORD, do not be far from me; O You my help, come quickly to my assistance.  
Ps02220 Rescue my life from the sword, My only life from the paw of the dog (the executioner).  
Ps02221 Save me from the lion’s mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.  
Ps02222 I will tell of Your name to my countrymen; In the midst of the congregation I will praise You.  
Ps02223 You who fear the LORD [with awe-inspired reverence], praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him. Fear Him [with submissive wonder], all you descendants of Israel.  
Ps02224 For He has not despised nor detested the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He listened.  
Ps02225 My praise will be of You in the great assembly. I will pay my vows [made in the time of trouble] before those who [reverently] fear Him.  
Ps02226 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever!  
Ps02227 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will bow down and worship before You,  
Ps02228 For the kingship and the kingdom are the LORD’S And He rules over the nations.  
Ps02229 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.  
Ps02230 Posterity will serve Him; They will tell of the Lord to the next generation.  
Ps02231 They will come and declare His righteousness To a people yet to be born—that He has done it [and that it is finished].  
Ps02301 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want.  
Ps02302 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.  
Ps02303 He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  
Ps02304 Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.  
Ps02305 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  
Ps02306 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the LORD.  
Ps02401 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness of it, The world, and those who dwell in it.  
Ps02402 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the streams and the rivers.  
Ps02403 Who may ascend onto the mountain of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?  
Ps02404 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.  
Ps02405 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.  
Ps02406 This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need, Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.  
Ps02407 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.  
Ps02408 Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.  
Ps02409 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.  
Ps02410 Who is [He then] this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory [who rules over all creation with His heavenly armies]. Selah.  
Ps02501 A Psalm of David. To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.  
Ps02502 O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence], Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed; Do not let my enemies triumph over me.  
Ps02503 Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed; Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).  
Ps02504 Let me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.  
Ps02505 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.  
Ps02506 Remember, O LORD, Your [tender] compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.  
Ps02507 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.  
Ps02508 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.  
Ps02509 He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.  
Ps02510 All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.  
Ps02511 For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.  
Ps02512 Who is the man who fears the LORD [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]? He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose.  
Ps02513 His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness, And his descendants will inherit the land.  
Ps02514 The secret [of the wise counsel] of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.  
Ps02515 My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will bring my feet out of the net.  
Ps02516 Turn to me [LORD] and be gracious to me, For I am alone and afflicted.  
Ps02517 The troubles of my heart are multiplied; Bring me out of my distresses.  
Ps02518 Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins.  
Ps02519 Look upon my enemies, for they are many; They hate me with cruel and violent hatred.  
Ps02520 Guard my soul and rescue me; Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed, For I have taken refuge in You.  
Ps02521 Let integrity and uprightness protect me, For I wait [expectantly] for You.  
Ps02522 O God, redeem Israel, Out of all his troubles.  
Ps02601 A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity; I have [relied on and] trusted [confidently] in the LORD without wavering and I shall not slip.  
Ps02602 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my heart and my mind.  
Ps02603 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked [faithfully] in Your truth.  
Ps02604 I do not sit with deceitful or unethical or worthless men, Nor seek companionship with pretenders (self-righteous hypocrites).  
Ps02605 I hate the company of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.  
Ps02606 I will wash my hands in innocence, And I will go about Your altar, O LORD,  
Ps02607 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving And declare all Your wonders.  
Ps02608 O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells.  
Ps02609 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, Nor [sweep away] my life with men of bloodshed,  
Ps02610 In whose hands is a wicked scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.  
Ps02611 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful and gracious to me.  
Ps02612 My foot stands on a level place; In the congregations I will bless the LORD.  
Ps02701 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread?  
Ps02702 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.  
Ps02703 Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.  
Ps02704 One thing I have asked of the LORD, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.  
Ps02705 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.  
Ps02706 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.  
Ps02707 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.  
Ps02708 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”  
Ps02709 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor leave me, O God of my salvation!  
Ps02710 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the LORD will take me up [adopt me as His child].  
Ps02711 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait].  
Ps02712 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence.  
Ps02713 I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.  
Ps02714 Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.  
Ps02801 A Psalm of David. To you I call, O LORD, My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit (grave).  
Ps02802 Hear the voice of my supplication (specific requests, humble entreaties) as I cry to You for help, As I lift up my hands and heart toward Your innermost sanctuary (Holy of Holies).  
Ps02803 Do not drag me away with the wicked And with those who do evil, Who speak peace with their neighbors, While malice and mischief are in their hearts.  
Ps02804 Repay them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices; Repay them according to the deeds of their hands; Repay them what they deserve.  
Ps02805 Because they have no regard for the works of the LORD Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not rebuild them.  
Ps02806 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.  
Ps02807 The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him.  
Ps02808 The LORD is their [unyielding] strength, And He is the fortress of salvation to His anointed.  
Ps02809 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.  
Ps02901 A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  
Ps02902 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness].  
Ps02903 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters.  
Ps02904 The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.  
Ps02905 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.  
Ps02906 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion (Mount Hermon) like a young, wild ox.  
Ps02907 The voice of the LORD rakes flames of fire (lightning).  
Ps02908 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.  
Ps02909 The voice of the LORD makes the doe labor and give birth And strips the forests bare; And in His temple all are saying, “Glory!”  
Ps02910 The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.  
Ps02911 The LORD will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.  
Ps03001 A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House (Temple). A Psalm of David. I will extol and praise You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me.  
Ps03002 O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me.  
Ps03003 O LORD, You have brought my life up from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead); You have kept me alive, so that I would not go down to the pit (grave).  
Ps03004 Sing to the LORD, O you His godly ones, And give thanks at the mention of His holy name.  
Ps03005 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may endure for a night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.  
Ps03006 As for me, in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”  
Ps03007 By Your favor and grace, O LORD, you have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was horrified.  
Ps03008 I called to You, O LORD, And to the Lord I made supplication (specific request).  
Ps03009 “What profit is there in my blood (death), if I go down to the pit (grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness [to man]?  
Ps03010 “Hear, O LORD, be gracious and show favor to me; O LORD, be my helper.”  
Ps03011 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,  
Ps03012 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.  
Ps03101 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have placed my trust and taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness rescue me.  
Ps03102 Incline Your ear to me, deliver me quickly; Be my rock of refuge, And a strong fortress to save me.  
Ps03103 Yes, You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.  
Ps03104 You will draw me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength and my stronghold.  
Ps03105 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, the God of truth and faithfulness.  
Ps03106 I hate those who pay regard to vain (empty, worthless) idols; But I trust in the LORD [and rely on Him with unwavering confidence].  
Ps03107 I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, Because You have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life’s distresses,  
Ps03108 And You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place.  
Ps03109 Be gracious and compassionate to me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye is clouded and weakened by grief, my soul and my body also.  
Ps03110 For my life is spent with sorrow And my years with sighing; My strength has failed because of my iniquity, And even my body has wasted away.  
Ps03111 Because of all my enemies I have become a reproach and disgrace, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me on the street run from me.  
Ps03112 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.  
Ps03113 For I have heard the slander and whispering of many, Terror is on every side; While they schemed together against me, They plotted to take away my life.  
Ps03114 But as for me, I trust [confidently] in You and Your greatness, O LORD; I said, “You are my God.”  
Ps03115 My times are in Your hands; Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue and persecute me.  
Ps03116 Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness.  
Ps03117 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on You; Let the wicked (godless) be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).  
Ps03118 Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak insolently and arrogantly against the [consistently] righteous With pride and contempt.  
Ps03119 How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, Which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of man!  
Ps03120 In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots and conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter (pavilion) from the strife of tongues.  
Ps03121 Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown His marvelous favor and lovingkindness to me [when I was assailed] in a besieged city.  
Ps03122 As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from Your eyes.” Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications (specific requests) When I cried to You [for help].  
Ps03123 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful [those with moral and spiritual integrity] And fully repays the [self-righteousness of the] arrogant.  
Ps03124 Be strong and let your hearts take courage, All you who wait for and confidently expect the LORD.  
Ps03201 A Psalm of David. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, favored by God] is he whose transgression is forgiven, And whose sin is covered.  
Ps03202 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute wickedness, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.  
Ps03203 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all the day long.  
Ps03204 For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; My energy (vitality, strength) was drained away as with the burning heat of summer. Selah.  
Ps03205 I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the LORD”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.  
Ps03206 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [for forgiveness] in a time when You [are near and] may be found; Surely when the great waters [of trial and distressing times] overflow they will not reach [the spirit in] him.  
Ps03207 You are my hiding place; You, LORD, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah.  
Ps03208 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.  
Ps03209 Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.  
Ps03210 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in and relies on the LORD shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness.  
Ps03211 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.  
Ps03301 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones; Praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart—those with moral integrity and godly character].  
Ps03302 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.  
Ps03303 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.  
Ps03304 For the word of the LORD is right; And all His work is done in faithfulness.  
Ps03305 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.  
Ps03306 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, And all their host by the breath of His mouth.  
Ps03307 He gathers the waters of the sea together as in a wineskin; He puts the deeps in storehouses.  
Ps03308 Let all the earth fear and worship the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  
Ps03309 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.  
Ps03310 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He makes the thoughts and plans of the people ineffective.  
Ps03311 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The thoughts and plans of His heart through all generations.  
Ps03312 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.  
Ps03313 The LORD looks [down] from heaven; He sees all the sons of man;  
Ps03314 From His dwelling place He looks closely Upon all the inhabitants of the earth—  
Ps03315 He who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers and understands all that they do.  
Ps03316 The king is not saved by the great size of his army; A warrior is not rescued by his great strength.  
Ps03317 A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.  
Ps03318 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear Him [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], On those who hope [confidently] in His compassion and lovingkindness,  
Ps03319 To rescue their lives from death And keep them alive in famine.  
Ps03320 We wait [expectantly] for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.  
Ps03321 For in Him our heart rejoices, Because we trust [lean on, rely on, and are confident] in His holy name.  
Ps03322 Let Your [steadfast] lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, In proportion as we have hoped in You.  
Ps03401 A Psalm of David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  
Ps03402 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; The humble and downtrodden will hear it and rejoice.  
Ps03403 O magnify the LORD with me, And let us lift up His name together.  
Ps03404 I sought the LORD [on the authority of His word], and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.  
Ps03405 They looked to Him and were radiant; Their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.  
Ps03406 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him from all his troubles.  
Ps03407 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience], And He rescues [each of] them.  
Ps03408 O taste and see that the LORD [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.  
Ps03409 O [reverently] fear the LORD, you His saints (believers, holy ones); For to those who fear Him there is no want.  
Ps03410 The young lions lack [food] and grow hungry, But they who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.  
Ps03411 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the LORD [with awe- inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].  
Ps03412 Who is the man who desires life And loves many days, that he may see good?  
Ps03413 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.  
Ps03414 Turn away from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.  
Ps03415 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous [those with moral courage and spiritual integrity] And His ears are open to their cry.  
Ps03416 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.  
Ps03417 When the righteous cry [for help], the LORD hears And rescues them from all their distress and troubles.  
Ps03418 The LORD is near to the heartbroken And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).  
Ps03419 Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the LORD rescues him from them all.  
Ps03420 He keeps all his bones; Not one of them is broken.  
Ps03421 Evil will cause the death of the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will be held guilty and will be condemned.  
Ps03422 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.  
Ps03501 A Psalm of David. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me.  
Ps03502 Take hold of shield and buckler (small shield), And stand up for my help.  
Ps03503 Draw also the spear and javelin to meet those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”  
Ps03504 Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back [in defeat] and humiliated who plot evil against me.  
Ps03505 Let them be [blown away] like chaff before the wind [worthless, without substance], With the angel of the LORD driving them on.  
Ps03506 Let their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the LORD pursuing and harassing them.  
Ps03507 For without cause they hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit [of destruction] for my life.  
Ps03508 Let destruction come upon my enemy by surprise; Let the net he hid for me catch him; Into that very destruction let him fall.  
Ps03509 Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation.  
Ps03510 All my bones will say, “LORD, who is like You, Who rescues the afflicted from him who is too strong for him [to resist alone], And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?”  
Ps03511 Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know.  
Ps03512 They repay me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul.  
Ps03513 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth (mourning garment); I humbled my soul with fasting, And I prayed with my head bowed on my chest.  
Ps03514 I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.  
Ps03515 But in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; The slanderers whom I did not know gathered against me; They slandered and reviled me without ceasing.  
Ps03516 Like godless jesters at a feast, They gnashed at me with their teeth [in malice].  
Ps03517 LORD, how long will You look on [without action]? Rescue my life from their destructions, My only life from the young lions.  
Ps03518 I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty people.  
Ps03519 Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink their eye [maliciously].  
Ps03520 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land.  
Ps03521 They open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it!”  
Ps03522 You have seen this, O LORD; do not keep silent. O Lord, do not be far from me.  
Ps03523 Wake Yourself up, and arise to my right And to my cause, my God and my Lord.  
Ps03524 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness and justice; And do not let them rejoice over me.  
Ps03525 Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, that is what we wanted!” Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up and destroyed him.”  
Ps03526 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who rejoice at my distress; Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me.  
Ps03527 Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication and want what is right for me; Let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”  
Ps03528 And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness (justice), And Your praise all the day long.  
Ps03601 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks [like an oracle] to the wicked (godless) [deep] within his heart; There is no fear (dread) of God before his eyes.  
Ps03602 For he flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes Thinking that his sinfulness will not be discovered and hated [by God].  
Ps03603 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.  
Ps03604 He plans wrongdoing on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not reject or despise evil.  
Ps03605 Your lovingkindness and graciousness, O LORD, extend to the skies, Your faithfulness [reaches] to the clouds.  
Ps03606 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, Your judgments are like the great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.  
Ps03607 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  
Ps03608 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You allow them to drink from the river of Your delights.  
Ps03609 For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water]; In Your light we see light.  
Ps03610 O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness (salvation) to the upright in heart.  
Ps03611 Do not let the foot of the proud [person] overtake me, And do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away.  
Ps03612 There those who [are perverse and] do evil have fallen; They have been thrust down and cannot rise.  
Ps03701 A Psalm of David. Do not worry because of evildoers, Nor be envious toward wrongdoers;  
Ps03702 For they will wither quickly like the grass, And fade like the green herb.  
Ps03703 Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.  
Ps03704 Delight yourself in the LORD, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.  
Ps03705 Commit your way to the LORD; Trust in Him also and He will do it.  
Ps03706 He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light, And your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun].  
Ps03707 Be still before the LORD; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  
Ps03708 Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil.  
Ps03709 For those who do evil will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.  
Ps03710 For yet a little while and the wicked one will be gone [forever]; Though you look carefully where he used to be, he will not be [found].  
Ps03711 But the humble will [at last] inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity and peace.  
Ps03712 The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.  
Ps03713 The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous], For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming.  
Ps03714 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slaughter those who are upright in conduct [those with personal integrity and godly character].  
Ps03715 The sword [of the ungodly] will enter their own heart, And their bow will be broken.  
Ps03716 Better is the little of the righteous [who seek the will of God] Than the abundance (riches) of many wicked (godless).  
Ps03717 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the LORD upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him].  
Ps03718 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will continue forever.  
Ps03719 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied.  
Ps03720 But the wicked (ungodly) will perish, And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke], They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.  
Ps03721 The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives.  
Ps03722 For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off.  
Ps03723 The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].  
Ps03724 When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.  
Ps03725 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned Or his descendants pleading for bread.  
Ps03726 All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing.  
Ps03727 Depart from evil and do good; And you will dwell [securely in the land] forever.  
Ps03728 For the LORD delights in justice And does not abandon His saints (faithful ones); They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will [in time] be cut off.  
Ps03729 The righteous will inherit the land And live in it forever.  
Ps03730 The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice and truth.  
Ps03731 The law of his God is in his heart; Not one of his steps will slip.  
Ps03732 The wicked lies in wait for the righteous And seeks to kill him.  
Ps03733 The LORD will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged.  
Ps03734 Wait for and expect the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; [In the end] when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.  
Ps03735 I have seen a wicked, violent man [with great power] Spreading and flaunting himself like a cedar in its native soil,  
Ps03736 Yet he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought him, but he could not be found.  
Ps03737 Mark the blameless man [who is spiritually complete], and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity]; There is a [good] future for the man of peace [because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants].  
Ps03738 As for transgressors, they will be completely destroyed; The future of the wicked will be cut off.  
Ps03739 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their refuge and stronghold in the time of trouble.  
Ps03740 The LORD helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.  
Ps03801 A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor discipline me in Your burning anger.  
Ps03802 For Your arrows have sunk into me and penetrate deeply, And Your hand has pressed down on me and greatly disciplined me.  
Ps03803 There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin.  
Ps03804 For my iniquities have gone over my head [like the waves of a flood]; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.  
Ps03805 My wounds are loathsome and foul Because of my foolishness.  
Ps03806 I am bent over and greatly bowed down; I go about mourning all day long.  
Ps03807 For my sides are filled with burning, And there is no health in my flesh.  
Ps03808 I am numb and greatly bruised [deadly cold and completely worn out]; I groan because of the disquiet and moaning of my heart.  
Ps03809 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You.  
Ps03810 My heart throbs violently, my strength fails me; And as for the light of my eyes, even that has also gone from me.  
Ps03811 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my neighbors stand far away.  
Ps03812 Those who seek my life lay snares for me, And those who seek to injure me threaten mischievous things and destruction; They devise treachery all the day long.  
Ps03813 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth.  
Ps03814 Yes, I am like a man who does not hear, In whose mouth are no arguments.  
Ps03815 For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God.  
Ps03816 For I pray, “May they not rejoice over me, Who, when my foot slips, would boast against me.”  
Ps03817 For I am ready to fall; My sorrow is continually before me.  
Ps03818 For I do confess my guilt and iniquity; I am filled with anxiety because of my sin.  
Ps03819 But my [numerous] enemies are vigorous and strong, And those who hate me without cause are many.  
Ps03820 They repay evil for good, they attack and try to kill me, Because I follow what is good.  
Ps03821 Do not abandon me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me.  
Ps03822 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my Salvation.  
Ps03901 To the Chief Musician; for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will muzzle my mouth While the wicked are in my presence.”  
Ps03902 I was mute and silent [before my enemies], I refrained even from good, And my distress grew worse.  
Ps03903 My heart was hot within me. While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue:  
Ps03904 “LORD, let me know my [life’s] end And [to appreciate] the extent of my days; Let me know how frail I am [how transient is my stay here].  
Ps03905 “Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths, And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.  
Ps03906 “Surely every man walks around like a shadow [in a charade]; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; Each one builds up riches, not knowing who will receive them.  
Ps03907 “And now, Lord, for what do I expectantly wait? My hope [my confident expectation] is in You.  
Ps03908 “Save me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the scorn and reproach of the [self-righteous, arrogant] fool.  
Ps03909 “I am mute, I do not open my mouth, Because it is You who has done it.  
Ps03910 “Remove Your plague from me; I am wasting away because of the conflict and opposition of Your hand.  
Ps03911 “With rebukes You discipline man for sin; You consume like a moth what is precious to him; Surely every man is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]. Selah.  
Ps03912 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and listen to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am Your temporary guest, A sojourner like all my fathers.  
Ps03913 “O look away from me, that I may smile and again know joy Before I depart and am no more.”  
Ps04001 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently and expectantly for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.  
Ps04002 He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.  
Ps04003 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear [with great reverence] And will trust confidently in the LORD.  
Ps04004 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not regard the proud nor those who lapse into lies.  
Ps04005 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of your wonders, They would be too many to count.  
Ps04006 Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them; You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word]; Burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.  
Ps04007 Then I said, “Behold, I come [to the throne]; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.  
Ps04008 “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”  
Ps04009 I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly; Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness], As You know, O LORD.  
Ps04010 I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.  
Ps04011 Do not withhold Your compassion and tender mercy from me, O LORD; Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.  
Ps04012 For innumerable evils have encompassed me; My sins have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see. They are more numerous than the hairs of my head, And my heart has failed me.  
Ps04013 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, make haste to help me.  
Ps04014 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together Who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back [in defeat] and dishonored Who delight in my hurt.  
Ps04015 Let those be appalled and desolate because of their shame Who say to me, “Aha, aha [rejoicing in my misfortune]!”  
Ps04016 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”  
Ps04017 Even though I am afflicted and needy, Still the Lord takes thought and is mindful of me. You are my help and my rescuer. O my God, do not delay.  
Ps04101 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will save him in the day of trouble.  
Ps04102 The LORD will protect him and keep him alive; And he will be called blessed in the land; You do not hand him over to the desire of his enemies.  
Ps04103 The LORD will sustain and strengthen him on his sickbed; In his illness, You will restore him to health.  
Ps04104 As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”  
Ps04105 My enemies speak evil of me, saying, “When will he die and his name perish?”  
Ps04106 And when one comes to see me, he speaks empty words, While his heart gathers malicious gossip [against me]; When he goes away, he tells it [everywhere].  
Ps04107 All who hate me whisper together about me; Against me they devise my hurt [imagining the worst for me], saying,  
Ps04108 “A wicked thing is poured out upon him and holds him; And when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”  
Ps04109 Even my own close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me [betraying me].  
Ps04110 But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and restore me [to health], So that I may repay them.  
Ps04111 By this I know that You favor and delight in me, Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.  
Ps04112 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And You set me in Your presence forever.  
Ps04113 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting [from this age to the next, and forever]. Amen and Amen (so be it).  
Ps04201 To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.  
Ps04202 My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God?  
Ps04203 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”  
Ps04204 These things I [vividly] remember as I pour out my soul; How I used to go along before the great crowd of people and lead them in procession to the house of God [like a choirmaster before his singers, timing the steps to the music and the chant of the song], With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a great crowd keeping a festival.  
Ps04205 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.  
Ps04206 O my God, my soul is in despair within me [the burden more than I can bear]; Therefore I will [fervently] remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of [Mount] Hermon, from Mount Mizar.  
Ps04207 Deep calls to deep at the [thundering] sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.  
Ps04208 Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song will be with me, A prayer to the God of my life.  
Ps04209 I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”  
Ps04210 As a crushing of my bones [with a sword], my adversaries taunt me, While they say continually to me, “Where is your God?”  
Ps04211 Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why have you become restless and disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.  
Ps04301 Judge and vindicate me, O God; plead my case against an ungodly nation. O rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man!  
Ps04302 For You are the God of my strength [my stronghold—in whom I take refuge]; why have You rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  
Ps04303 O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.  
Ps04304 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God, my exceeding joy; With the lyre I will praise You, O God, my God!  
Ps04305 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my [sad] countenance and my God.  
Ps04401 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us The work You did in their days, In the days of old.  
Ps04402 You drove out the [pagan] nations with Your own hand; Then you planted and established them (Israel); [It was by Your power that] You uprooted the [pagan] peoples, Then You spread them abroad.  
Ps04403 For our fathers did not possess the land [of Canaan] by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, Because You favored and delighted in them.  
Ps04404 You are my King, O God; Command victories and deliverance for Jacob (Israel).  
Ps04405 Through You we will gore our enemies [like a bull]; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.  
Ps04406 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me.  
Ps04407 But You have saved us from our enemies, And You have put them to shame and humiliated those who hate us.  
Ps04408 In God we have boasted all the day long, And we will praise and give thanks to Your name forever. Selah.  
Ps04409 But now You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And You do not go out with our armies [to lead us to victory].  
Ps04410 You make us turn back from the enemy, And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves.  
Ps04411 You have made us like sheep to be eaten [as mutton] And have scattered us [in exile] among the nations.  
Ps04412 You sell Your people cheaply, And have not increased Your wealth by their sale.  
Ps04413 You have made us the reproach and taunt of our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those around us.  
Ps04414 You make us a byword among the nations, A laughingstock among the people.  
Ps04415 My dishonor is before me all day long, And humiliation has covered my face,  
Ps04416 Because of the voice of the taunter and reviler, Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.  
Ps04417 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten You, Nor have we been false to Your covenant [which You made with our fathers].  
Ps04418 Our heart has not turned back, Nor have our steps wandered from Your path,  
Ps04419 Yet You have [distressingly] crushed us in the place of jackals And covered us with [the deep darkness of] the shadow of death.  
Ps04420 If we had forgotten the name of our God Or stretched out our hands to a strange god,  
Ps04421 Would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart.  
Ps04422 But for Your sake we are killed all the day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  
Ps04423 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Awaken, do not reject us forever.  
Ps04424 Why do You hide Your face And forget our affliction and our oppression?  
Ps04425 For our life has melted away into the dust; Our body clings to the ground.  
Ps04426 Rise up! Come be our help, And ransom us for the sake of Your steadfast love.  
Ps04501 To the Chief Musician; set to the [tune of] “Lilies.” A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. A Song of Love. My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my psalm to the King. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.  
Ps04502 You are fairer than the sons of men; Graciousness is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.  
Ps04503 Strap Your sword on Your thigh, O mighty One, In Your splendor and Your majesty!  
Ps04504 And in Your majesty ride on triumphantly For the cause of truth and humility and righteousness; Let Your right hand guide You to awesome things.  
Ps04505 Your arrows are sharp; The peoples (nations) fall under You; Your arrows pierce the hearts of the King’s enemies.  
Ps04506 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  
Ps04507 You have loved righteousness (virtue, morality, justice) and hated wickedness; Therefore God, your God, has anointed You Above Your companions with the oil of jubilation.  
Ps04508 All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; From ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.  
Ps04509 Kings’ daughters are among Your noble ladies; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.  
Ps04510 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear [to my instruction]: Forget your people and your father’s house;  
Ps04511 Then the King will desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, bow down and honor Him.  
Ps04512 The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor.  
Ps04513 Glorious is the King’s daughter within [the palace]; Her robe is interwoven with gold.  
Ps04514 She will be brought to the King in embroidered garments; The virgins, her companions who follow her, Will be brought to You.  
Ps04515 With gladness and rejoicing will they be led; They will enter into the King’s palace.  
Ps04516 In place of your fathers will be your sons; You shall make princes in all the land.  
Ps04517 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the peoples will praise and give You thanks forever and ever.  
Ps04601 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song. God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.  
Ps04602 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,  
Ps04603 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.  
Ps04604 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.  
Ps04605 God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns.  
Ps04606 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  
Ps04607 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.  
Ps04608 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.  
Ps04609 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  
Ps04610 “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”  
Ps04611 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.  
Ps04701 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all you people; Shout to God with the voice of triumph and songs of joy.  
Ps04702 For the LORD Most High is to be feared [and worshiped with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He is a great King over all the earth.  
Ps04703 He subdues peoples under us And nations under our feet.  
Ps04704 He chooses our inheritance for us, The glory and excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.  
Ps04705 God has ascended amid shouting, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  
Ps04706 Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises.  
Ps04707 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding.  
Ps04708 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.  
Ps04709 The princes of the people have gathered together as the people of the God of Abraham, For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.  
Ps04801 A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain.  
Ps04802 Fair and beautiful in elevation, the joy of all the earth, Is Mount Zion [the City of David] in the far north, The city of the great King.  
Ps04803 God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold.  
Ps04804 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They [came and] passed by together.  
Ps04805 They saw it, then they were amazed; They were stricken with terror, they fled in alarm.  
Ps04806 Panic seized them there, And pain, as that of a woman in childbirth.  
Ps04807 With the east wind You shattered the ships of Tarshish.  
Ps04808 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish her forever. Selah.  
Ps04809 We have thought of Your lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Your temple.  
Ps04810 As is Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness (rightness, justice).  
Ps04811 Let Mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your [righteous] judgments.  
Ps04812 Walk about Zion, go all around her; Count her towers,  
Ps04813 Consider her ramparts, Go through her palaces, That you may tell the next generation [about her glory].  
Ps04814 For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even until death.  
Ps04901 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,  
Ps04902 Both low and high, Rich and poor together:  
Ps04903 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.  
Ps04904 I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb; On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.  
Ps04905 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the wickedness of those who would betray me surrounds me [on every side],  
Ps04906 Even those who trust in and rely on their wealth And boast of the abundance of their riches?  
Ps04907 None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—  
Ps04908 For the ransom of his soul is too costly, And he should cease trying forever—  
Ps04909 So that he should live on eternally, That he should never see the pit (grave) and undergo decay.  
Ps04910 For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others.  
Ps04911 Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, And their dwelling places to all generations; They have named their lands after their own names [ignoring God].  
Ps04912 But man, with all his [self] honor and pomp, will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.  
Ps04913 This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, And of those after them who approve [and are influenced by] their words. Selah.  
Ps04914 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead); Death will be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form and beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, So that they have no dwelling [on earth].  
Ps04915 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.  
Ps04916 Be not afraid when [an ungodly] man becomes rich, When the wealth and glory of his house are increased;  
Ps04917 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.  
Ps04918 Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous— And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—  
Ps04919 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never again see the light.  
Ps04920 A man [who is held] in honor, Yet who lacks [spiritual] understanding and a teachable heart, is like the beasts that perish.  
Ps05001 A Psalm of Asaph The mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken, And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting [from east to west].  
Ps05002 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth.  
Ps05003 May our God come and not keep silent; Fire devours before Him, And around Him a mighty tempest rages.  
Ps05004 He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people:  
Ps05005 “Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”  
Ps05006 And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.  
Ps05007 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you: I am God, your God.  
Ps05008 “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; Your burnt offerings are continually before Me.  
Ps05009 “I will accept no young bull from your house Nor male goat from your folds.  
Ps05010 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.  
Ps05011 “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.  
Ps05012 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world and all it contains are Mine.  
Ps05013 “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats?  
Ps05014 “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High;  
Ps05015 Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.”  
Ps05016 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes Or to take My covenant on your lips?  
Ps05017 “For you hate instruction and discipline And cast My words behind you [discarding them].  
Ps05018 “When you see a thief, you are pleased with him and condone his behavior, And you associate with adulterers.  
Ps05019 “You give your mouth to evil And your tongue frames deceit.  
Ps05020 “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son.  
Ps05021 “These things you have done and I kept silent; You thought that I was just like you. Now I will reprimand and denounce you and state the case in order before your eyes.  
Ps05022 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to rescue [you].  
Ps05023 “He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way rightly [who follows the way that I show him], I shall show the salvation of God.”  
Ps05101 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.  
Ps05102 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt And cleanse me from my sin.  
Ps05103 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; My sin is always before me.  
Ps05104 Against You, You only, have I sinned And done that which is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence] And faultless in Your judgment.  
Ps05105 I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness; In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].  
Ps05106 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.  
Ps05107 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  
Ps05108 Make me hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.  
Ps05109 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.  
Ps05110 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.  
Ps05111 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  
Ps05112 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.  
Ps05113 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted and return to You.  
Ps05114 Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.  
Ps05115 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.  
Ps05116 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.  
Ps05117 My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.  
Ps05118 By Your favor do good to Zion; May You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  
Ps05119 Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.  
Ps05201 To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.  
Ps05202 Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.  
Ps05203 You love evil more than good, And falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah.  
Ps05204 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.  
Ps05205 But God will break you down forever; He will take you away and tear you away from your tent, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.  
Ps05206 The righteous will see it and fear, And will [scoffingly] laugh, saying,  
Ps05207 “Look, [this is] the man who would not make God his strength [his stronghold and fortress], But trusted in the abundance of his riches, Taking refuge in his wealth.”  
Ps05208 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust [confidently] in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.  
Ps05209 I will thank You forever, because You have done it, [You have rescued me and kept me safe]. I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.  
Ps05301 To the Chief Musician; in a mournful strain. A skillful song, or didactic or reflective poem of David. The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and evil, and have committed repulsive injustice; There is no one who does good.  
Ps05302 God has looked down from heaven upon the children of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God [who requires Him, who longs for Him as essential to life].  
Ps05303 Every one of them has turned aside and fallen away; Together they have become filthy and corrupt; There is no one who does good, no, not even one.  
Ps05304 Have workers of wickedness no knowledge or no understanding? They eat up My people as though they ate bread And have not called upon God.  
Ps05305 There they were, in great terror and dread, where there had been no terror or dread; For God scattered the bones of him who besieged you; You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.  
Ps05306 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores [the fortunes of] His people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.  
Ps05401 To the Chief Musician; with stringed instruments. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “David is hiding among us.” Save me, O God, by Your name; And vindicate me by Your [wondrous] power.  
Ps05402 Hear my prayer, O God; Listen to the words of my mouth.  
Ps05403 For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah.  
Ps05404 Behold, God is my helper and ally; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul [my upholder].  
Ps05405 He will pay back the evil to my enemies; In Your faithfulness destroy them.  
Ps05406 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks and praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.  
Ps05407 For He has rescued me from every trouble, And my eye has looked with satisfaction (triumph) on my enemies.  
Ps05501 To the Chief Musician; with stringed instruments. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David. Listen to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my plea.  
Ps05502 Listen to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and distracted  
Ps05503 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble on me, And in anger they persecute me.  
Ps05504 My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.  
Ps05505 Fear and trembling have come upon me; Horror has overwhelmed me.  
Ps05506 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  
Ps05507 “I would wander far away, I would lodge in the [peace of the] wilderness. Selah.  
Ps05508 “I would hurry to my refuge [my tranquil shelter far away] From the stormy wind and from the tempest.”  
Ps05509 Confuse [my enemies], O Lord, divide their tongues [destroying their schemes], For I have seen violence and strife in the city.  
Ps05510 Day and night they go around her walls; Wickedness and mischief are in her midst.  
Ps05511 Destruction is within her; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets and market places.  
Ps05512 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who has hated me who insolently exalts himself against me— Then I could hide from him.  
Ps05513 But it is you, a man my equal and my counsel, My companion and my familiar friend;  
Ps05514 We who had sweet fellowship together, Who walked to the house of God in company.  
Ps05515 Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), For evil [of every kind] is in their dwelling and in their hearts, in their midst.  
Ps05516 As for me, I shall call upon God, And the LORD will save me.  
Ps05517 Evening and morning and at noon I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice.  
Ps05518 He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me.  
Ps05519 God will hear and humble them, Even He who sits enthroned from old— Selah. Because in them there has been no change [of heart], And they do not fear God [at all].  
Ps05520 He [my companion] has put out his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant [of friendship and loyalty].  
Ps05521 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But his heart was hostile; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.  
Ps05522 Cast your burden on the LORD [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).  
Ps05523 But You, O God, will bring down the wicked to the pit of destruction; Men of blood and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will [boldly and unwaveringly] trust in You.  
Ps05601 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Silent Dove Among Those Far Away.” A Mikhtam of David. [A record of memorable thoughts] when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled on me; All day long the adversary oppresses and torments me.  
Ps05602 My enemies have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.  
Ps05603 When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in You.  
Ps05604 In God, whose word I praise; In God I have put my trust; I shall not fear. What can mere man do to me?  
Ps05605 All day long they twist my words and say hurtful things; All their thoughts are against me for evil.  
Ps05606 They attack, they hide and lurk, They watch my steps, As they have [expectantly] waited to take my life.  
Ps05607 Cast them out because of their wickedness. In anger bring down the peoples, O God!  
Ps05608 You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not recorded in Your book?  
Ps05609 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me.  
Ps05610 In God, whose word I praise, In the LORD, whose word I praise,  
Ps05611 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  
Ps05612 Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will give thank offerings to You.  
Ps05613 For You have rescued my soul from death, Yes, and my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of life.  
Ps05701 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Mikhtam of David. [A record of memorable thoughts of David] when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious and merciful to me, For my soul finds shelter and safety in You, And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge and be confidently secure Until destruction passes by.  
Ps05702 I will cry to God Most High, Who accomplishes all things on my behalf [for He completes my purpose in His plan].  
Ps05703 He will send from heaven and save me; He calls to account him who tramples me down. Selah. God will send out His lovingkindness and His truth.  
Ps05704 My life is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe out fire— The sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.  
Ps05705 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory and majesty be over all the earth.  
Ps05706 They set a net for my steps; My very life was bowed down. They dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah.  
Ps05707 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing, yes, I will sing praises [to You]!  
Ps05708 Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.  
Ps05709 I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the people; I will sing praises to You among the nations.  
Ps05710 For Your faithfulness and lovingkindness are great, reaching to the heavens, And Your truth to the clouds.  
Ps05711 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory and majesty be over all the earth.  
Ps05801 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Mikhtam of David. [A record of memorable thoughts of David]. Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods (heavenly beings)? Do you judge fairly, O sons of men?  
Ps05802 No, in your heart you devise wrongdoing; On earth you deal out the violence of your hands.  
Ps05803 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These go astray from birth, speaking lies [even twisted partial truths].  
Ps05804 Their poison is like the venom of a serpent; They are like the deaf horned viper that stops up its ear,  
Ps05805 So that it does not listen to the voice of charmers, Or of the skillful enchanter casting [cunning] spells.  
Ps05806 O God, break their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.  
Ps05807 Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.  
Ps05808 Let them be as a snail which melts away (secretes slime) as it goes along, Like the miscarriage of a woman which never sees the sun.  
Ps05809 Before your cooking pots can feel the fire of thorns [burning under them as fuel], He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning ones alike.  
Ps05810 The [unyieldingly] righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance [of God]; He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.  
Ps05811 Men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on the earth.”  
Ps05901 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Mikhtam of David, [a record of memorable thoughts] when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on an inaccessibly high place away from those who rise up against me.  
Ps05902 Deliver me from those who practice wrongdoing, And save me from bloodthirsty men.  
Ps05903 Look! They lie in wait for my life; Fierce and powerful men [are uniting together to] launch an attack against me, Not for my wrongdoing nor for any sin of mine, O LORD.  
Ps05904 They run and set themselves against me though there is no guilt in me; Stir Yourself to meet and help me, and see [what they are doing]!  
Ps05905 You, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to punish all the nations; Spare no one and do not be merciful to any who treacherously plot evil. Selah.  
Ps05906 They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city.  
Ps05907 Look how they belch out [insults] with their mouths; Swords [of sarcasm, ridicule, slander, and lies] are in their lips, For they say, “Who hears us?”  
Ps05908 But You, O LORD, will laugh at them [in scorn]; You scoff at and deride all the nations.  
Ps05909 O [God] my strength, I will watch for You; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower].  
Ps05910 My God in His [steadfast] lovingkindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies [who lie in wait for me].  
Ps05911 Do not kill them, or my people will forget; Scatter them and make them wander [endlessly] back and forth by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield!  
Ps05912 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, Let them even be trapped in their pride, And on account of the curses and lies which they tell.  
Ps05913 Destroy them in wrath, destroy them so that they may be no more; Let them know that God rules over Jacob (Israel) To the ends of the earth. Selah.  
Ps05914 They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city.  
Ps05915 They wander around for food [to devour] And growl all night if they are not satisfied.  
Ps05916 But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.  
Ps05917 To You, O [God] my strength, I will sing praises; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower], the God who shows me [steadfast] lovingkindness.  
Ps06001 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “The Lily of the Testimony.” A Mikhtam of David [intended to record memorable thoughts and] to teach; when he struggled with the Arameans of Mesopotamia and the Arameans of Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, You have rejected us and cast us off. You have broken [down our defenses and scattered] us; You have been angry; O restore us and turn again to us.  
Ps06002 You have made the land quake, You have split it open; Heal its rifts, for it shakes and totters.  
Ps06003 You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger and fall.  
Ps06004 You have set up a banner for those who fear You [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder—a banner to shield them from attack], A banner that may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.  
Ps06005 That Your beloved ones may be rescued, Save with Your right hand and answer us.  
Ps06006 God has spoken in His holiness [in His promises]: “I will rejoice, I will divide [the land of] Shechem and measure out the Valley of Succoth [west to east].  
Ps06007 “Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter.  
Ps06008 “Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I shall throw My shoe [in triumph]; Over Philistia I raise the shout [of victory].”  
Ps06009 Who will bring me into the besieged city [of Petra]? Who will lead me to Edom?  
Ps06010 Have You not rejected us, O God? And will You not go out with our armies?  
Ps06011 Give us help against the enemy, For the help of man is worthless (ineffectual, without purpose).  
Ps06012 Through God we will have victory, For He will trample down our enemies.  
Ps06101 To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Listen to my prayer.  
Ps06102 From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help].  
Ps06103 For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, A strong tower against the enemy.  
Ps06104 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.  
Ps06105 For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name [with reverence].  
Ps06106 You will prolong the king’s life [adding days upon days]; His years will be like many generations.  
Ps06107 He will sit enthroned forever before [the face of] God; Appoint lovingkindness and truth to watch over and preserve him.  
Ps06108 So I will sing praise to Your name forever, Paying my vows day by day.  
Ps06201 To the Chief Musician; to Jeduthun [Ethan, the noted musician, founder of an official musical family]. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; From Him comes my salvation.  
Ps06202 He alone is my rock and my salvation, My defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken or disheartened.  
Ps06203 How long will you attack a man So that you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?  
Ps06204 They consult only to throw him down from his high position [to dishonor him]; They delight in lies. They bless with [the words of] their mouths, But inwardly they curse. Selah.  
Ps06205 For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him, For my hope is from Him.  
Ps06206 He only is my rock and my salvation; My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged.  
Ps06207 On God my salvation and my glory rest; He is my rock of [unyielding] strength, my refuge is in God.  
Ps06208 Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.  
Ps06209 Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion). In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value]; They are together lighter than a breath.  
Ps06210 Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.  
Ps06211 God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.  
Ps06212 Also to You, O Lord, belong lovingkindness and compassion, For You compensate every man according to [the value of] his work.  
Ps06301 A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.  
Ps06302 So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.  
Ps06303 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.  
Ps06304 So will I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.  
Ps06305 My soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.  
Ps06306 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate and thoughtfully focus on You in the night watches,  
Ps06307 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings [where I am always protected] I sing for joy.  
Ps06308 My soul [my life, my very self] clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.  
Ps06309 But those who seek my life to destroy it Will [be destroyed and] go into the depths of the earth [into the underworld].  
Ps06310 They will be given over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes.  
Ps06311 But the king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him [honoring the true God, acknowledging His authority and majesty] will glory, For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.  
Ps06401 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; Guard my life from the terror of the enemy.  
Ps06402 Hide me from the secret counsel and conspiracy of the ungodly, From the scheming of those who do wrong,  
Ps06403 Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They aim venomous words as arrows,  
Ps06404 To shoot from ambush at the blameless [one]; Suddenly they shoot at him, without fear.  
Ps06405 They encourage themselves in [their pursuit of] an evil agenda; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, “Who will discover us?”  
Ps06406 They devise acts of injustice, saying, “We are ready with a well-conceived plan.” For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep (mysterious, unsearchable).  
Ps06407 But God will shoot them with an [unexpected] arrow; Suddenly they will be wounded.  
Ps06408 So they will be caused to stumble; Their own tongue is against them; All who gaze at them will shake the head [in scorn].  
Ps06409 Then all men will fear [God’s judgment]; They will declare the work of God, And they will consider and wisely acknowledge what He has done.  
Ps06410 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him; All the upright in heart will glory and offer praise.  
Ps06501 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. To You belongs silence [the submissive wonder of reverence], and [it bursts into] praise in Zion, O God; And to You the vow shall be performed.  
Ps06502 O You who hear prayer, To You all mankind comes.  
Ps06503 Wickedness and guilt prevail against me; Yet as for our transgressions, You forgive them [removing them from Your sight].  
Ps06504 Blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near To dwell in Your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.  
Ps06505 By awesome and wondrous things You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, You who are the trust and hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;  
Ps06506 Who creates the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power,  
Ps06507 Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples,  
Ps06508 So they who dwell at the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs [the evidence of Your presence]. You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.  
Ps06509 You visit the earth and make it overflow [with water]; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You provide their grain, when You have prepared the earth.  
Ps06510 You water its furrows abundantly, You smooth its ridges; You soften it with showers, You bless its growth.  
Ps06511 You crown the year with Your bounty, And Your paths overflow.  
Ps06512 The pastures of the wilderness drip [with dew], And the hills are encircled with joy.  
Ps06513 The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy and they sing.  
Ps06601 To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;  
Ps06602 Sing of the honor and glory and magnificence of His name; Make His praise glorious.  
Ps06603 Say to God, “How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will pretend to be obedient to You.  
Ps06604 “All the earth will [bow down to] worship You [in submissive wonder], And will sing praises to You; They will praise Your name in song.” Selah.  
Ps06605 Come and see the works of God, He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of men.  
Ps06606 He turned the sea into dry land; They crossed through the river on foot; There we rejoiced in Him.  
Ps06607 Who rules by His might forever, His eyes keep watch on the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.  
Ps06608 Bless our God, O peoples, And make the sound of His praise be heard abroad,  
Ps06609 Who keeps us among the living, And does not allow our feet to slip or stumble.  
Ps06610 For You have tested us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.  
Ps06611 You brought us into the net; You laid a heavy burden [of servitude] on us.  
Ps06612 You made men (charioteers) ride over our heads [in defeat]; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a [broad] place of abundance [to be refreshed].  
Ps06613 I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings; I shall pay You my vows,  
Ps06614 Which my lips uttered And my mouth spoke as a promise when I was in distress.  
Ps06615 I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat lambs, With the [sweet] smoke of rams; I will offer bulls with male goats. Selah.  
Ps06616 Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], And I will tell what He has done for me.  
Ps06617 I cried aloud to Him; He was highly praised with my tongue.  
Ps06618 If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me];  
Ps06619 But certainly God has heard [me]; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.  
Ps06620 Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me.  
Ps06701 To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be gracious and kind-hearted to us and bless us, And make His face shine [with favor] on us— Selah.  
Ps06702 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation and deliverance among all nations.  
Ps06703 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.  
Ps06704 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, For You will judge the people fairly And guide the nations on earth. Selah.  
Ps06705 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.  
Ps06706 The earth has yielded its harvest [as evidence of His approval]; God, our God, blesses us.  
Ps06707 God blesses us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].  
Ps06801 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. A Song. Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered; Let those who hate Him flee before Him.  
Ps06802 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked and guilty perish before [the presence of] God.  
Ps06803 But let the righteous be glad; let them be in good spirits before God, Yes, let them rejoice with delight.  
Ps06804 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the desert— His name is the LORD—be in good spirits before Him.  
Ps06805 A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows, Is God in His holy habitation.  
Ps06806 God makes a home for the lonely; He leads the prisoners into prosperity, Only the stubborn and rebellious dwell in a parched land.  
Ps06807 O God, when You went out before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah.  
Ps06808 The earth trembled; The heavens also poured down rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself trembled at the presence of God, the God of Israel.  
Ps06809 You, O God, sent abroad plentiful rain; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched and weary.  
Ps06810 Your flock found a dwelling place in it; O God, in Your goodness You provided for the poor.  
Ps06811 The Lord gives the command [to take Canaan]; The women who proclaim the good news are a great host (army);  
Ps06812 “The kings of the [enemies’] armies flee, they flee, And the beautiful woman who remains at home divides the spoil [left behind].”  
Ps06813 When you lie down [to rest] among the sheepfolds, You [Israel] are like the wings of a dove [of victory] overlaid with silver, Its feathers glistening with gold [trophies taken from the enemy].  
Ps06814 When the Almighty scattered [the Canaanite] kings in the land of Canaan, It was snowing on Zalmon.  
Ps06815 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A [high] mountain of many summits is Mount Bashan [rising east of the Jordan].  
Ps06816 Why do you look with envy, mountains with many peaks, At the mountain [of the city of Zion] which God has desired for His dwelling place? Yes, the LORD will dwell there forever.  
Ps06817 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as He was at Sinai, in holiness.  
Ps06818 You have ascended on high, You have led away captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.  
Ps06819 Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burden day by day, The God who is our salvation! Selah.  
Ps06820 God is to us a God of acts of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death [setting us free].  
Ps06821 Surely God will shatter the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of one who goes on in his guilty ways.  
Ps06822 The Lord said, “I will bring your enemies back from Bashan; I will bring them back from the depths of the [Red] Sea,  
Ps06823 That your foot may crush them in blood, That the tongue of your dogs may have its share from your enemies.”  
Ps06824 They have seen Your [solemn] procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary [in holiness].  
Ps06825 The singers go in front, the players of instruments last; Between them the maidens playing on tambourines.  
Ps06826 Bless God in the congregations, [give thanks, gratefully praise Him], The LORD, you who are from [Jacob] the fountain of Israel.  
Ps06827 The youngest is there, Benjamin, ruling them, The princes of Judah and their company [the southern tribes], The princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali [the northern tribes].  
Ps06828 Your God has commanded your strength [your power in His service and your resistance to temptation]; Show Yourself strong, O God, who acted on our behalf.  
Ps06829 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem [Pagan] kings will bring gifts to You [out of respect].  
Ps06830 Rebuke the beasts [living] among the reeds [in Egypt], The herd of bulls (the leaders) with the calves of the peoples; Trampling underfoot the pieces of silver; He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.  
Ps06831 Princes and envoys shall come from Egypt; Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands [with the offerings of submission] to God.  
Ps06832 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, Sing praises to the Lord! Selah.  
Ps06833 To Him who rides in the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, Behold, He sends out His voice, a mighty and majestic voice.  
Ps06834 Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies.  
Ps06835 O God, You are awesome and profoundly majestic from Your sanctuary; The God of Israel gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!  
Ps06901 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Lilies.” A Psalm of David. Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck].  
Ps06902 I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me.  
Ps06903 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait [with confident expectation] for my God.  
Ps06904 Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being my enemies wrongfully; I am forced to restore what I did not steal.  
Ps06905 O God, You know my folly; My wrongs are not hidden from You.  
Ps06906 Do not let those who wait [confidently] for You be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; Do not let those who seek You [as necessary for life itself] be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,  
Ps06907 Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Confusion and dishonor have covered my face.  
Ps06908 I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons.  
Ps06909 For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the [mocking] insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.  
Ps06910 When I wept and humbled myself with fasting, It became my reproach.  
Ps06911 When I made sackcloth my clothing [as one in mourning], I became a byword [a mere object of scorn] to them.  
Ps06912 They who sit in the [city’s] gate talk about me and mock me, And I am the song of the drunkards.  
Ps06913 But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable and opportune time; O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].  
Ps06914 Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep waters.  
Ps06915 Do not let the floodwater overwhelm me, Nor the deep waters swallow me up, Nor the pit [of Sheol] shut its mouth over me.  
Ps06916 Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is sweet and good and comforting; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.  
Ps06917 Do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.  
Ps06918 Draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies [so that they do not delight in my distress].  
Ps06919 You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor [how I am insulted]; My adversaries are all before You [each one fully known].  
Ps06920 Reproach and insults have broken my heart and I am so sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.  
Ps06921 They (self-righteous hypocrites) also gave me gall [poisonous and bitter] for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.  
Ps06922 May their table [with all its abundance and luxury] become a snare [to them]; And when they are in peace [secure at their sacrificial feasts], may it become a trap.  
Ps06923 May their eyes be dimmed so that they cannot see, And make their loins shake continually [in terror and weakness].  
Ps06924 Pour out Your indignation on them, And let [the fierceness of] Your burning anger overtake them.  
Ps06925 May their encampment be desolate; May no one dwell in their tents.  
Ps06926 For they have persecuted him whom You have struck, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have pierced and wounded.  
Ps06927 Add [unforgiven] iniquity to their iniquity [in Your book], And may they not come into Your righteousness.  
Ps06928 May they be blotted out of the book of life [and their lives come to an end] And may they not be recorded with the righteous (those in right standing with God).  
Ps06929 But I am sorrowful and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me [securely] on high.  
Ps06930 I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.  
Ps06931 And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.  
Ps06932 The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God [requiring Him as your greatest need], let your heart revive and live.  
Ps06933 For the LORD hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners.  
Ps06934 Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them.  
Ps06935 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, That His servants may remain there and possess it.  
Ps06936 The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it.  
Ps07001 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O God, come quickly to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me!  
Ps07002 Let those be ashamed and humiliated Who seek my life; Let them be turned back and humiliated Who delight in my hurt.  
Ps07003 Let them be turned back because of their shame and disgrace Who say, “Aha, aha!”  
Ps07004 May all those who seek You [as life’s first priority] rejoice and be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!”  
Ps07005 But I am afflicted and needy; Come quickly to me, O God! You are my help and my rescuer; O LORD, do not delay.  
Ps07101 In you, O LORD, I have put my trust and confidently taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame.  
Ps07102 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me.  
Ps07103 Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.  
Ps07104 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked (godless), From the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man.  
Ps07105 For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth.  
Ps07106 Upon You have I relied and been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb and You have been my benefactor from that day. My praise is continually of You.  
Ps07107 I am as a wonder to many, For You are my strong refuge.  
Ps07108 My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long.  
Ps07109 Do not cast me off nor send me away in the time of old age; Do not abandon me when my strength fails and I am weak.  
Ps07110 For my enemies have spoken against me; Those who watch for my life have consulted together,  
Ps07111 Saying, “God has abandoned him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to rescue him.”  
Ps07112 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, come quickly to help me!  
Ps07113 Let those who attack my life be ashamed and consumed; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me.  
Ps07114 But as for me, I will wait and hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.  
Ps07115 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your [deeds of] salvation all day long, For their number is more than I know.  
Ps07116 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord GOD [and in His strength]; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.  
Ps07117 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous works and miraculous deeds.  
Ps07118 And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.  
Ps07119 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the [height of the] heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You, [who is Your equal]?  
Ps07120 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive and renew me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth.  
Ps07121 May You increase my greatness (honor) And turn to comfort me.  
Ps07122 I will also praise You with the harp, Your truth and faithfulness, O my God; To You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.  
Ps07123 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed.  
Ps07124 My tongue also will speak of Your righteousness all day long; For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my injury.  
Ps07201 A Psalm of Solomon. Give the king [knowledge of] Your judgments, O God, And [the spirit of] Your righteousness to the king’s son [to guide all his ways].  
Ps07202 May he judge Your people with righteousness, And Your afflicted with justice.  
Ps07203 The mountains will bring peace and prosperity to the people, And the hills, in [the establishment of] righteousness.  
Ps07204 May he bring justice to the poor among the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor,  
Ps07205 Let them fear You [with awe-inspired reverence and worship You with obedience] while the sun endures, And as long as the moon [reflects light], throughout all generations.  
Ps07206 May he come down like rain on the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth.  
Ps07207 In his days may the righteous flourish, And peace abound until the moon is no more.  
Ps07208 May he also rule from sea to sea And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.  
Ps07209 The nomads of the desert will bow before him, And his enemies will lick the dust.  
Ps07210 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring offerings; The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts.  
Ps07211 Yes, all kings will bow down before him, All nations will serve him.  
Ps07212 For he will rescue the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted and abused also, and him who has no helper.  
Ps07213 He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And he will save the lives of the needy.  
Ps07214 He will redeem their life from oppression and fraud and violence, And their blood will be precious in His sight.  
Ps07215 So may he live, and may the gold of Sheba be given to him; And let them pray for him continually; Let them bless and praise him all day long.  
Ps07216 There will be an abundance of grain in the soil on the top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like [the cedars of] Lebanon, And those of the city will flourish like grass of the earth.  
Ps07217 May his name endure forever; May his name continue as long as the sun; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed.  
Ps07218 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who alone does wonderful things.  
Ps07219 Blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.  
Ps07220 The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.  
Ps07301 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart.  
Ps07302 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.  
Ps07303 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  
Ps07304 For there are no pains in their death, Their body is fat and pampered.  
Ps07305 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.  
Ps07306 Therefore pride is their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].  
Ps07307 Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires]; The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness].  
Ps07308 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak loftily [with malice].  
Ps07309 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue swaggers through the earth.  
Ps07310 Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance [offered by the irreverent] are [blindly] drunk by them.  
Ps07311 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge [of us] with the Most High?”  
Ps07312 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who always prosper and are at ease [in the world]; they have increased in wealth.  
Ps07313 Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart And washed my hands in innocence.  
Ps07314 For all the day long have I been stricken, And punished every morning.  
Ps07315 If I had said, “I will say this,” [and expressed my feelings], I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.  
Ps07316 When I considered how to understand this, It was too great an effort for me and too painful  
Ps07317 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood [for I considered] their end.  
Ps07318 Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.  
Ps07319 How they are destroyed in a moment! They are completely swept away by sudden terrors!  
Ps07320 Like a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, O Lord, when stirred, [You observe the wicked], You will despise their image.  
Ps07321 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within [as with the fang of an adder],  
Ps07322 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.  
Ps07323 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.  
Ps07324 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to honor and glory.  
Ps07325 Whom have I in heaven [but You]? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.  
Ps07326 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.  
Ps07327 For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You.  
Ps07328 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works.  
Ps07401 A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph. O God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?  
Ps07402 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; Remember Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.  
Ps07403 Turn your footsteps [quickly] toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.  
Ps07404 In the midst of Your meeting place Your enemies have roared [with their battle cry]; They have set up their own emblems for signs [of victory].  
Ps07405 It seems as if one had lifted up An axe in a forest of trees [to set a record of destruction].  
Ps07406 And now all the carved work [of the meeting place] They smash with hatchets and hammers.  
Ps07407 They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have profaned the dwelling place of Your name.  
Ps07408 They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.  
Ps07409 We do not see our symbols; There is no longer any prophet [to guide us], Nor does any among us know for how long.  
Ps07410 O God, how long will the adversary scoff? Is the enemy to revile Your name forever?  
Ps07411 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand [from judging the enemy]? Remove Your hand from Your chest, destroy them!  
Ps07412 Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.  
Ps07413 You divided the [Red] Sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.  
Ps07414 You crushed the heads of Leviathan (Egypt); You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.  
Ps07415 You broke open fountains and streams; You dried up ever-flowing rivers.  
Ps07416 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have established and prepared the [heavenly] light and the sun.  
Ps07417 You have defined and established all the borders of the earth [the divisions of land and sea and of the nations]; You have made summer and winter.  
Ps07418 Remember this, O LORD, the enemy has scoffed, And a foolish and impious people has spurned Your name.  
Ps07419 Oh, do not hand over the soul of your turtledove to the wild beast; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.  
Ps07420 Consider the covenant [You made with Abraham], For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.  
Ps07421 Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.  
Ps07422 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man scoffs at You all day long.  
Ps07423 Do not forget the [clamoring] voices of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually [to Your ears].  
Ps07501 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. We give thanks and praise to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your [wonderful works declare that Your] name is near; People declare Your wonders.  
Ps07502 “When I select an appointed time, I will judge with equity,” [says the LORD].  
Ps07503 “The earth and all the inhabitants of it melt [in tumultuous times]. It is I who will steady its pillars. Selah.  
Ps07504 “I said to the arrogant, ‘Do not boast;’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn [of self- glorification].  
Ps07505 ‘Do not lift up your [defiant and aggressive] horn on high, Do not speak with a stiff neck.’”  
Ps07506 For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation.  
Ps07507 But God is the Judge; He puts down one and lifts up another.  
Ps07508 For a cup [of His wrath] is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; It is well mixed and fully spiced, and He pours out from it; And all the wicked of the earth must drain it and drink down to its dregs.  
Ps07509 But as for me, I will declare it and rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  
Ps07510 All the horns of the wicked He will cut off, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.  
Ps07601 To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.  
Ps07602 His tabernacle is in Salem (Jerusalem); His dwelling place is in Zion.  
Ps07603 There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah.  
Ps07604 You are glorious and resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey.  
Ps07605 The stouthearted have been stripped of their spoil, They have slept the sleep [of death]; And none of the warriors could use his hands.  
Ps07606 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep [of death].  
Ps07607 You, even You, are to be feared [with the submissive wonder of reverence]; Who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?  
Ps07608 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was quiet  
Ps07609 When God arose to [establish] judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.  
Ps07610 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will clothe and arm Yourself.  
Ps07611 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared [with awe-inspired reverence].  
Ps07612 He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome and feared by the kings of the earth.  
Ps07701 To the Chief Musician; according to Jeduthun [one of David’s three chief musicians, founder of an official musical family]. A Psalm of Asaph. My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will hear me.  
Ps07702 In the day of my trouble I [desperately] sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out [in prayer] without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted.  
Ps07703 I remember God; then I am disquieted and I groan; I sigh [in prayer], and my spirit grows faint. Selah.  
Ps07704 You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  
Ps07705 I have considered the ancient days, The years [of prosperity] of long, long ago.  
Ps07706 I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit searches:  
Ps07707 Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again?  
Ps07708 Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Have His promises ended for all time?  
Ps07709 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.  
Ps07710 And I said, “This is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed [and His lovingkindness is withheld].”  
Ps07711 I will [solemnly] remember the deeds of the LORD; Yes, I will [wholeheartedly] remember Your wonders of old.  
Ps07712 I will meditate on all Your works And thoughtfully consider all Your [great and wondrous] deeds.  
Ps07713 Your way, O God, is holy [far from sin and guilt]. What god is great like our God?  
Ps07714 You are the [awesome] God who works [powerful] wonders; You have demonstrated Your power among the people.  
Ps07715 You have with Your [great] arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.  
Ps07716 The waters [of the Red Sea] saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled.  
Ps07717 The clouds poured down water; The skies sent out a sound [of rumbling thunder]; Your arrows (lightning) flashed here and there.  
Ps07718 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings illumined the world; The earth trembled and shook.  
Ps07719 Your way [of escape for Your people] was through the sea, And Your paths through the great waters, And Your footprints were not traceable.  
Ps07720 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron [to the promised goal].  
Ps07801 A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Asaph. Listen, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth [and be willing to learn].  
Ps07802 I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples]; I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]—  
Ps07803 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.  
Ps07804 We will not hide them from their children, But [we will] tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, And [tell of] His great might and power and the wonderful works that He has done.  
Ps07805 For He established a testimony (a specific precept) in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach to their children [the great facts of God’s transactions with Israel],  
Ps07806 That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born May arise and recount them to their children,  
Ps07807 That they should place their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments,  
Ps07808 And not be like their fathers— A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart to know and follow God, And whose spirit was not faithful to God.  
Ps07809 The sons of Ephraim were armed as archers and carrying bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle.  
Ps07810 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk according to His law;  
Ps07811 And they forgot His [incredible] works And His miraculous wonders that He had shown them.  
Ps07812 He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan [where Pharaoh resided].  
Ps07813 He divided the [Red] Sea and allowed them to pass through it, And He made the waters stand up like [water behind] a dam.  
Ps07814 In the daytime He led them with a cloud And all the night with a light of fire.  
Ps07815 He split rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant [water to] drink like the ocean depths.  
Ps07816 He brought streams also from the rock [at Rephidim and Kadesh] And caused waters to run down like rivers.  
Ps07817 Yet they still continued to sin against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the desert.  
Ps07818 And in their hearts they put God to the test By asking for food according to their [selfish] appetite.  
Ps07819 Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare [food for] a table in the wilderness?  
Ps07820 “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out And the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide meat for His people?”  
Ps07821 Therefore, when the LORD heard, He was full of wrath; A fire was kindled against Jacob, And His anger mounted up against Israel,  
Ps07822 Because they did not believe in God [they did not rely on Him, they did not adhere to Him], And they did not trust in His salvation (His power to save).  
Ps07823 Yet He commanded the clouds from above And opened the doors of heaven;  
Ps07824 And He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them the grain of heaven.  
Ps07825 Man ate the bread of angels; God sent them provision in abundance.  
Ps07826 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His [unlimited] power He guided the south wind.  
Ps07827 He rained meat upon them like the dust, And winged birds (quail) like the sand of the seas.  
Ps07828 And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Around their tents.  
Ps07829 So they ate and were well filled, He gave them what they craved.  
Ps07830 Before they had satisfied their desire, And while their food was in their mouths,  
Ps07831 The wrath of God rose against them And killed some of the strongest of them, And subdued the choice young men of Israel.  
Ps07832 In spite of all this they still sinned, For they did not believe in His wonderful and extraordinary works.  
Ps07833 Therefore He consumed their days like a breath [in emptiness and futility] And their years in sudden terror.  
Ps07834 When He killed [some of] them, then those remaining sought Him, And they returned [to Him] and searched diligently for God [for a time].  
Ps07835 And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.  
Ps07836 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouths And lied to Him with their tongues.  
Ps07837 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful to His covenant.  
Ps07838 But He, the source of compassion and lovingkindness, forgave their wickedness and did not destroy them; Many times He restrained His anger And did not stir up all His wrath.  
Ps07839 For He [graciously] remembered that they were mere [human] flesh, A wind that goes and does not return.  
Ps07840 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert!  
Ps07841 Again and again they tempted God, And distressed the Holy One of Israel.  
Ps07842 They did not remember [the miracles worked by] His [powerful] hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the enemy,  
Ps07843 How He worked His miracles in Egypt And His wonders in the field of Zoan [where Pharaoh resided],  
Ps07844 And turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.  
Ps07845 He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, And frogs which destroyed them.  
Ps07846 He also gave their crops to the grasshopper, And the fruit of their labor to the locust.  
Ps07847 He destroyed their vines with [great] hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost.  
Ps07848 He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones, And their flocks and herds to thunderbolts.  
Ps07849 He sent upon them His burning anger, His fury and indignation and distress, A band of angels of destruction [among them].  
Ps07850 He leveled a path for His anger [to give it free run]; He did not spare their souls from death, But turned over their lives to the plague.  
Ps07851 He killed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first and best of their strength in the tents [of the land of the sons] of Ham.  
Ps07852 But God led His own people forward like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like [a good shepherd with] a flock.  
Ps07853 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.  
Ps07854 So He brought them to His holy land, To this mountain [Zion] which His right hand had acquired.  
Ps07855 He also drove out the nations before the sons of Israel And allotted their land as an inheritance, measured out and partitioned; And He had the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents [the tents of those who had been dispossessed].  
Ps07856 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies (laws).  
Ps07857 They turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; They were twisted like a warped bow [that will not respond to the archer’s aim].  
Ps07858 For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [devoted to idol worship] And moved Him to jealousy with their carved images [by denying Him the love, worship, and obedience that is rightfully and uniquely His].  
Ps07859 When God heard this, He was filled with [righteous] wrath; And utterly rejected Israel, [greatly hating her ways],  
Ps07860 So that He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, The tent in which He had dwelled among men,  
Ps07861 And gave up His strength and power (the ark of the covenant) into captivity, And His glory into the hand of the enemy (the Philistines).  
Ps07862 He also handed His people over to the sword, And was infuriated with His inheritance (Israel).  
Ps07863 The fire [of war] devoured His young men, And His [bereaved] virgins had no wedding songs.  
Ps07864 His priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.  
Ps07865 Then the Lord awakened as from sleep, Like a [mighty] warrior who awakens from the sleep of wine [fully conscious of his power].  
Ps07866 He drove His enemies backward; He subjected them to lasting shame and dishonor.  
Ps07867 Moreover, He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim [in which the tabernacle stood].  
Ps07868 But He chose the tribe of Judah [as Israel’s leader], Mount Zion, which He loved [to replace Shiloh as His capital].  
Ps07869 And He built His sanctuary [exalted] like the heights [of the heavens], Like the earth which He has established forever.  
Ps07870 He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds;  
Ps07871 From tending the ewes with nursing young He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance.  
Ps07872 So David shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; And guided them with his skillful hands.  
Ps07901 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have invaded [the land of Your people] Your inheritance; They have defiled Your sacred temple; They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.  
Ps07902 They have given the dead bodies of Your servants as food to the birds of the heavens, The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.  
Ps07903 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, And there was no one to bury them.  
Ps07904 We have become an object of taunting to our neighbors [because of our humiliation], A derision and mockery to those who encircle us.  
Ps07905 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy [which cannot endure a divided allegiance] burn like fire?  
Ps07906 Pour out Your wrath on the [Gentile] nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.  
Ps07907 For they have devoured Jacob And made his pasture desolate.  
Ps07908 O do not remember against us the sins and guilt of our forefathers. Let Your compassion and mercy come quickly to meet us, For we have been brought very low.  
Ps07909 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; Rescue us, forgive us our sins for Your name’s sake.  
Ps07910 Why should the [Gentile] nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known [without delay] among the nations in our sight [and to this generation], Your vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been poured out.  
Ps07911 Let the groaning and sighing of the prisoner come before You; According to the greatness of Your power keep safe those who are doomed to die.  
Ps07912 And return into the lap of our neighbors sevenfold The taunts with which they have taunted You, O Lord.  
Ps07913 So we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will declare and publish Your praise from generation to generation.  
Ps08001 To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] “Lilies, a Testimony.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned above the cherubim [of the ark of the covenant], shine forth!  
Ps08002 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your power And come to save us!  
Ps08003 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine on us [with favor and approval], and we will be saved.  
Ps08004 O LORD God of hosts, How long will You be angry with the prayers of Your people?  
Ps08005 You have fed them the bread of tears, And You have made them drink [bitter] tears in abundance.  
Ps08006 You make us an object of contention to our neighbors, And our enemies laugh [at our suffering] among themselves.  
Ps08007 Restore us, O God of hosts; And cause Your face to shine on us [with favor and approval], and we will be saved.  
Ps08008 You uprooted a vine (Israel) from Egypt; You drove out the [Canaanite] nations and planted the vine [in Canaan].  
Ps08009 You cleared away the ground before it, And it took deep root and filled the land.  
Ps08010 The mountains were covered with its shadow, And its branches were like the cedars of God.  
Ps08011 Israel sent out its branches to the [Mediterranean] Sea, And its branches to the [Euphrates] River.  
Ps08012 Why have You broken down its walls and hedges, So that all who pass by pick its fruit?  
Ps08013 A boar from the woods eats it away, And the insects of the field feed on it.  
Ps08014 Turn again [in favor to us], O God of hosts; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,  
Ps08015 Even the stock which Your right hand has planted, And [look down on] the son that You have reared and strengthened for Yourself.  
Ps08016 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your [angry] appearance.  
Ps08017 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself.  
Ps08018 Then we shall not turn back from You; Revive us and we will call on Your name.  
Ps08019 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine on us [in favor and approval], and we shall be saved.  
Ps08101 To the Chief Musician; set to the Philistine lute. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; Shout for joy to the God of Jacob (Israel).  
Ps08102 Raise a song, sound the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.  
Ps08103 Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, At the full moon, on our feast day.  
Ps08104 For this is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.  
Ps08105 He established it for a testimony in Joseph When He went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard the language [of One whom] I did not know, saying,  
Ps08106 “I removed the burden from his shoulder; His hands were freed from the basket.  
Ps08107 “You called in [the time of] trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.  
Ps08108 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you— O Israel, if you would listen to Me!  
Ps08109 “Let there be no strange god among you, Nor shall you worship any foreign god.  
Ps08110 “I am the LORD your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.  
Ps08111 “But My people would not listen to My voice, And Israel did not [consent to] obey Me.  
Ps08112 “So I gave them up to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in [the path of] their own counsel.  
Ps08113 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!  
Ps08114 “Then I would quickly subdue and humble their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries;  
Ps08115 Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him and cringe before Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.  
Ps08116 “But I would feed Israel with the finest of the wheat; And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  
Ps08201 A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the divine assembly; He judges among the gods (divine beings).  
Ps08202 How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.  
Ps08203 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice and maintain the rights of the afflicted and destitute.  
Ps08204 Rescue the weak and needy; Rescue them from the hand of the wicked.  
Ps08205 The rulers do not know nor do they understand; They walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; All the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles of the administration of justice] are shaken.  
Ps08206 I said, “You are gods; Indeed, all of you are sons of the Most High.  
Ps08207 “Nevertheless you will die like men And fall like any one of the princes.”  
Ps08208 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.  
Ps08301 A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. Do not keep silent, O God; Do not hold Your peace or be still, O God.  
Ps08302 For behold, Your enemies are in tumult, And those who hate You have raised their heads [in hatred of You].  
Ps08303 They concoct crafty schemes against Your people, And conspire together against Your hidden and precious ones.  
Ps08304 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation; Let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”  
Ps08305 For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant—  
Ps08306 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Of Moab and the Hagrites,  
Ps08307 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.  
Ps08308 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot [the Ammonites and the Moabites] and have been an arm [of strength] to them. Selah.  
Ps08309 Deal with them as [You did] with Midian, As with Sisera and Jabin at the brook of Kishon,  
Ps08310 Who were destroyed at En-dor, Who became like dung for the earth.  
Ps08311 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,  
Ps08312 Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves The pastures of God.”  
Ps08313 O my God, make them like whirling dust, Like chaff before the wind [worthless and without substance].  
Ps08314 Like fire consumes the forest, And like the flame sets the mountains on fire,  
Ps08315 So pursue them with Your tempest And terrify them with [the violence of] Your storm.  
Ps08316 Fill their faces with shame and disgrace, That they may [persistently] seek Your name, O LORD.  
Ps08317 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be humiliated and perish,  
Ps08318 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.  
Ps08401 To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!  
Ps08402 My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.  
Ps08403 The bird has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.  
Ps08404 Blessed and greatly favored are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; They will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah.  
Ps08405 Blessed and greatly favored is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion.  
Ps08406 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; The early rain also covers it with blessings.  
Ps08407 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; Each of them appears before God in Zion.  
Ps08408 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Listen, O God of Jacob! Selah.  
Ps08409 See our shield, O God, And look at the face of Your anointed [the king as Your representative].  
Ps08410 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.  
Ps08411 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD bestows grace and favor and honor; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  
Ps08412 O LORD of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].  
Ps08501 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. O LORD, You have [at last] shown favor to Your land [of Canaan]; You have restored [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob (Israel).  
Ps08502 You have forgiven the wickedness of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah.  
Ps08503 You have withdrawn all Your wrath, You have turned away from Your burning anger.  
Ps08504 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.  
Ps08505 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?  
Ps08506 Will You not revive us and bring us to life again, That Your people may rejoice in You?  
Ps08507 Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.  
Ps08508 I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the LORD will say, For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones— But let them not turn again to folly.  
Ps08509 Surely His salvation is near to those who [reverently] fear Him [and obey Him with submissive wonder], That glory [the manifest presence of God] may dwell in our land.  
Ps08510 Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together; Righteousness and peace kiss each other.  
Ps08511 Truth springs from the earth, And righteousness looks down from heaven.  
Ps08512 Indeed, the LORD will give what is good, And our land will yield its produce.  
Ps08513 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way [in which to walk].  
Ps08601 A Prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].  
Ps08602 Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful; O You my God, save Your servant, who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].  
Ps08603 Be gracious and merciful to me, O Lord, For to You I cry out all the day long.  
Ps08604 Make Your servant rejoice, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul [all that I am—in prayer].  
Ps08605 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever]; And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.  
Ps08606 Hear, O LORD, my prayer; And listen attentively to the voice of my supplications (specific requests)!  
Ps08607 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.  
Ps08608 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works [of wonder and majesty] like Yours.  
Ps08609 All nations whom You have made shall come and kneel down in worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.  
Ps08610 For You are great and do wondrous works! You alone are God.  
Ps08611 Teach me Your way, O LORD, I will walk and live in Your truth; Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].  
Ps08612 I will give thanks and praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; And will glorify Your name forevermore.  
Ps08613 For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me; And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].  
Ps08614 O God, arrogant and insolent men have risen up against me; A band of violent men have sought my life, And they have not set You before them.  
Ps08615 But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.  
Ps08616 Turn to me, and be gracious to me; Grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant, And save the son of Your handmaid.  
Ps08617 Show me a sign of [Your] goodwill, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, O LORD, helped and comforted me.  
Ps08701 A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song. His foundation is on the holy mountain.  
Ps08702 The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob (Israel).  
Ps08703 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God [Jerusalem]. Selah.  
Ps08704 “I will mention Rahab (Egypt) and Babylon among those who know Me— Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia (Cush)— ‘This one was born there.’”  
Ps08705 But of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her,” And the Most High Himself will establish her.  
Ps08706 The LORD will count, when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.  
Ps08707 The singers as well as the players of flutes will say, “All my springs and sources of joy are in you [Jerusalem, city of God].”  
Ps08801 A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician; set to chant mournfully. A didactic or reflective poem of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried out [for help] by day and in the night before You.  
Ps08802 Let my prayer come before You and enter into Your presence; Incline Your ear to my cry!  
Ps08803 For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draws near the grave (Sheol, the place of the dead).  
Ps08804 I am counted among those who go down to the pit (grave); I am like a man who has no strength [a mere shadow],  
Ps08805 Cast away [from the living] and abandoned among the dead, Like the slain who lie in a [nameless] grave, Whom You no longer remember, And they are cut off from Your hand.  
Ps08806 You have laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths.  
Ps08807 Your wrath has rested heavily upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.  
Ps08808 You have put my friends far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them. I am shut up and I cannot go out.  
Ps08809 My eye grows dim with sorrow. O LORD, I have called on You every day; I have spread out my hands to You [in prayer].  
Ps08810 Will You perform wonders for the dead? Shall the departed spirits arise and praise You? Selah.  
Ps08811 Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave Or Your faithfulness in Abaddon (the underworld)?  
Ps08812 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness [where the dead forget and are forgotten]?  
Ps08813 But I have cried out to You, O LORD, for help; And in the morning my prayer will come to You.  
Ps08814 O LORD, why do You reject me? Why do You hide Your face from me?  
Ps08815 I was afflicted and close to death from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome.  
Ps08816 Your fierce wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.  
Ps08817 They have surrounded me like flood waters all day long; They have completely encompassed me.  
Ps08818 Lover and friend You have placed far from me; My familiar friends are in darkness.  
Ps08901 A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the goodness and lovingkindness of the LORD forever; With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation.  
Ps08902 For I have said, “Goodness and lovingkindness will be built up forever; In the heavens [unchangeable and majestic] You will establish Your faithfulness.”  
Ps08903 [God has said] “I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant,  
Ps08904 I will establish your seed forever And I will build up your throne for all generations.” Selah.  
Ps08905 The heavens (angels) praise Your wonders, O LORD, Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.  
Ps08906 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the divine beings is like the LORD,  
Ps08907 A God greatly feared and reverently worshiped in the council of the holy [angelic] ones, And awesome above all those who are around Him?  
Ps08908 O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds You [as an intrinsic, unchangeable part of Your very being].  
Ps08909 You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.  
Ps08910 You have crushed Rahab (Egypt) like one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.  
Ps08911 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all that is in it, You have founded and established them.  
Ps08912 The north and the south, You have created them; Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon shout for joy at Your name.  
Ps08913 You have a strong arm; Mighty is Your hand, Your right hand is exalted.  
Ps08914 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.  
Ps08915 Blessed and happy are the people who know the joyful sound [of the trumpet’s blast]! They walk, O LORD, in the light and favor of Your countenance!  
Ps08916 In Your name they rejoice all the day, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.  
Ps08917 For You are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment], And by Your favor our horn is exalted.  
Ps08918 For our shield belongs to the LORD, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.  
Ps08919 Once You spoke in a vision to Your godly ones, And said, “I have given help to one who is mighty [giving him the power to be a champion for Israel]; I have exalted one chosen from the people.  
Ps08920 “I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him,  
Ps08921 With whom My hand shall be established and steadfast; My arm also shall strengthen him.  
Ps08922 “The enemy will not outwit him, Nor will the wicked man afflict or humiliate him.  
Ps08923 “I will crush his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him.  
Ps08924 “My faithfulness and My steadfast lovingkindness shall be with him, And in My name shall his horn be exalted [great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon him].  
Ps08925 “I will also set his hand on the [Mediterranean] sea, And his right hand on the rivers [the tributaries of the Euphrates].  
Ps08926 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’  
Ps08927 “I will also make him My firstborn (preeminent), The highest of the kings of the earth.  
Ps08928 “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forevermore, And My covenant will be confirmed to him.  
Ps08929 “His descendants I will establish forever, And his throne [will endure] as the days of heaven.  
Ps08930 “If his children turn away from My law And do not walk in My ordinances,  
Ps08931 If they break My statutes And do not keep My commandments,  
Ps08932 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod [of discipline], And [correct] their wickedness with stripes.  
Ps08933 “Nevertheless, I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, Nor allow My faithfulness to fail.  
Ps08934 “My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.  
Ps08935 “Once [for all] I have sworn by My holiness, [My vow which cannot be violated]; I will not lie to David.  
Ps08936 “His descendants shall endure forever And his throne [will continue] as the sun before Me.  
Ps08937 “It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the heavens is ever faithful.” Selah.  
Ps08938 But [in apparent contradiction of all this] You [the faithful LORD] have cast off and rejected; You have been full of wrath against Your anointed.  
Ps08939 You have spurned and repudiated the covenant with Your servant; You have profaned his crown [by casting it] in the dust.  
Ps08940 You have broken down all his [city] walls; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.  
Ps08941 All who pass along the road rob him; He has become the scorn of his neighbors.  
Ps08942 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; You have made all his enemies rejoice.  
Ps08943 Also, You have turned back the edge of his sword And have not made him [strong enough] to stand in battle.  
Ps08944 You have put an end to his splendor And have hurled his throne to the ground.  
Ps08945 You have shortened the days of his youth; You have covered him with shame. Selah.  
Ps08946 How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?  
Ps08947 Remember how fleeting my lifetime is; For what vanity, [for what emptiness, for what futility, for what wisp of smoke] You have created all the sons of men!  
Ps08948 What man can live and not see death? Can he rescue his soul from the [powerful] hand of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Selah.  
Ps08949 O Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses [so abundant in the days of David and Solomon], Which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?  
Ps08950 Remember, O Lord, the reproach of Your servants [scorned, insulted, and disgraced]; How I bear in my heart the reproach of all the many peoples,  
Ps08951 With which Your enemies have taunted, O LORD, With which they have mocked the footsteps of Your anointed.  
Ps08952 Blessed be the LORD forevermore! Amen and Amen.  
Ps09001 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place [our refuge, our sanctuary, our stability] in all generations.  
Ps09002 Before the mountains were born Or before You had given birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are [the eternal] God.  
Ps09003 You turn man back to dust, And say, “Return [to the earth], O children of [mortal] men!”  
Ps09004 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, Or as a watch in the night.  
Ps09005 You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep [forgotten as soon as they are gone]; In the morning they are like grass which grows anew—  
Ps09006 In the morning it flourishes and springs up; In the evening it wilts and withers away.  
Ps09007 For we have been consumed by Your anger And by Your wrath we have been terrified.  
Ps09008 You have placed our wickedness before you, Our secret sins [which we tried to conceal, You have placed] in the [revealing] light of Your presence.  
Ps09009 For all our days pass away in Your wrath; We have finished our years like a whispered sigh.  
Ps09010 The days of our life are seventy years— Or even, if because of strength, eighty years; Yet their pride [in additional years] is only labor and sorrow, For it is soon gone and we fly away.  
Ps09011 Who understands the power of Your anger? [Who connects this brevity of life among us with Your judgment of sin?] And Your wrath, [who connects it] with the [reverent] fear that is due You?  
Ps09012 So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.  
Ps09013 Turn, O LORD [from Your fierce anger]; how long will it be? Be compassionate toward Your servants—revoke Your sentence.  
Ps09014 O satisfy us with Your lovingkindness in the morning [now, before we grow older], That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  
Ps09015 Make us glad in proportion to the days You have afflicted us, And the years we have suffered evil.  
Ps09016 Let Your work [the signs of Your power] be revealed to Your servants And Your [glorious] majesty to their children.  
Ps09017 And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; Confirm for us the work of our hands— Yes, confirm the work of our hands.  
Ps09101 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].  
Ps09102 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”  
Ps09103 For He will save you from the trap of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.  
Ps09104 He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.  
Ps09105 You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,  
Ps09106 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.  
Ps09107 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you.  
Ps09108 You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High].  
Ps09109 Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,  
Ps09110 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.  
Ps09111 For He will command His angels in regard to you, To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service].  
Ps09112 They will lift you up in their hands, So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.  
Ps09113 You will tread upon the lion and cobra; The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.  
Ps09114 “Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].  
Ps09115 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  
Ps09116 “With a long life I will satisfy him And I will let him see My salvation.”  
Ps09201 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day. It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the LORD, To sing praises to Your name, O Most High,  
Ps09202 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night,  
Ps09203 With an instrument of ten strings and with the harp, With a solemn sound on the lyre.  
Ps09204 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your works; At the works of Your hands I joyfully sing.  
Ps09205 How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep [beyond man’s understanding].  
Ps09206 A senseless man [in his crude and uncultivated state] knows nothing, Nor does a [self-righteous] fool understand this:  
Ps09207 That though the wicked sprout up like grass And all evildoers flourish, They will be destroyed forever.  
Ps09208 But You, LORD, are on high forever.  
Ps09209 For behold, Your enemies, O LORD, For behold, Your enemies will perish; All who do evil will be scattered.  
Ps09210 But my horn [my emblem of strength and power] You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil [for Your service].  
Ps09211 My eye has looked on my foes; My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.  
Ps09212 The righteous will flourish like the date palm [long-lived, upright and useful]; They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic and stable].  
Ps09213 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.  
Ps09214 [Growing in grace] they will still thrive and bear fruit and prosper in old age; They will flourish and be vital and fresh [rich in trust and love and contentment];  
Ps09215 [They are living memorials] to declare that the LORD is upright and faithful [to His promises]; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.  
Ps09301 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty and splendor; The LORD has clothed and encircled Himself with strength; the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.  
Ps09302 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.  
Ps09303 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their pounding waves.  
Ps09304 More than the sounds of many waters, More than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty.  
Ps09305 Your precepts are fully confirmed and completely reliable; Holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, forever.  
Ps09401 O LORD God, You to whom vengeance belongs, O God, You to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth [in judgment]!  
Ps09402 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Give to the proud a fitting compensation.  
Ps09403 O LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked rejoice in triumph?  
Ps09404 They pour out words, speaking arrogant things; All who do evil boast proudly.  
Ps09405 They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict and abuse Your heritage.  
Ps09406 They kill the widow and the alien And murder the fatherless.  
Ps09407 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob (Israel) notice it.”  
Ps09408 Consider thoughtfully, you senseless (stupid ones) among the people; And you [dull-minded] fools, when will you become wise and understand?  
Ps09409 He who made the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?  
Ps09410 He who instructs the nations, Does He not rebuke and punish, He who teaches man knowledge?  
Ps09411 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath (vain, empty, futile).  
Ps09412 Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O LORD, And whom You teach from Your law,  
Ps09413 That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked and ungodly.  
Ps09414 For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He abandon His inheritance.  
Ps09415 For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.  
Ps09416 Who will stand up for me against the evildoers? Who will take a stand for me against those who do wickedness?  
Ps09417 If the LORD had not been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land of] silence.  
Ps09418 If I say, “My foot has slipped,” Your compassion and lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.  
Ps09419 When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comforts delight me.  
Ps09420 Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which frames and devises mischief by decree [under the sacred name of law]?  
Ps09421 They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.  
Ps09422 But the LORD has become my high tower and defense, And my God the rock of my refuge.  
Ps09423 He has turned back their own wickedness upon them And will destroy them by means of their own evil; The LORD our God will wipe them out.  
Ps09501 O come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.  
Ps09502 Let us come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with songs.  
Ps09503 For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods,  
Ps09504 In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also.  
Ps09505 The sea is His, for He made it [by His command]; And His hands formed the dry land.  
Ps09506 O come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker [in reverent praise and prayer].  
Ps09507 For He is our God And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice,  
Ps09508 Do not harden your hearts and become spiritually dull as at Meribah [the place of strife], And as at Massah [the place of testing] in the wilderness,  
Ps09509 “When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, even though they had seen My work [of miracles].  
Ps09510 “For forty years I was grieved and disgusted with that generation, And I said, ‘They are a people who err in their heart, And they do not acknowledge or regard My ways.’  
Ps09511 “Therefore I swore [an oath] in My wrath, ‘They absolutely shall not enter My rest [the land of promise].’”  
Ps09601 O sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth!  
Ps09602 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.  
Ps09603 Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works and wonderful deeds among all the peoples.  
Ps09604 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.  
Ps09605 For all the gods of the peoples are [worthless, lifeless] idols, But the LORD made the heavens.  
Ps09606 Splendor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.  
Ps09607 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.  
Ps09608 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts.  
Ps09609 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; Tremble [in submissive wonder] before Him, all the earth.  
Ps09610 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly and securely established, it shall not be moved; He will judge and rule the people with fairness.”  
Ps09611 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all the things it contains;  
Ps09612 Let the field be exultant, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy  
Ps09613 Before the LORD, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness.  
Ps09701 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands and coastlands be glad.  
Ps09702 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai]; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.  
Ps09703 Fire goes before Him And burns up His adversaries on all sides.  
Ps09704 His lightnings have illuminated the world; The earth has seen and trembled.  
Ps09705 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  
Ps09706 The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory and brilliance.  
Ps09707 Let all those be [deeply] ashamed who serve carved images, Who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!  
Ps09708 Zion heard this and was glad, And the daughters (cities) of Judah rejoiced [in relief] Because of Your judgments, O LORD.  
Ps09709 For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.  
Ps09710 You who love the LORD, hate evil; He protects the souls of His godly ones (believers), He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.  
Ps09711 Light is sown [like seed] for the righteous and illuminates their path, And [irrepressible] joy [is spread] for the upright in heart [who delight in His favor and protection].  
Ps09712 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones [those whose moral and spiritual integrity places them in right standing with God], And praise and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.  
Ps09801 A Psalm. O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done marvelous and wonderful things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.  
Ps09802 The LORD has made known His salvation; He has [openly] revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.  
Ps09803 He has [graciously] remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.  
Ps09804 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Shout [in jubilation] and sing for joy and sing praises.  
Ps09805 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, With the lyre and the sound of melody.  
Ps09806 With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout with joy before the King, the LORD.  
Ps09807 Let the sea thunder and roar, and all the things it contains, The world and those who dwell in it.  
Ps09808 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing together for joy and delight  
Ps09809 Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with fairness.  
Ps09901 The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble [with submissive wonder]! He sits enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!  
Ps09902 The LORD is great in Zion, And He is exalted and magnified above all the peoples.  
Ps09903 Let them [reverently] praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.  
Ps09904 The strength of the King loves justice and righteous judgment; You have established fairness; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob (Israel).  
Ps09905 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He.  
Ps09906 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, And Samuel was among those who called on His name; They called upon the LORD and He answered them.  
Ps09907 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; They kept His testimonies And the statutes that He gave them.  
Ps09908 You answered them, O LORD our God; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil practices.  
Ps09909 Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His holy hill [Zion, the temple mount], For the LORD our God is holy.  
Ps10001 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.  
Ps10002 Serve the LORD with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing.  
Ps10003 Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  
Ps10004 Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name.  
Ps10005 For the LORD is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.  
Ps10101 A Psalm of David. I will sing of [steadfast] lovingkindness and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.  
Ps10102 I will behave wisely and follow the way of integrity. When will You come to me? I will walk in my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.  
Ps10103 I will set no worthless or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the practice of those who fall away [from the right path]; It will not grasp hold of me.  
Ps10104 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not tolerate evil.  
Ps10105 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will silence; The one who has a haughty look and a proud (arrogant) heart I will not tolerate.  
Ps10106 My eyes will be on the faithful (honorable) of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks blamelessly is the one who will minister to and serve me.  
Ps10107 He who practices deceit will not dwell in my house; He who tells lies and half- truths will not continue [to remain] in my presence.  
Ps10108 Morning after morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, That I may cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do evil.  
Ps10201 A Prayer of the afflicted; when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint to God. Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry for help come to You!  
Ps10202 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline Your ear to me; In the day when I call, answer me quickly.  
Ps10203 For my days have vanished in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.  
Ps10204 My heart has been struck like grass and withered, Indeed, [absorbed by my heartache] I forget to eat my food.  
Ps10205 Because of the sound of my groaning [in suffering and trouble] My bones cling to my flesh.  
Ps10206 I am like a [mournful] vulture of the wilderness; I am like a [desolate] owl of the wasteland.  
Ps10207 I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.  
Ps10208 My enemies taunt me all day long; Those who ridicule me use my name as a curse.  
Ps10209 For I have eaten ashes like bread, And have mingled my drink with tears  
Ps10210 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath, For You have lifted me up and thrown me away.  
Ps10211 My days are like an evening shadow that lengthens and vanishes [with the sun]; And as for me, I wither away like grass.  
Ps10212 But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever [ruling eternally as sovereign]; And [the fame and glory of] Your name [endures] to all generations.  
Ps10213 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, For it is time to be gracious and show favor to her; Yes, the appointed time [the moment designated] has come.  
Ps10214 For Your servants find [melancholy] pleasure in the stones [of her ruins] And feel pity for her dust.  
Ps10215 So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth [will recognize] Your glory.  
Ps10216 For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory and brilliance;  
Ps10217 He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.  
Ps10218 Let this be recorded for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created will praise the LORD.  
Ps10219 For He looked down from His holy height [of His sanctuary], From heaven the LORD gazed on the earth,  
Ps10220 To hear the sighing of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,  
Ps10221 So that people may declare the name of the LORD in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,  
Ps10222 When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.  
Ps10223 He has exhausted my strength [humbling me with sorrow] in the way; He has shortened my days.  
Ps10224 I said, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are [eternal] throughout all generations.  
Ps10225 “At the beginning You founded the earth; The heavens are the work of Your hands.  
Ps10226 “Even they will perish, but You endure; Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and they shall be changed.  
Ps10227 “But You remain the same, And Your years will never end.  
Ps10228 “The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.”  
Ps10301 A Psalm of David. Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, And all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name.  
Ps10302 Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits;  
Ps10303 Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your diseases;  
Ps10304 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy;  
Ps10305 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the [soaring] eagle.  
Ps10306 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all the oppressed.  
Ps10307 He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.  
Ps10308 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.  
Ps10309 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.  
Ps10310 He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.  
Ps10311 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].  
Ps10312 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.  
Ps10313 Just as a father loves his children, So the LORD loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].  
Ps10314 For He knows our [mortal] frame; He remembers that we are [merely] dust.  
Ps10315 As for man, his days are like grass; Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.  
Ps10316 For the wind passes over it and it is no more, And its place knows it no longer.  
Ps10317 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [reverently] fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,  
Ps10318 To those who honor and keep His covenant, And remember to do His commandments [imprinting His word on their hearts].  
Ps10319 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].  
Ps10320 Bless the LORD, you His angels, You mighty ones who do His commandments, Obeying the voice of His word!  
Ps10321 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him and do His will.  
Ps10322 Bless the LORD, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul!  
Ps10401 Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty,  
Ps10402 [You are the One] who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a tent curtain,  
Ps10403 Who lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters [above the firmament], Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,  
Ps10404 Who makes winds His messengers, Flames of fire His ministers.  
Ps10405 He established the earth on its foundations, So that it will not be moved forever and ever.  
Ps10406 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains.  
Ps10407 At Your rebuke they fled; At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away.  
Ps10408 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down To the place which You established for them.  
Ps10409 You set a boundary [for the waters] that they may not cross over, So that they will not return to cover the earth.  
Ps10410 You send springs into the valleys; Their waters flow among the mountains.  
Ps10411 They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild donkeys quench their thirst there.  
Ps10412 Beside them the birds of the heavens have their nests; They lift up their voices and sing among the branches.  
Ps10413 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.  
Ps10414 He causes grass to grow for the cattle, And all that the earth produces for cultivation by man, So that he may bring food from the earth—  
Ps10415 And wine which makes the heart of man glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And bread to sustain and strengthen man’s heart.  
Ps10416 The trees of the LORD drink their fill, The cedars of Lebanon which He has planted,  
Ps10417 Where the birds make their nests; As for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  
Ps10418 The high mountains are for the wild goats; The rocks are a refuge for the shephanim.  
Ps10419 He made the moon for the seasons; The sun knows the [exact] place of its setting.  
Ps10420 You [O LORD] make darkness and it becomes night, In which prowls about every wild beast of the forest.  
Ps10421 The young lions roar after their prey And seek their food from God.  
Ps10422 When the sun arises, they withdraw And lie down in their dens.  
Ps10423 Man goes out to his work And remains at his labor until evening.  
Ps10424 O LORD, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures.  
Ps10425 There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Creatures both small and great.  
Ps10426 There the ships [of the sea] sail, And Leviathan [the sea monster], which You have formed to play there.  
Ps10427 They all wait for You To give them their food in its appointed season.  
Ps10428 You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are filled and satisfied with good [things].  
Ps10429 You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their breath, they die And return to their dust.  
Ps10430 You send out Your Spirit, they are created; You renew the face of the ground.  
Ps10431 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice and be glad in His works—  
Ps10432 He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke.  
Ps10433 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  
Ps10434 May my meditation be sweet and pleasing to Him; As for me, I will rejoice and be glad in the LORD.  
Ps10435 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, And let the wicked be no more. Bless and affectionately praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps10501 O give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people.  
Ps10502 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them.  
Ps10503 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek and require the LORD [as their most essential need] rejoice.  
Ps10504 Seek and deeply long for the LORD and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.  
Ps10505 Remember [with awe and gratitude] the wonderful things which He has done, His amazing deeds and the judgments uttered by His mouth [on His enemies, as in Egypt],  
Ps10506 O you offspring of Abraham, His servant, O you sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!  
Ps10507 He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth.  
Ps10508 He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations,  
Ps10509 The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His sworn oath to Isaac,  
Ps10510 Which He confirmed to Jacob as a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,  
Ps10511 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan As the measured portion of your inheritance.”  
Ps10512 When there were only a few men in number, Very few [in fact], and strangers in it;  
Ps10513 And they wandered from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another people,  
Ps10514 He allowed no man to oppress them; He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,  
Ps10515 “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”  
Ps10516 And He called for a famine upon the land [of Egypt]; He cut off every source of bread.  
Ps10517 He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.  
Ps10518 His feet they hurt with shackles; He was put in chains of iron,  
Ps10519 Until the time that his word [of prophecy regarding his brothers] came true, The word of the LORD tested and refined him.  
Ps10520 The king sent and released him, The ruler of the peoples [of Egypt], and set him free.  
Ps10521 He made Joseph lord of his house And ruler of all his possessions,  
Ps10522 To imprison his princes at his will, That he might teach his elders wisdom.  
Ps10523 Israel also came into Egypt; Thus Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  
Ps10524 There the LORD greatly increased [the number of] His people, And made them more powerful than their enemies.  
Ps10525 He turned the heart [of the Egyptians] to hate His people, To deal craftily with His servants.  
Ps10526 He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron, whom He had chosen.  
Ps10527 They exhibited His wondrous signs among them, Great miracles in the land of Ham (Egypt).  
Ps10528 He sent [thick, oppressive] darkness and made the land dark; And Moses and Aaron did not rebel against His words.  
Ps10529 He turned Egypt’s waters into blood And caused their fish to die.  
Ps10530 Their land swarmed with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.  
Ps10531 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies And gnats in all their territory.  
Ps10532 He gave them hail for rain, With flaming fire in their land.  
Ps10533 He struck their vines also and their fig trees, And shattered the [ice-laden] trees of their territory.  
Ps10534 He spoke, and the [migratory] locusts came, And the young locusts, even without number,  
Ps10535 And ate up all the vegetation in their land, And devoured the fruit of their ground.  
Ps10536 He also struck down all the firstborn in their land, The first fruits and chief substance of all their strength.  
Ps10537 He brought the sons of Israel out [of Egypt] with silver and gold, And among their tribes there was not one who stumbled.  
Ps10538 Egypt was glad when they departed, For the dread and fear of them had fallen on the Egyptians.  
Ps10539 The LORD spread a cloud as a covering [by day], And a fire to illumine the night.  
Ps10540 The Israelites asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.  
Ps10541 He opened the rock and water flowed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.  
Ps10542 For He remembered His holy word To Abraham His servant;  
Ps10543 He brought out His people with joy, And His chosen ones with a joyful shout,  
Ps10544 He gave them the lands of the nations [of Canaan], So that they would possess the fruits of those peoples’ labor,  
Ps10545 So that they might observe His precepts And keep His laws [obediently accepting and honoring and valuing them]. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps10601 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever!  
Ps10602 Who can put into words the mighty deeds of the LORD? Or who can proclaim all His praise [that is due Him]?  
Ps10603 Blessed are those who observe justice [by honoring God’s precepts], Who practice righteousness at all times.  
Ps10604 Remember me, O LORD, when You favor Your people. Visit me with Your salvation [when You rescue them],  
Ps10605 That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.  
Ps10606 We have sinned like our fathers; We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.  
Ps10607 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand nor appreciate Your miracles; They did not remember the abundance of Your mercies nor imprint Your lovingkindnesses on their hearts, But they were rebellious at the sea, at the Red Sea.  
Ps10608 Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake, That He might make His [supreme] power known.  
Ps10609 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; And He led them through the depths as through a pasture.  
Ps10610 So He saved them from the hand of the one that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the [Egyptian] enemy.  
Ps10611 And the waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them was left.  
Ps10612 Then Israel believed in [the validity of] His words; They sang His praise.  
Ps10613 But they quickly forgot His works; They did not [patiently] wait for His counsel and purpose [to be revealed regarding them],  
Ps10614 But lusted intensely in the wilderness And tempted God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.  
Ps10615 So He gave them their request, But sent a wasting disease among them.  
Ps10616 They envied Moses in the camp, And Aaron [the high priest], the holy one of the LORD,  
Ps10617 Therefore the earth opened and swallowed Dathan, And engulfed the company of Abiram.  
Ps10618 And a fire broke out in their company; The flame consumed the wicked.  
Ps10619 They made a calf in Horeb (Sinai) And worshiped a cast image.  
Ps10620 Thus they exchanged [the true God who was] their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.  
Ps10621 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done such great things in Egypt,  
Ps10622 Wonders in the land of Ham, Awesome things at the Red Sea.  
Ps10623 Therefore He said He would destroy them, [And He would have done so] had not Moses, His chosen one, stepped into the gap before Him, To turn away His wrath from destroying them.  
Ps10624 Then they despised the pleasant land [of Canaan]; They did not believe in His word nor rely on it,  
Ps10625 But they sulked and complained in their tents; They did not listen to the voice of the LORD.  
Ps10626 Therefore He lifted up His hand [swearing] to them, That He would cause them to fall in the wilderness,  
Ps10627 And that He would cast out their descendants among the nations And scatter them in the lands [of the earth].  
Ps10628 They joined themselves also to [the idol] Baal of Peor, And ate sacrifices offered to the dead.  
Ps10629 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their practices, And a plague broke out among them.  
Ps10630 Then Phinehas [the priest] stood up and interceded, And so the plague was halted.  
Ps10631 And that was credited to him for righteousness, To all generations forever.  
Ps10632 They provoked Him to anger at the waters of Meribah, So that it went hard with Moses on their account;  
Ps10633 Because they were rebellious against His Spirit, Moses spoke recklessly with his lips.  
Ps10634 They did not destroy the [pagan] peoples [in Canaan], As the LORD commanded them,  
Ps10635 But they mingled with the [idolatrous] nations And learned their ways,  
Ps10636 And served their idols, Which became a [dreadful] snare to them.  
Ps10637 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons  
Ps10638 And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with their blood.  
Ps10639 In this way they became unclean in their practices; They played the prostitute in their own deeds [by giving their worship, which belongs to God alone, to other “gods”].  
Ps10640 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against His people And He detested His own inheritance.  
Ps10641 He gave them into the hands of the nations, And those who hated them ruled over them.  
Ps10642 Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were subdued under the [powerful] hand of their enemies.  
Ps10643 Many times He rescued them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And sank down in their wickedness.  
Ps10644 Nevertheless He looked [sympathetically] at their distress When He heard their cry;  
Ps10645 And He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented [rescinding their sentence] according to the greatness of His lovingkindness [when they cried out to Him],  
Ps10646 He also made them objects of compassion Among those who had carried them away captive.  
Ps10647 Save us, O LORD our God, And gather us from among the nations, That we may give thanks to Your holy name And glory in praising You.  
Ps10648 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps10701 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His compassion and lovingkindness endure forever!  
Ps10702 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,  
Ps10703 And gathered them from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.  
Ps10704 They wandered in the wilderness in a [solitary] desert region; And did not find a way to an inhabited city.  
Ps10705 Hungry and thirsty, They fainted.  
Ps10706 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He rescued them from their distresses.  
Ps10707 He led them by the straight way, To an inhabited city [where they could establish their homes].  
Ps10708 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!  
Ps10709 For He satisfies the parched throat, And fills the hungry appetite with what is good.  
Ps10710 Some dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness, Prisoners [bound] in misery and chains,  
Ps10711 Because they had rebelled against the precepts of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High.  
Ps10712 Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor; They stumbled and there was no one to help.  
Ps10713 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them from their distresses.  
Ps10714 He brought them out of darkness and the deep (deathly) darkness And broke their bonds apart.  
Ps10715 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!  
Ps10716 For He has shattered the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron apart.  
Ps10717 Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their sins, were afflicted.  
Ps10718 They detested all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death.  
Ps10719 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them from their distresses.  
Ps10720 He sent His word and healed them, And rescued them from their destruction.  
Ps10721 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!  
Ps10722 And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And speak of His deeds with shouts of joy!  
Ps10723 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters;  
Ps10724 They have seen the works of the LORD, And His wonders in the deep.  
Ps10725 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea.  
Ps10726 They went up toward the heavens [on the crest of the wave], they went down again to the depths [of the watery trough]; Their courage melted away in their misery.  
Ps10727 They staggered and trembled like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end [all their wisdom was useless].  
Ps10728 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses.  
Ps10729 He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper, So that the waves of the sea were still.  
Ps10730 Then they were glad because of the calm, And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor).  
Ps10731 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonderful acts to the children of men!  
Ps10732 Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders.  
Ps10733 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And springs of water into a thirsty ground;  
Ps10734 A productive land into a [barren] salt waste, Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.  
Ps10735 He turns a wilderness into a pool of water And a dry land into springs of water;  
Ps10736 And there He has the hungry dwell, So that they may establish an inhabited city,  
Ps10737 And sow fields and plant vineyards, And produce an abundant harvest.  
Ps10738 Also He blesses them so that they multiply greatly, And He does not let [the number of] their cattle decrease.  
Ps10739 When they are diminished and bowed down (humbled) Through oppression, misery, and sorrow,  
Ps10740 He pours contempt on princes And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.  
Ps10741 Yet He sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction, And makes their families like a flock.  
Ps10742 The upright see it and rejoice; But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.  
Ps10743 Who is wise? Let him observe and heed these things; And [thoughtfully] consider the lovingkindness of the LORD.  
Ps10801 A Song. A Psalm of David. O God, my heart is steadfast [with confident faith]; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.  
Ps10802 Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn!  
Ps10803 I will praise and give thanks to You, O LORD, among the people; And I will sing praises to You among the nations.  
Ps10804 For Your lovingkindness is great and higher than the heavens; Your truth reaches to the skies.  
Ps10805 Be exalted [in majesty], O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth.  
Ps10806 That Your beloved [ones] may be rescued, Save with Your right hand, and answer me!  
Ps10807 God has spoken in His holiness: “I will rejoice, I will portion out Shechem [as I divide Canaan among My people], And measure out the Valley of Succoth.  
Ps10808 “Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head [My stronghold, My defense]; Judah is My scepter.  
Ps10809 “Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I will throw My shoe [to show Edom is Mine]; Over Philistia I will shout [in triumph].”  
Ps10810 Who will bring me into the fortified city [of Petra]? Who will lead me to Edom?  
Ps10811 Have You not rejected us, O God? And will You not go out, O God, with our armies?  
Ps10812 Give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain [a worthless hope].  
Ps10813 With God we will do valiantly, For it is He who will trample down our enemies.  
Ps10901 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise! Do not keep silent,  
Ps10902 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.  
Ps10903 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And have fought against me without a cause.  
Ps10904 In return for my love, they attack me, But I am in prayer.  
Ps10905 They have repaid me evil for good, And hatred for my love.  
Ps10906 Appoint a wicked man against him, And let an attacker stand at his right hand [to kill him].  
Ps10907 When he enters into dispute, let wickedness come about. Let his prayer [for help] result [only] in sin.  
Ps10908 Let his days be few; And let another take his office.  
Ps10909 Let his children be fatherless And his wife a widow.  
Ps10910 Let his children wander and beg; Let them seek their food and be driven far from their ruined homes.  
Ps10911 Let the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.  
Ps10912 Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, Nor let anyone be gracious to his fatherless children.  
Ps10913 Let his descendants be cut off, And in the following generation let their name be blotted out.  
Ps10914 Let the wickedness of his fathers be remembered by the LORD; And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.  
Ps10915 Let them be before the LORD continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;  
Ps10916 Because the man did not remember to show kindness, But persecuted the suffering and needy man, And the brokenhearted, to put them to death.  
Ps10917 He also loved cursing, and it came [back] to him; He did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.  
Ps10918 He clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it seeped into his inner self like water And like [anointing] oil into his bones.  
Ps10919 Let it be to him as a robe with which he covers himself, And as a sash with which he is constantly bound.  
Ps10920 Let this be the reward of my attackers from the LORD, And of those who speak evil against my life.  
Ps10921 But You, O GOD, the Lord, show kindness to me, for Your name’s sake; Because Your lovingkindness (faithfulness, compassion) is good, O rescue me;  
Ps10922 For I am suffering and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.  
Ps10923 I am vanishing like a shadow when it lengthens and fades; I am shaken off like the locust.  
Ps10924 My knees are unsteady from fasting; And my flesh is gaunt and without fatness.  
Ps10925 I also have become a reproach and an object of taunting to others; When they see me, they shake their heads [in derision].  
Ps10926 Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness—  
Ps10927 And let them know that this is Your hand; You, LORD, have done it.  
Ps10928 Let them curse, but You bless. When adversaries arise, let them be ashamed, But let Your servant rejoice.  
Ps10929 Let my attackers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.  
Ps10930 I will give great praise and thanks to the LORD with my mouth; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.  
Ps10931 For He will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.  
Ps11001 A Psalm of David. The LORD (Father) says to my Lord (the Messiah, His Son), “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [subjugating them into complete submission].”  
Ps11002 The LORD will send the scepter of Your strength from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”  
Ps11003 Your people will offer themselves willingly [to participate in Your battle] in the day of Your power; In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, Your young men are to You as the dew.  
Ps11004 The LORD has sworn [an oath] and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”  
Ps11005 The LORD is at Your right hand, He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.  
Ps11006 He will execute judgment [in overwhelming punishment] among the nations; He will fill them with corpses, He will crush the chief men over a broad country.  
Ps11007 He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head [triumphantly].  
Ps11101 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the congregation.  
Ps11102 Great are the works of the LORD, Studied by all those who delight in them.  
Ps11103 Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever.  
Ps11104 He has made His wonderful acts to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and merciful and full of loving compassion.  
Ps11105 He has given food to those who fear Him [with awe-inspired reverence]; He will remember His covenant forever.  
Ps11106 He has declared and made known to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.  
Ps11107 The works of His hands are truth and [absolute] justice; All His precepts are sure (established, reliable, trustworthy).  
Ps11108 They are upheld forever and ever; They are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness.  
Ps11109 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name—[inspiring reverence and godly fear].  
Ps11110 The [reverent] fear of the LORD is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD; His praise endures forever.  
Ps11201 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who fears the LORD [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with obedience], Who delights greatly in His commandments.  
Ps11202 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.  
Ps11203 Wealth and riches are in his house, And his righteousness endures forever.  
Ps11204 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous (upright—in right standing with God).  
Ps11205 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He conducts his affairs with justice.  
Ps11206 He will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever.  
Ps11207 He will not fear bad news; His heart is steadfast, trusting [confidently relying on and believing] in the LORD.  
Ps11208 His heart is upheld, he will not fear While he looks [with satisfaction] on his adversaries.  
Ps11209 He has given freely to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.  
Ps11210 The wicked will see it and be angered, He will gnash his teeth and melt away [in despair and death]; The desire of the wicked will perish and come to nothing.  
Ps11301 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD.  
Ps11302 Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forever.  
Ps11303 From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised [with awe-inspired reverence].  
Ps11304 The LORD is high above all nations, And His glory above the heavens.  
Ps11305 Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high,  
Ps11306 Who humbles Himself to regard The heavens and the earth?  
Ps11307 He raises the poor out of the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,  
Ps11308 That He may seat them with princes, With the princes of His people.  
Ps11309 He makes the barren woman live in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps11401 When Israel came out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,  
Ps11402 Judah became His sanctuary, And Israel His dominion.  
Ps11403 The [Red] Sea looked and fled; The Jordan turned back.  
Ps11404 The mountains leaped like rams, The [little] hills, like lambs.  
Ps11405 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?  
Ps11406 O mountains, that you leap like rams, O [little] hills, like lambs?  
Ps11407 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob (Israel),  
Ps11408 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of water.  
Ps11501 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth and faithfulness.  
Ps11502 Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?”  
Ps11503 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.  
Ps11504 The idols [of the nations] are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.  
Ps11505 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;  
Ps11506 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;  
Ps11507 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; Nor can they make a sound with their throats.  
Ps11508 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.  
Ps11509 O Israel, trust and take refuge in the LORD! [Be confident in Him, cling to Him, rely on His word!] He is their help and their shield.  
Ps11510 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.  
Ps11511 You who [reverently] fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield.  
Ps11512 The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless, He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.  
Ps11513 He will bless those who fear and worship the LORD [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder], Both the small and the great.  
Ps11514 May the LORD give you [great] increase, You and your children.  
Ps11515 May you be blessed of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  
Ps11516 The heavens are the heavens of the LORD, But the earth He has given to the children of men.  
Ps11517 The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor do any who go down into silence;  
Ps11518 But as for us, we will bless and affectionately and gratefully praise the LORD From this time forth and forever. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps11601 I love the LORD, because He hears [and continues to hear] My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs).  
Ps11602 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.  
Ps11603 The cords and sorrows of death encompassed me, And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.  
Ps11604 Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, please save my life!”  
Ps11605 Gracious is the LORD, and [consistently] righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.  
Ps11606 The LORD protects the simple (childlike); I was brought low [humbled and discouraged], and He saved me.  
Ps11607 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.  
Ps11608 For You have rescued my life from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from stumbling and falling.  
Ps11609 I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the LORD In the land of the living.  
Ps11610 I believed [and clung to my God] when I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”  
Ps11611 I said in my alarm, “All men are liars.”  
Ps11612 What will I give to the LORD [in return] For all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for His precious blessings?]  
Ps11613 I will lift up the cup of salvation And call on the name of the LORD.  
Ps11614 I will pay my vows to the LORD, Yes, in the presence of all His people.  
Ps11615 Precious [and of great consequence] in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones [so He watches over them].  
Ps11616 O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid; You have unfastened my chains.  
Ps11617 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call on the name of the LORD.  
Ps11618 I will pay my vows to the LORD, Yes, in the presence of all His people,  
Ps11619 In the courts of the LORD’S house (temple)— In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps11701 O praise the LORD, all you nations! Praise Him, all you people!  
Ps11702 For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him], And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps11801 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness endures forever.  
Ps11802 Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness endures forever.”  
Ps11803 Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness endures forever.”  
Ps11804 Oh let those who [reverently] fear the LORD, say, “His lovingkindness endures forever.”  
Ps11805 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me free.  
Ps11806 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can [mere] man do to me?  
Ps11807 The LORD is on my side, He is among those who help me; Therefore I will look [in triumph] on those who hate me.  
Ps11808 It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.  
Ps11809 It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.  
Ps11810 All nations encompassed me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.  
Ps11811 They encompassed me, yes, they surrounded me [on every side]; In the name of the LORD I will cut them off.  
Ps11812 They swarmed around me like bees; They flare up and are extinguished like a fire of thorns; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.  
Ps11813 You [my enemy] pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD helped me.  
Ps11814 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.  
Ps11815 The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.  
Ps11816 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.  
Ps11817 I will not die, but live, And declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the LORD.  
Ps11818 The LORD has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death.  
Ps11819 Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.  
Ps11820 This is the gate of the LORD; The righteous will enter through it.  
Ps11821 I will give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; And You have become my salvation [my Rescuer, my Savior].  
Ps11822 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.  
Ps11823 This is from the LORD and is His doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.  
Ps11824 This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  
Ps11825 O LORD, save now, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success!  
Ps11826 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].  
Ps11827 The LORD is God, and He has given us light [illuminating us with His grace and freedom and joy]. Bind the festival sacrifices with cords to the horns of the altar.  
Ps11828 You are my God, and I give thanks to You; [You are] my God, I extol You.  
Ps11829 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness endures forever.  
Ps119001 How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the LORD.  
Ps119002 Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, And who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart.  
Ps119003 They do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.  
Ps119004 You have ordained Your precepts, That we should follow them with [careful] diligence.  
Ps119005 Oh, that my ways may be established To observe and keep Your statutes [obediently accepting and honoring them]!  
Ps119006 Then I will not be ashamed When I look [with respect] to all Your commandments [as my guide].  
Ps119007 I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].  
Ps119008 I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].  
Ps119009 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].  
Ps119010 With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].  
Ps119011 Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.  
Ps119012 Blessed and reverently praised are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119013 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth.  
Ps119014 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.  
Ps119015 I will meditate on Your precepts And [thoughtfully] regard Your ways [the path of life established by Your precepts].  
Ps119016 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.  
Ps119017 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day].  
Ps119018 Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.  
Ps119019 I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.  
Ps119020 My soul is crushed with longing For Your ordinances at all times.  
Ps119021 You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments.  
Ps119022 Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I observe Your testimonies.  
Ps119023 Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.  
Ps119024 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.  
Ps119025 My earthly life clings to the dust; Revive and refresh me according to Your word.  
Ps119026 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119027 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works.  
Ps119028 My soul dissolves because of grief; Renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word.  
Ps119029 Remove from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness, And graciously grant me Your law.  
Ps119030 I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.  
Ps119031 I cling tightly to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!  
Ps119032 I will run the way of Your commandments [with purpose], For You will give me a heart that is willing.  
Ps119033 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.  
Ps119034 Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; And observe it with all my heart.  
Ps119035 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.  
Ps119036 Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy.  
Ps119037 Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], And restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways.  
Ps119038 Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, As that which produces [awe-inspired] reverence for You.  
Ps119039 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your ordinances are good.  
Ps119040 I long for Your precepts; Renew me through Your righteousness.  
Ps119041 May Your lovingkindness also come to me, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your promise;  
Ps119042 So I will have an answer for the one who taunts me, For I trust [completely] in Your word [and its reliability].  
Ps119043 And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances.  
Ps119044 I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever [writing Your precepts on my heart].  
Ps119045 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek and deeply long for Your precepts.  
Ps119046 I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.  
Ps119047 For I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love.  
Ps119048 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.  
Ps119049 Remember [always] the word and promise to Your servant, In which You have made me hope.  
Ps119050 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life.  
Ps119051 The arrogant utterly ridicule me, Yet I do not turn away from Your law.  
Ps119052 I have remembered [carefully] Your ancient ordinances, O LORD, And I have taken comfort.  
Ps119053 Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, Who reject Your law.  
Ps119054 Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.  
Ps119055 O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law.  
Ps119056 This has become mine [as the gift of Your grace], That I observe Your precepts [accepting them with loving obedience].  
Ps119057 The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words.  
Ps119058 I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise.  
Ps119059 I considered my ways And turned my feet to [follow and obey] Your testimonies.  
Ps119060 I hurried and did not delay To keep Your commandments.  
Ps119061 The cords of the wicked have encircled and ensnared me, But I have not forgotten Your law.  
Ps119062 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.  
Ps119063 I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.  
Ps119064 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your lovingkindness and goodness; Teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119065 You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your promise.  
Ps119066 Teach me good judgment (discernment) and knowledge, For I have believed and trusted and relied on Your commandments.  
Ps119067 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep and honor Your word [with loving obedience].  
Ps119068 You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119069 The arrogant have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with all my heart.  
Ps119070 Their heart is insensitive like fat [their minds are dull and brutal], But I delight in Your law.  
Ps119071 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.  
Ps119072 The law from Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.  
Ps119073 Your hands have made me and established me; Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.  
Ps119074 May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word.  
Ps119075 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are fair, And that in faithfulness You have disciplined me.  
Ps119076 O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me, According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.  
Ps119077 Let Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.  
Ps119078 Let the arrogant be ashamed and humiliated, for they sabotage me with a lie; But I will meditate on Your precepts.  
Ps119079 May those who fear You [with submissive wonder] turn to me, Even those who have known Your testimonies.  
Ps119080 May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed.  
Ps119081 My soul languishes and grows weak for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.  
Ps119082 My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your promise, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”  
Ps119083 For I have become like a wineskin [blackened and shriveled] in the smoke [in which it hangs], Yet I do not forget Your statutes.  
Ps119084 How many are the days of Your servant [which he must endure]? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?  
Ps119085 The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me, Men who do not conform to Your law.  
Ps119086 All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy. They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [LORD]!  
Ps119087 They had almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts.  
Ps119088 According to Your steadfast love refresh me and give me life, So that I may keep and obey the testimony of Your mouth.  
Ps119089 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].  
Ps119090 Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].  
Ps119091 They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants.  
Ps119092 If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my time of trouble.  
Ps119093 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me and given me life.  
Ps119094 I am Yours, save me [as Your own]; For I have [diligently] sought Your precepts and required them [as my greatest need].  
Ps119095 The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.  
Ps119096 I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble]; Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].  
Ps119097 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.  
Ps119098 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For Your words are always with me.  
Ps119099 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word], For Your testimonies are my meditation.  
Ps119100 I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts], Because I have observed and kept Your precepts.  
Ps119101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word.  
Ps119102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me.  
Ps119103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!  
Ps119104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.  
Ps119105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  
Ps119106 I have sworn [an oath] and have confirmed it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.  
Ps119107 I am greatly afflicted; Renew and revive me [giving me life], O LORD, according to Your word.  
Ps119108 Accept and take pleasure in the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances.  
Ps119109 My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.  
Ps119110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I do not wander from Your precepts.  
Ps119111 I have taken Your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart.  
Ps119112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.  
Ps119113 I hate those who are double-minded, But I love and treasure Your law.  
Ps119114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.  
Ps119115 Leave me, you evildoers, That I may keep the commandments of my God [honoring and obeying them].  
Ps119116 Uphold me according to Your word [of promise], so that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope [in Your great goodness].  
Ps119117 Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.  
Ps119118 You have turned Your back on all those who wander from Your statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless.  
Ps119119 You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross [for they have no value]; Therefore I love Your testimonies.  
Ps119120 My flesh trembles in [reverent] fear of You, And I am afraid and in awe of Your judgments.  
Ps119121 I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to those who oppress me.  
Ps119122 Be the guarantee for Your servant for good [as Judah was the guarantee for Benjamin]; Do not let the arrogant oppress me.  
Ps119123 My eyes fail [with longing, watching] for [the fulfillment of] Your salvation, And for [the fulfillment of] Your righteous word.  
Ps119124 Deal with Your servant according to Your [gracious] lovingkindness, And teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119125 I am Your servant; give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] That I may know Your testimonies.  
Ps119126 It is time for the LORD to act; They have broken Your law.  
Ps119127 Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, Yes, more than refined gold.  
Ps119128 Therefore I esteem as right all Your precepts concerning everything; I hate every false way.  
Ps119129 Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them.  
Ps119130 The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).  
Ps119131 I opened my mouth and panted [with anticipation], Because I longed for Your commandments.  
Ps119132 Turn to me and be gracious to me and show me favor, As is Your way to those who love Your name.  
Ps119133 Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word; Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].  
Ps119134 Redeem me from the oppression of man; That I may keep Your precepts.  
Ps119135 Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119136 My eyes weep streams of water Because people do not keep Your law.  
Ps119137 Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments.  
Ps119138 You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness And in great faithfulness.  
Ps119139 My zeal has [completely] consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.  
Ps119140 Your word is very pure (refined); Therefore Your servant loves it.  
Ps119141 I am small and despised, But I do not forget Your precepts.  
Ps119142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.  
Ps119143 Trouble and anguish have found me, Yet Your commandments are my delight and my joy.  
Ps119144 Your righteous testimonies are everlasting; Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] that I may live.  
Ps119145 I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD! I will observe Your statutes.  
Ps119146 I cried to You; save me And I will keep Your testimonies.  
Ps119147 I rise before dawn and cry [in prayer] for help; I wait for Your word.  
Ps119148 My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman, That I may meditate on Your word.  
Ps119149 Hear my voice according to Your [steadfast] lovingkindness; O LORD, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.  
Ps119150 Those who follow after wickedness approach; They are far from Your law.  
Ps119151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.  
Ps119152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies That You have founded them forever.  
Ps119153 Look upon my agony and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law.  
Ps119154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me and give me life according to [the promise of] Your word.  
Ps119155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.  
Ps119156 Great are Your tender mercies and steadfast love, O LORD; Revive me and give me life according to Your ordinances.  
Ps119157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn away from Your testimonies.  
Ps119158 I see the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not respect Your law.  
Ps119159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me and give me life, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.  
Ps119160 The sum of Your word is truth [the full meaning of all Your precepts], And every one of Your righteous ordinances endures forever.  
Ps119161 Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in [reverent] awe of Your words [so I can expect You to help me].  
Ps119162 I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great treasure.  
Ps119163 I hate and detest falsehood, But I love Your law.  
Ps119164 Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances.  
Ps119165 Those who love Your law have great peace; Nothing makes them stumble.  
Ps119166 I hope and wait [with complete confidence] for Your salvation, O LORD, And I do Your commandments.  
Ps119167 My soul keeps Your testimonies [hearing and accepting and obeying them]; I love them greatly.  
Ps119168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are [fully known] before You.  
Ps119169 Let my [mournful] cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding [the ability to learn and a teachable heart] according to Your word [of promise].  
Ps119170 Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.  
Ps119171 Let my lips speak praise [with thanksgiving], For You teach me Your statutes.  
Ps119172 Let my tongue sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteous.  
Ps119173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts.  
Ps119174 I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight.  
Ps119175 Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.  
Ps119176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.  
Ps12001 A Song of Ascents. In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.  
Ps12002 Rescue my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, And from a deceitful tongue.  
Ps12003 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?—  
Ps12004 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With the burning coals of the broom tree.  
Ps12005 Woe to me, for I sojourn in Meshech, and I live among the tents of Kedar [among hostile people]!  
Ps12006 Too long my soul has had its dwelling With those who hate peace.  
Ps12007 I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.  
Ps12101 A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills [of Jerusalem]— From where shall my help come?  
Ps12102 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  
Ps12103 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.  
Ps12104 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber [briefly] nor sleep [soundly].  
Ps12105 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.  
Ps12106 The sun will not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.  
Ps12107 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your life.  
Ps12108 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do] From this time forth and forever.  
Ps12201 A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”  
Ps12202 Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem,  
Ps12203 Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is firmly joined together;  
Ps12204 To which the [twelve] tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD, [As was decreed as] an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD.  
Ps12205 For there the thrones of judgment were set, The thrones of the house of David.  
Ps12206 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you [holy city].  
Ps12207 “May peace be within your walls And prosperity within your palaces.”  
Ps12208 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.”  
Ps12209 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God [which is Jerusalem], I will seek your (the city’s) good.  
Ps12301 A Song of Ascents. Unto you I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!  
Ps12302 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, And as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious and favorable toward us.  
Ps12303 Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious and favorable toward us, For we are greatly filled with contempt.  
Ps12304 Our soul is greatly filled With the scoffing of those who are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud [who disregard God’s law].  
Ps12401 A Song of Ascents. Of David. “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say,  
Ps12402 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side When men rose up against us,  
Ps12403 Then they would have [quickly] swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;  
Ps12404 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The torrent would have swept over our soul;  
Ps12405 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”  
Ps12406 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to be torn by their teeth.  
Ps12407 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The trap is broken and we have escaped.  
Ps12408 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  
Ps12501 A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in and rely on the LORD [with confident expectation] Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but remains forever.  
Ps12502 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.  
Ps12503 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land of the righteous, So that the righteous will not reach out their hands to do wrong.  
Ps12504 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts.  
Ps12505 But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways [in unresponsiveness to God], The LORD will lead them away with those who do evil. Peace be upon Israel.  
Ps12601 A Song of Ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion (Jerusalem), We were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal].  
Ps12602 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”  
Ps12603 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad!  
Ps12604 Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the stream-beds in the South (the Negev) [are restored by torrents of rain].  
Ps12605 They who sow in tears shall reap with joyful singing.  
Ps12606 He who goes back and forth weeping, carrying his bag of seed [for planting], Will indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.  
Ps12701 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.  
Ps12702 It is vain for you to rise early, To retire late, To eat the bread of anxious labors— For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.  
Ps12703 Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the LORD, The fruit of the womb a reward.  
Ps12704 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.  
Ps12705 How blessed [happy and fortunate] is the man whose quiver is filled with them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies [in gatherings] at the [city] gate.  
Ps12801 A Song of Ascents. Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the LORD [and worships Him with obedience], Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.  
Ps12802 For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands, You will be happy and blessed and it will be well with you.  
Ps12803 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within the innermost part of your house; Your children will be like olive plants Around your table.  
Ps12804 Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored Who fears the LORD [and worships Him with obedience].  
Ps12805 May the LORD bless you from Zion [His holy mountain], And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;  
Ps12806 Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!  
Ps12901 A Song of Ascents. “Many times they have persecuted me (Israel) from my youth,” Let Israel now say,  
Ps12902 “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth, Yet they have not prevailed against me.  
Ps12903 “The [enemies, like] plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows [of suffering] long [in Israel].”  
Ps12904 The LORD is righteous; He has cut in two the [thick] cords of the wicked [which enslaved the people of Israel].  
Ps12905 May all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward [in defeat].  
Ps12906 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up,  
Ps12907 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor the binder of sheaves his arms,  
Ps12908 Nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD.”  
Ps13001 A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths [of distress] I have cried to You, O LORD.  
Ps13002 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.  
Ps13003 If You, LORD, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly, O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]?  
Ps13004 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder].  
Ps13005 I wait [patiently] for the LORD, my soul [expectantly] waits, And in His word do I hope.  
Ps13006 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the morning; More than the watchmen for the morning.  
Ps13007 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption.  
Ps13008 And He will redeem Israel From all his sins.  
Ps13101 A Song of Ascents. Of David. LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.  
Ps13102 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent].  
Ps13103 O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.  
Ps13201 A Song of Ascents. O LORD, remember on David’s behalf All his hardship and affliction;  
Ps13202 How he swore to the LORD And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:  
Ps13203 “I absolutely will not enter my house, Nor get into my bed—  
Ps13204 I certainly will not permit my eyes to sleep Nor my eyelids to slumber,  
Ps13205 Until I find a place for the LORD, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob (Israel).”  
Ps13206 Behold, we heard of it at Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.  
Ps13207 Let us go into His tabernacle; Let us worship at His footstool.  
Ps13208 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark [the symbol] of Your strength.  
Ps13209 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness (right living), And let Your godly ones shout for joy.  
Ps13210 For the sake of Your servant David, Do not turn away the face of Your anointed.  
Ps13211 The LORD swore to David A truth from which He will not turn back: “One of your descendants I will set upon your throne.  
Ps13212 “If your children will keep My covenant And My testimony which I will teach them, Their children also shall sit upon your throne forever.”  
Ps13213 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place:  
Ps13214 “This is My resting place forever” [says the LORD]; “Here will I dwell, for I have desired it.  
Ps13215 “I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread.  
Ps13216 “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, And her godly ones will shout aloud for joy.  
Ps13217 “There I will make the horn (strength) of David grow; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed [fulfilling the promises].  
Ps13218 “His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon himself shall his crown shine.”  
Ps13301 A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!  
Ps13302 It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head, Coming down on the beard, Even the beard of Aaron, Coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body].  
Ps13303 It is like the dew of [Mount] Hermon Coming down on the hills of Zion; For there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.  
Ps13401 A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless and praise the LORD, all servants of the LORD (priests, Levites), Who stand and serve by night in the house of the LORD.  
Ps13402 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD.  
Ps13403 May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.  
Ps13501 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O servants of the LORD (priests, Levites),  
Ps13502 You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God,  
Ps13503 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is gracious and lovely.  
Ps13504 For the LORD has chosen [the descendants of] Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own special treasure and possession.  
Ps13505 For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods.  
Ps13506 Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps—  
Ps13507 Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightning for the rain, Who brings the wind from His storehouses;  
Ps13508 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and animal;  
Ps13509 Who sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.  
Ps13510 Who struck many nations And killed mighty kings,  
Ps13511 Sihon, king of the Amorites, Og, king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan;  
Ps13512 And He gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His people.  
Ps13513 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your fame and remembrance, O LORD, [endures] throughout all generations.  
Ps13514 For the LORD will judge His people And He will have compassion on His servants [revealing His mercy].  
Ps13515 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.  
Ps13516 They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;  
Ps13517 They have ears, but they do not hear, Nor is there any breath in their mouths.  
Ps13518 Those who make idols are like them [absolutely worthless—spiritually blind, deaf, and powerless]; So is everyone who trusts in and relies on them.  
Ps13519 O house of Israel, bless and praise the LORD [with gratitude]; O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;  
Ps13520 O house of Levi, bless the LORD; You who fear the LORD [and worship Him with obedience], bless the LORD [with grateful praise]!  
Ps13521 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, Who dwells [with us] at Jerusalem. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps13601 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.  
Ps13602 Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness endures forever.  
Ps13603 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness endures forever.  
Ps13604 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13605 To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13606 To Him who stretched out the earth upon the waters, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13607 To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13608 The sun to rule over the day, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13609 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13610 To Him who struck the firstborn of Egypt, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13611 And brought Israel out from among them, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13612 With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13613 To Him who divided the Red Sea into parts, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13614 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13615 But tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13616 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13617 To Him who struck down great kings, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13618 And killed mighty kings, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13619 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13620 And Og, king of Bashan, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13621 And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13622 Even a heritage to Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13623 Who [faithfully] remembered us in our lowly condition, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13624 And has rescued us from our enemies, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13625 Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness endures forever;  
Ps13626 Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.  
Ps13701 By the rivers of Babylon, There we [captives] sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion [the city God imprinted on our hearts].  
Ps13702 On the willow trees in the midst of Babylon We hung our harps.  
Ps13703 For there they who took us captive demanded of us a song with words, And our tormentors [who made a mockery of us demanded] amusement, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”  
Ps13704 How can we sing the LORD’S song In a strange and foreign land?  
Ps13705 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [her skill with the harp].  
Ps13706 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not prefer Jerusalem Above my chief joy.  
Ps13707 Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom, The day of [the fall of] Jerusalem, Who said “Down, down [with her] To her very foundation.”  
Ps13708 O daughter of Babylon, you devastator, How blessed will be the one Who repays you [with destruction] as you have repaid us.  
Ps13709 How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.  
Ps13801 A Psalm of David. I will give You thanks with all my heart; I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods.  
Ps13802 I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word together with Your name.  
Ps13803 On the day I called, You answered me; And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life.  
Ps13804 All the kings of the land will give thanks and praise You, O LORD, When they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].  
Ps13805 Yes, they will sing of the ways of the LORD [joyfully celebrating His wonderful acts], For great is the glory and majesty of the LORD.  
Ps13806 Though the LORD is exalted, He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship]; But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.  
Ps13807 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.  
Ps13808 The LORD will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O LORD, endures forever— Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.  
Ps13901 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.  
Ps13902 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar.  
Ps13903 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.  
Ps13904 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O LORD, You know it all.  
Ps13905 You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me.  
Ps13906 Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.  
Ps13907 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?  
Ps13908 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there.  
Ps13909 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,  
Ps13910 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.  
Ps13911 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,”  
Ps13912 Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.  
Ps13913 For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.  
Ps13914 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.  
Ps13915 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth.  
Ps13916 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].  
Ps13917 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!  
Ps13918 If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.  
Ps13919 O that You would kill the wicked, O God; Go away from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.  
Ps13920 For they speak against You wickedly, Your enemies take Your name in vain.  
Ps13921 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?  
Ps13922 I hate them with perfect and utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.  
Ps13923 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts;  
Ps13924 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.  
Ps14001 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; Protect me from violent men.  
Ps14002 They devise evil things in their hearts; They continually [gather together and] stir up wars.  
Ps14003 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent’s; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.  
Ps14004 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Protect me from violent men Who intend to trip up my steps.  
Ps14005 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah.  
Ps14006 I said to the LORD, “You are my God; Listen to the voice of my supplications, O LORD.  
Ps14007 “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.  
Ps14008 “Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not further their evil device, that they not be exalted. Selah.  
Ps14009 “Those who surround me raise their heads; May the mischief of their own lips come upon them.  
Ps14010 “Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be thrown into the fire, Into deep [water] pits from which they cannot rise.  
Ps14011 “Do not let a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil quickly hunt the violent man [to overthrow him and stop his evil acts].”  
Ps14012 I know [with confidence] that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And [will secure] justice for the poor.  
Ps14013 Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.  
Ps14101 A Psalm of David. LORD, I call upon You; hurry to me. Listen to my voice when I call to You.  
Ps14102 Let my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.  
Ps14103 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].  
Ps14104 Do not incline my heart to [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, Or to practice deeds of wickedness With men who plan and do evil; And let me not eat of their delicacies (be tempted by their gain).  
Ps14105 Let the righteous [thoughtfully] strike (correct) me—it is a kindness [done to encourage my spiritual maturity]. It is [the choicest anointing] oil on the head; Let my head not refuse [to accept and acknowledge and learn from] it; For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.  
Ps14106 Their [wicked, godless] judges are thrown down the sides of the rocky cliff, And they [who followed them] will hear my words, for they are pleasant (just).  
Ps14107 As when the one plows and breaks open the ground [and the soil scatters behind him], Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol [by the injustices of the wicked].  
Ps14108 For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not pour out my life nor leave me defenseless.  
Ps14109 Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do evil.  
Ps14110 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by and safely escape [from danger].  
Ps14201 A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David; when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.  
Ps14202 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.  
Ps14203 When my spirit was overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness], You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.  
Ps14204 Look to the right [the point of attack] and see; For there is no one who has regard for me [to act in my favor]. Escape has failed me and I have nowhere to run; No one cares about my life.  
Ps14205 I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.  
Ps14206 “Give attention to my cry, For I am brought very low; Rescue me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I.  
Ps14207 “Bring my soul out of prison (adversity), So that I may give thanks and praise Your name; The righteous will surround me [in triumph], For You will look after me.”  
Ps14301 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, Listen to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, and in Your righteousness.  
Ps14302 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous or justified.  
Ps14303 For the enemy has persecuted me, He has crushed my life down to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have been long dead.  
Ps14304 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness]; My heart grows numb within me.  
Ps14305 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands.  
Ps14306 I reach out my hands to You; My throat thirsts for You, as a parched land [thirsts for water]. Selah.  
Ps14307 Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; Do not hide Your face from me, Or I will become like those who go down into the pit (grave).  
Ps14308 Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For I trust in You. Teach me the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.  
Ps14309 Rescue me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.  
Ps14310 Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You], For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.  
Ps14311 Save my life, O LORD, for Your name’s sake; In Your righteousness bring my life out of trouble.  
Ps14312 In your lovingkindness, silence and destroy my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my life, For I am Your servant.  
Ps14401 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock and my great strength, Who trains my hands for war And my fingers for battle;  
Ps14402 My [steadfast] lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my rescuer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.  
Ps14403 LORD, what is man that You take notice of him? Or the son of man that You think of him?  
Ps14404 Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a shadow that passes away.  
Ps14405 Bow Your heavens, O LORD, and come down; Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.  
Ps14406 Flash lightning and scatter my enemies; Send out Your arrows and confuse and embarrass and frustrate them.  
Ps14407 Stretch out Your hand from above; Set me free and rescue me from great waters, Out of the hands of [hostile] foreigners [who surround us]  
Ps14408 Whose mouths speak deceit [without restraint], And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  
Ps14409 I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,  
Ps14410 Who gives salvation to kings, Who sets David His servant free from the evil sword.  
Ps14411 Set me free and rescue me from the hand of [hostile] foreigners, Whose mouth speaks deceit [without restraint], And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  
Ps14412 Let our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, And our daughters like corner pillars fashioned for a palace;  
Ps14413 Let our barns be full, supplying every kind of produce, And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;  
Ps14414 Let our cattle bear Without mishap and without loss, And let there be no outcry in our streets!  
Ps14415 How blessed and favored are the people in such circumstance; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored] are the people whose God is the LORD!  
Ps14501 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God, O King, And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your name forever and ever.  
Ps14502 Every day I will bless You and lovingly praise You; Yes, [with awe-inspired reverence] I will praise Your name forever and ever.  
Ps14503 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is [so vast and profound as to be] unsearchable [incomprehensible to man].  
Ps14504 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty and remarkable acts.  
Ps14505 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.  
Ps14506 People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will tell of Your greatness.  
Ps14507 They will overflow [like a fountain] when they speak of Your great and abundant goodness And will sing joyfully of Your righteousness.  
Ps14508 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  
Ps14509 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].  
Ps14510 All Your works shall give thanks to You and praise You, O LORD, And Your godly ones will bless You.  
Ps14511 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power,  
Ps14512 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glorious majesty of Your kingdom.  
Ps14513 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.  
Ps14514 The LORD upholds all those [of His own] who fall And raises up all those who are bowed down.  
Ps14515 The eyes of all look to You [in hopeful expectation], And You give them their food in due time.  
Ps14516 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.  
Ps14517 The LORD is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways And gracious and kind in all His works.  
Ps14518 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile).  
Ps14519 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He also will hear their cry and will save them.  
Ps14520 The LORD keeps all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.  
Ps14521 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless and gratefully praise His holy name forever and ever.  
Ps14601 Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) Praise the LORD, O my soul!  
Ps14602 While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.  
Ps14603 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help).  
Ps14604 When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts and plans perish.  
Ps14605 How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel), Whose hope is in the LORD his God,  
Ps14606 Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,  
Ps14607 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets free the prisoners.  
Ps14608 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous [the upright in heart].  
Ps14609 The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow; But He makes crooked the way of the wicked.  
Ps14610 The LORD shall reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps14701 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our [gracious and majestic] God; Praise is becoming and appropriate.  
Ps14702 The LORD is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering [together] the exiles of Israel.  
Ps14703 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].  
Ps14704 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names.  
Ps14705 Great is our [majestic and mighty] Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is inexhaustible [infinite, boundless].  
Ps14706 The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.  
Ps14707 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God with the lyre,  
Ps14708 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass grow on the mountains.  
Ps14709 He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that for which they cry.  
Ps14710 He does not delight in the strength (military power) of the horse, Nor does He take pleasure in the legs (strength) of a man.  
Ps14711 The LORD favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness.  
Ps14712 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!  
Ps14713 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates, He has blessed your children within you.  
Ps14714 He makes peace in your borders; He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.  
Ps14715 He sends His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.  
Ps14716 He gives [to the earth] snow like [a blanket of] wool; He scatters the frost like ashes.  
Ps14717 He casts out His ice like fragments; Who can stand before His cold?  
Ps14718 He sends out His word and melts the ice; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.  
Ps14719 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.  
Ps14720 He has not dealt this way with any [other] nation; They have not known [understood, appreciated, heeded, or cherished] His ordinances. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps14801 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!  
Ps14802 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts (armies)!  
Ps14803 Praise Him, sun and moon: Praise Him, all stars of light!  
Ps14804 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters above the heavens!  
Ps14805 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.  
Ps14806 He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which shall not pass away.  
Ps14807 Praise the LORD from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps;  
Ps14808 Lightning and hail, snow and fog; Stormy wind, fulfilling His orders;  
Ps14809 Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;  
Ps14810 Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds;  
Ps14811 Kings of the earth and all people; Princes and all judges of the earth;  
Ps14812 Both young men and virgins; Old men and children.  
Ps14813 Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted and supreme; His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven.  
Ps14814 He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them strength, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence], Praise for all His godly ones; For the people of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps14901 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And praise Him in the congregation of His godly ones (believers).  
Ps14902 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let Zion’s children rejoice in their King.  
Ps14903 Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre.  
Ps14904 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.  
Ps14905 Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds.  
Ps14906 Let the high praises of God be in their throats, And a two-edged sword in their hands,  
Ps14907 To execute vengeance on the nations And punishment on the peoples,  
Ps14908 To bind their kings with chains And their nobles with fetters of iron,  
Ps14909 To execute on them the judgment written. This is the honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Ps15001 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens.  
Ps15002 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.  
Ps15003 Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre.  
Ps15004 Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.  
Ps15005 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with loud cymbals.  
Ps15006 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)  
Pr0101 The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:  
Pr0102 To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction; To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,  
Pr0103 To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, Righteousness, justice, and integrity;  
Pr0104 That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,  
Pr0105 The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],  
Pr0106 To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation, And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].  
Pr0107 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.  
Pr0108 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not reject the teaching of your mother.  
Pr0109 For they are a garland of grace on your head, And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.  
Pr0110 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.  
Pr0111 If they say, “Come with us; Let us lie in wait to shed blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;  
Pr0112 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead), Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death];  
Pr0113 We will find and take all kinds of precious possessions, We will fill our houses with spoil;  
Pr0114 Throw in your lot with us [they insist]; We will all have one money bag [in common],”  
Pr0115 My son, do not walk on the road with them; Keep your foot [far] away from their path,  
Pr0116 For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood.  
Pr0117 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;  
Pr0118 But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood; They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].  
Pr0119 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.  
Pr0120 Wisdom shouts in the street, She raises her voice in the markets;  
Pr0121 She calls out at the head of the noisy streets [where large crowds gather]; At the entrance of the city gates she speaks her words:  
Pr0122 “How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple- minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing, How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?  
Pr0123 “If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.  
Pr0124 “Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer];  
Pr0125 And you treated all my counsel as nothing And would not accept my reprimand,  
Pr0126 I also will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread and panic come,  
Pr0127 When your dread and panic come like a storm, And your disaster comes like a whirlwind, When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].  
Pr0128 “Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer; They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,  
Pr0129 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect],  
Pr0130 They would not accept my counsel, And they spurned all my rebuke.  
Pr0131 “Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.  
Pr0132 “For the turning away of the naive will kill them, And the careless ease of [self-righteous] fools will destroy them.  
Pr0133 “But whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live securely and in confident trust And will be at ease, without fear or dread of evil.”  
Pr0201 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,  
Pr0202 So that your ear is attentive to [skillful and godly] wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding [seeking it conscientiously and striving for it eagerly];  
Pr0203 Yes, if you cry out for insight, And lift up your voice for understanding;  
Pr0204 If you seek skillful and godly wisdom as you would silver And search for her as you would hidden treasures;  
Pr0205 Then you will understand the [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] And discover the knowledge of God.  
Pr0206 For the LORD gives [skillful and godly] wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  
Pr0207 He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him]; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],  
Pr0208 He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).  
Pr0209 Then you will understand righteousness and justice [in every circumstance] And integrity and every good path.  
Pr0210 For [skillful and godly] wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  
Pr0211 Discretion will watch over you, Understanding and discernment will guard you,  
Pr0212 To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man, From the man who speaks perverse things;  
Pr0213 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;  
Pr0214 Who find joy in doing evil And delight in the perversity of evil,  
Pr0215 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;  
Pr0216 To keep you from the immoral woman; From the seductress with her flattering words,  
Pr0217 Who leaves the companion (husband) of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.  
Pr0218 For her house leads down to death And her paths lead to the dead;  
Pr0219 None who go to her return again, Nor do they regain the paths of life—  
Pr0220 So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character], And keep to the paths of the righteous.  
Pr0221 For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it;  
Pr0222 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous shall be [forcibly] uprooted and removed from it.  
Pr0301 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;  
Pr0302 For length of days and years of life [worth living] And tranquility and prosperity [the wholeness of life’s blessings] they will add to you.  
Pr0303 Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.  
Pr0304 So find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.  
Pr0305 Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  
Pr0306 In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].  
Pr0307 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.  
Pr0308 It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts] And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.  
Pr0309 Honor the LORD with your wealth And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);  
Pr0310 Then your barns will be abundantly filled And your vats will overflow with new wine.  
Pr0311 My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the LORD [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline]; Nor despise His rebuke,  
Pr0312 For those whom the LORD loves He corrects, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.  
Pr0313 Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],  
Pr0314 For wisdom’s profit is better than the profit of silver, And her gain is better than fine gold.  
Pr0315 She is more precious than rubies; And nothing you can wish for compares with her [in value].  
Pr0316 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.  
Pr0317 Her ways are highways of pleasantness and favor, And all her paths are peace.  
Pr0318 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is everyone who holds her tightly.  
Pr0319 The LORD by His wisdom has founded the earth; By His understanding He has established the heavens.  
Pr0320 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the clouds drip with dew.  
Pr0321 My son, let them not escape from your sight, But keep sound wisdom and discretion,  
Pr0322 And they will be life to your soul (your inner self) And a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).  
Pr0323 Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely And your foot will not stumble.  
Pr0324 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.  
Pr0325 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless];  
Pr0326 For the LORD will be your confidence, firm and strong, And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].  
Pr0327 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients], When it is in your power to do it.  
Pr0328 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.  
Pr0329 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, Who lives securely beside you.  
Pr0330 Do not quarrel with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.  
Pr0331 Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.  
Pr0332 For the devious are repulsive to the LORD; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].  
Pr0333 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just and righteous.  
Pr0334 Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance].  
Pr0335 The wise will inherit honor and glory, But dishonor and shame is conferred on fools.  
Pr0401 Hear, O children, the instruction of a father, And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.  
Pr0402 For I give you good doctrine; Do not turn away from my instruction.  
Pr0403 When I was a son with my father (David), Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother (Bathsheba),  
Pr0404 He taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live.  
Pr0405 “Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.  
Pr0406 “Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you; Love her, and she will watch over you.  
Pr0407 “The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].  
Pr0408 “Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.  
Pr0409 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.”  
Pr0410 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings, And the years of your life will be many.  
Pr0411 I have instructed you in the way of [skillful and godly] wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.  
Pr0412 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open]; And when you run, you will not stumble.  
Pr0413 Take hold of instruction; [actively seek it, grip it firmly and] do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.  
Pr0414 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not go the way of evil men.  
Pr0415 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.  
Pr0416 For the wicked cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are deprived of sleep unless they make someone stumble and fall.  
Pr0417 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.  
Pr0418 But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.  
Pr0419 The way of the wicked is like [deep] darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.  
Pr0420 My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings.  
Pr0421 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart.  
Pr0422 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh.  
Pr0423 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.  
Pr0424 Put away from you a deceitful (lying, misleading) mouth, And put devious lips far from you.  
Pr0425 Let your eyes look directly ahead [toward the path of moral courage] And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you [toward the path of integrity].  
Pr0426 Consider well and watch carefully the path of your feet, And all your ways will be steadfast and sure.  
Pr0427 Do not turn away to the right nor to the left [where evil may lurk]; Turn your foot from [the path of] evil.  
Pr0501 My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience], Incline your ear to my understanding;  
Pr0502 That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment), And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].  
Pr0503 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey [like a honeycomb] And her speech is smoother than oil;  
Pr0504 But in the end she is bitter like [the extract of] wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.  
Pr0505 Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),  
Pr0506 So that she does not think [seriously] about the path of life; Her ways are aimless and unstable; you cannot know where her path leads.  
Pr0507 Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth.  
Pr0508 Let your way [in life] be far from her, And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],  
Pr0509 Or you will give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one,  
Pr0510 And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];  
Pr0511 And you will groan when your life is ending, When your flesh and your body are consumed;  
Pr0512 And you say, “How I hated instruction and discipline, And my heart despised correction and reproof!  
Pr0513 “I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, Nor have I inclined my ear to those who instructed me.  
Pr0514 “I was almost in total ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”  
Pr0515 Drink water from your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship] And fresh running water from your own well.  
Pr0516 Should your springs (children) be dispersed, As streams of water in the streets?  
Pr0517 [Confine yourself to your own wife.] Let your children be yours alone, And not the children of strangers with you.  
Pr0518 Let your fountain (wife) be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], And rejoice in the wife of your youth.  
Pr0519 Let her be as a loving hind and graceful doe, Let her breasts refresh and satisfy you at all times; Always be exhilarated and delight in her love.  
Pr0520 Why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an immoral woman And embrace the bosom of an outsider (pagan)?  
Pr0521 For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the LORD, And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].  
Pr0522 The iniquities done by a wicked man will trap him, And he will be held with the cords of his sin.  
Pr0523 He will die for lack of instruction (discipline), And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost.  
Pr0601 My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor, If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],  
Pr0602 If you have been snared with the words of your lips, If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,  
Pr0603 Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation]; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].  
Pr0604 Give no [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;  
Pr0605 Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.  
Pr0606 Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise,  
Pr0607 Which, having no chief, Overseer or ruler,  
Pr0608 She prepares her food in the summer And brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest.  
Pr0609 How long will you lie down, O lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]?  
Pr0610 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest”—  
Pr0611 So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely] And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].  
Pr0612 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse (corrupt, vulgar) mouth.  
Pr0613 Who winks with his eyes [in mockery], who shuffles his feet [to signal], Who points with his fingers [to give subversive instruction];  
Pr0614 Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually; Who spreads discord and strife.  
Pr0615 Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him; Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].  
Pr0616 These six things the LORD hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:  
Pr0617 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,  
Pr0618 A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil,  
Pr0619 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.  
Pr0620 My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction) And do not reject the teaching of your mother;  
Pr0621 Bind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts), And tie them around your neck.  
Pr0622 When you walk about, they (the godly teachings of your parents) will guide you; When you sleep, they will keep watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.  
Pr0623 For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching [of the law] is light, And reproofs (rebukes) for discipline are the way of life,  
Pr0624 To keep you from the evil woman, From [the flattery of] the smooth tongue of an immoral woman.  
Pr0625 Do not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelashes.  
Pr0626 For on account of a prostitute one is reduced to a piece of bread [to be eaten up], And the immoral woman hunts [with a hook] the precious life [of a man].  
Pr0627 Can a man take fire to his chest And his clothes not be burned?  
Pr0628 Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?  
Pr0629 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her will not be found innocent or go unpunished.  
Pr0630 People do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;  
Pr0631 But when he is found, he must repay seven times [what he stole]; He must give all the property of his house [if necessary to meet his fine].  
Pr0632 But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks common sense and sound judgment and an understanding [of moral principles]; He who would destroy his soul does it.  
Pr0633 Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach (blame) will not be blotted out.  
Pr0634 For jealousy enrages the [wronged] husband; He will not spare [the guilty one] on the day of vengeance.  
Pr0635 He will not accept any ransom [offered to buy him off from demanding full punishment]; Nor will he be satisfied though you offer him many gifts (bribes).  
Pr0701 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you].  
Pr0702 Keep my commandments and live, And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye.  
Pr0703 Bind them [securely] on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.  
Pr0704 Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,” And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;  
Pr0705 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the foreigner [who does not observe God’s laws and] who flatters with her [smooth] words.  
Pr0706 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.  
Pr0707 And among the naive [the inexperienced and gullible], I saw among the youths A young man lacking [good] sense,  
Pr0708 Passing through the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house  
Pr0709 In the twilight, in the evening; In the black and dark night.  
Pr0710 And there a woman met him, Dressed as a prostitute and sly and cunning of heart.  
Pr0711 She was boisterous and rebellious; She would not stay at home.  
Pr0712 At times she was in the streets, at times in the market places, Lurking and setting her ambush at every corner.  
Pr0713 So she caught him and kissed him And with a brazen and impudent face she said to him:  
Pr0714 “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.  
Pr0715 “So I came out to meet you [that you might share with me the feast of my offering], Diligently I sought your face and I have found you.  
Pr0716 “I have spread my couch with coverings and cushions of tapestry, With colored fine linen of Egypt.  
Pr0717 “I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  
Pr0718 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us console and delight ourselves with love.  
Pr0719 “For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long journey;  
Pr0720 He has taken a bag of money with him, And he will come home on the appointed day.”  
Pr0721 With her many persuasions she caused him to yield; With her flattering lips she seduced him.  
Pr0722 Suddenly he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter [not knowing the outcome], Or as one in stocks going to the correction [to be given] to a fool,  
Pr0723 Until an arrow pierced his liver [with a mortal wound]; Like a bird fluttering straight into the net, He did not know that it would cost him his life.  
Pr0724 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth.  
Pr0725 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her [evil, immoral] paths.  
Pr0726 For she has cast down many [mortally] wounded; Indeed, all who were killed by her were strong.  
Pr0727 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.  
Pr0801 Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?  
Pr0802 On the top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, wisdom takes her stand;  
Pr0803 Beside the gates, at the entrance to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:  
Pr0804 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is directed to the sons of men.  
Pr0805 “O you naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled], understand prudence and seek astute common sense; And, O you [closed-minded, self-confident] fools, understand wisdom [seek the insight and self-discipline that leads to godly living].  
Pr0806 “Listen, for I will speak excellent and noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.  
Pr0807 “For my mouth will utter truth, And wickedness is repulsive and loathsome to my lips.  
Pr0808 “All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God); There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them.  
Pr0809 “They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind], And right to those who find knowledge and live by it.  
Pr0810 “Take my instruction rather than [seeking] silver, And take knowledge rather than choicest gold,  
Pr0811 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.  
Pr0812 “I, [godly] wisdom, reside with prudence [good judgment, moral courage and astute common sense], And I find knowledge and discretion.  
Pr0813 “The [reverent] fear and worshipful awe of the LORD includes the hatred of evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.  
Pr0814 “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power and strength are mine.  
Pr0815 “By me kings reign And rulers decide and decree justice.  
Pr0816 “By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge and govern rightly.  
Pr0817 “I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me.  
Pr0818 “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).  
Pr0819 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield is better than choicest silver.  
Pr0820 “I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,  
Pr0821 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth and true riches, And that I may fill their treasuries.  
Pr0822 “The LORD created and possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old [were accomplished].  
Pr0823 “From everlasting I was established and ordained, From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].  
Pr0824 “When there were no ocean depths I was born, When there were no fountains and springs overflowing with water.  
Pr0825 “Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was born;  
Pr0826 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Or the first of the dust of the earth.  
Pr0827 “When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep,  
Pr0828 When He made firm the skies above, When the fountains and springs of the deep became fixed and strong,  
Pr0829 When He set for the sea its boundary So that the waters would not transgress [the boundaries set by] His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth—  
Pr0830 Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight; Rejoicing before Him always,  
Pr0831 Rejoicing in the world, His inhabited earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.  
Pr0832 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] are they who keep my ways.  
Pr0833 “Heed (pay attention to) instruction and be wise, And do not ignore or neglect it.  
Pr0834 “Blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.  
Pr0835 “For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life And obtains favor and grace from the LORD.  
Pr0836 “But he who fails to find me or sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love and court death.”  
Pr0901 Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house; She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.  
Pr0902 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table.  
Pr0903 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the highest places of the city:  
Pr0904 “Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says,  
Pr0905 “Come, eat my food And drink the wine I have mixed [and accept my gifts].  
Pr0906 “Leave [behind] your foolishness [and the foolish] and live, And walk in the way of insight and understanding.”  
Pr0907 He who corrects and instructs a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man gets insults for himself.  
Pr0908 Do not correct a scoffer [who foolishly ridicules and takes no responsibility for his error] or he will hate you; Correct a wise man [who learns from his error], and he will love you.  
Pr0909 Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser; Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.  
Pr0910 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.  
Pr0911 For by me (wisdom from God) your days will be multiplied, And years of life shall be increased.  
Pr0912 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit]; If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.  
Pr0913 The foolish woman is restless and noisy; She is naive and easily misled and thoughtless, and knows nothing at all [of eternal value].  
Pr0914 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high and conspicuous places of the city,  
Pr0915 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:  
Pr0916 “Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks understanding (common sense), she says,  
Pr0917 “Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden]; And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”  
Pr0918 But he does not know that the spirits of the dead are there, And that her guests are [already] in the depths of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).  
Pr1001 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish [stubborn] son [who refuses to learn] is a grief to his mother.  
Pr1002 Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.  
Pr1003 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs], But He will reject and cast away the craving of the wicked.  
Pr1004 Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand, But the hand of the diligent makes him rich.  
Pr1005 He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.  
Pr1006 Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God], But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  
Pr1007 The memory of the righteous [person] is a [source of] blessing, But the name of the wicked will [be forgotten and] rot [like a corpse].  
Pr1008 The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction), But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.  
Pr1009 He who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely, But he who takes a crooked way will be discovered and punished.  
Pr1010 He who [maliciously] winks the eye [of evil intent] causes trouble; And the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.  
Pr1011 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life and his words of wisdom are a source of blessing, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence and evil.  
Pr1012 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].  
Pr1013 On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found, But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.  
Pr1014 Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart], But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.  
Pr1015 The rich man’s wealth is his fortress; The ruin of the poor is their poverty.  
Pr1016 The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life, The income of the wicked, punishment.  
Pr1017 He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing], But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].  
Pr1018 He who hides hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.  
Pr1019 When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.  
Pr1020 The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued); The heart of the wicked is worth little.  
Pr1021 The lips of the righteous feed and guide many, But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.  
Pr1022 The blessing of the LORD brings [true] riches, And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].  
Pr1023 Engaging in evil is like sport to the fool [who refuses wisdom and chases sin], But to a man of understanding [skillful and godly] wisdom brings joy.  
Pr1024 What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.  
Pr1025 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.  
Pr1026 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.  
Pr1027 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect] prolongs one’s life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.  
Pr1028 The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy, But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.  
Pr1029 The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, But it is ruin to those who do evil.  
Pr1030 The [consistently] righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.  
Pr1031 The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out.  
Pr1032 The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).  
Pr1101 A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the LORD, But an accurate scale is His delight.  
Pr1102 When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.  
Pr1103 The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.  
Pr1104 Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment, But righteousness rescues from death.  
Pr1105 The righteousness of the blameless will smooth their way and keep it straight, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.  
Pr1106 The righteousness of the upright will rescue them, But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.  
Pr1107 When the wicked man dies, his expectation will perish; And the hope of [godless] strong men perishes.  
Pr1108 The righteous is rescued from trouble, And the wicked takes his place.  
Pr1109 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.  
Pr1110 When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices, And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.  
Pr1111 By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.  
Pr1112 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent.  
Pr1113 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden.  
Pr1114 Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm], But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.  
Pr1115 He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness], But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].  
Pr1116 A gracious and good woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].  
Pr1117 The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him], But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.  
Pr1118 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].  
Pr1119 He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life, But he who pursues evil attains his own death.  
Pr1120 The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the LORD, But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!  
Pr1121 Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be freed.  
Pr1122 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].  
Pr1123 The desire of the righteous brings only good, But the expectation of the wicked brings wrath.  
Pr1124 There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more; And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.  
Pr1125 The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched, And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].  
Pr1126 The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it], But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.  
Pr1127 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace, But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.  
Pr1128 He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall, But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.  
Pr1129 He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing), And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.  
Pr1130 The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].  
Pr1131 If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings], How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!  
Pr1201 Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.  
Pr1202 A good man will obtain favor from the LORD, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.  
Pr1203 A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the [consistently] righteous will not be moved.  
Pr1204 A virtuous and excellent wife [worthy of honor] is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him [with her foolishness] is like rottenness in his bones.  
Pr1205 The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are just (honest, reliable), But the counsels and schemes of the wicked are deceitful.  
Pr1206 The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander], But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.  
Pr1207 The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more, But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].  
Pr1208 A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment, But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.  
Pr1209 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant, Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread.  
Pr1210 A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.  
Pr1211 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.  
Pr1212 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields richer fruit.  
Pr1213 An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will escape from trouble.  
Pr1214 A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].  
Pr1215 The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel.  
Pr1216 The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense], But a prudent man ignores an insult.  
Pr1217 He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is right, But a false witness utters deceit [in court].  
Pr1218 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.  
Pr1219 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is [credited] only for a moment.  
Pr1220 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.  
Pr1221 No harm befalls the righteous, But the wicked are filled with trouble.  
Pr1222 Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.  
Pr1223 A shrewd man is reluctant to display his knowledge [until the proper time], But the heart of [over-confident] fools proclaims foolishness.  
Pr1224 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.  
Pr1225 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.  
Pr1226 The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.  
Pr1227 The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey, But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].  
Pr1228 In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].  
Pr1301 A wise son heeds and accepts [and is the result of] his father’s discipline and instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.  
Pr1302 From the fruit of his mouth a [wise] man enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is for violence.  
Pr1303 The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life; The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.  
Pr1304 The soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing [for lethargy overcomes ambition], But the soul (appetite) of the diligent [who works willingly] is rich and abundantly supplied.  
Pr1305 A righteous man hates lies, But a wicked man is loathsome, and he acts shamefully.  
Pr1306 Righteousness (being in right standing with God) guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.  
Pr1307 There is one who pretends to be rich, yet has nothing at all; Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.  
Pr1308 The ransom for a man’s life is his wealth, But the poor man does not even have to listen to a rebuke or threats [from the envious].  
Pr1309 The light of the righteous [within him—grows brighter and] rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked [is a temporary light and] goes out.  
Pr1310 Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife, But [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel.  
Pr1311 Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].  
Pr1312 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.  
Pr1313 Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.  
Pr1314 The teaching of the wise is a fountain and source of life, So that one may avoid the snares of death.  
Pr1315 Good understanding wins favor [from others], But the way of the unfaithful is hard [like barren, dry soil].  
Pr1316 Every prudent and self-disciplined man acts with knowledge, But a [closed- minded] fool [who refuses to learn] displays his foolishness [for all to see].  
Pr1317 A wicked messenger falls into hardship, But a faithful ambassador brings healing.  
Pr1318 Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline, But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.  
Pr1319 Desire realized is sweet to the soul; But it is detestable to fools to turn away from evil [which they have planned].  
Pr1320 He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.  
Pr1321 Adversity pursues sinners, But the [consistently] upright will be rewarded with prosperity.  
Pr1322 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.  
Pr1323 Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor, But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.  
Pr1324 He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love].  
Pr1325 The [consistently] righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in need [of bread].  
Pr1401 The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], But the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles].  
Pr1402 He who walks in uprightness [reverently] fears the LORD [and obeys and worships Him with profound respect], But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.  
Pr1403 In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.  
Pr1404 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox.  
Pr1405 A faithful and trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies.  
Pr1406 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom], But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].  
Pr1407 Leave the presence of a [shortsighted] fool, For you will not find knowledge or hear godly wisdom from his lips.  
Pr1408 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of [shortsighted] fools is deceit.  
Pr1409 Fools mock sin [but sin mocks the fools], But among the upright there is good will and the favor and blessing of God.  
Pr1410 The heart knows its own bitterness, And no stranger shares its joy.  
Pr1411 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will thrive.  
Pr1412 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.  
Pr1413 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief.  
Pr1414 The backslider in heart will have his fill with his own [rotten] ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his ways [the godly thought and action which his heart pursues and in which he delights].  
Pr1415 The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears, But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.  
Pr1416 A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, But the fool is arrogant and careless.  
Pr1417 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly and without self-control, And a man of wicked schemes is hated.  
Pr1418 The naive [are unsophisticated and easy to exploit and] inherit foolishness, But the sensible [are thoughtful and far-sighted and] are crowned with knowledge.  
Pr1419 The evil will bow down before the good, And the wicked [will bow down] at the gates of the righteous.  
Pr1420 The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.  
Pr1421 He who despises his neighbor sins [against God and his fellow man], But happy [blessed and favored by God] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor.  
Pr1422 Do they not go astray who devise evil and wander from the way of righteousness? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.  
Pr1423 In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.  
Pr1424 The crown of the wise is their wealth [of wisdom], But the foolishness of [closed-minded] fools is [nothing but] folly.  
Pr1425 A truthful witness saves lives, But he who speaks lies is treacherous.  
Pr1426 In the [reverent] fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will [always] have a place of refuge.  
Pr1427 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that leads to obedience and worship] is a fountain of life, So that one may avoid the snares of death.  
Pr1428 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory, But in a lack of people is a [pretentious] prince’s ruin.  
Pr1429 He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self- control], But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].  
Pr1430 A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body, But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.  
Pr1431 He who oppresses the poor taunts and insults his Maker, But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.  
Pr1432 The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing, But the righteous has hope and confidence and a refuge [with God] even in death.  
Pr1433 Wisdom rests [silently] in the heart of one who has understanding, But what is in the heart of [shortsighted] fools is made known.  
Pr1434 Righteousness [moral and spiritual integrity and virtuous character] exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.  
Pr1435 The king’s favor and good will are toward a servant who acts wisely and discreetly, But his anger and wrath are toward him who acts shamefully.  
Pr1501 A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.  
Pr1502 The tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable, But the [babbling] mouth of fools spouts folly.  
Pr1503 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].  
Pr1504 A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.  
Pr1505 A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction, But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.  
Pr1506 Great and priceless treasure is in the house of the [consistently] righteous one [who seeks godly instruction and grows in wisdom], But trouble is in the income of the wicked one [who rejects the laws of God].  
Pr1507 The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain]; But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.  
Pr1508 The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight!  
Pr1509 The way [of life] of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness [personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character].  
Pr1510 There is severe discipline for him who turns from the way [of righteousness]; And he who hates correction will die.  
Pr1511 Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the LORD— How much more the hearts and inner motives of the children of men.  
Pr1512 A scoffer [unlike a wise man] resents one who rebukes him and tries to teach him; Nor will he go to the wise [for counsel and instruction].  
Pr1513 A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face, But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed.  
Pr1514 The mind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it, But the mouth of the [stubborn] fool feeds on foolishness.  
Pr1515 All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].  
Pr1516 Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Than great treasure and trouble with it.  
Pr1517 Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present Than a fattened ox served with hatred.  
Pr1518 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.  
Pr1519 The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.  
Pr1520 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.  
Pr1521 Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense, But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].  
Pr1522 Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they are established and succeed.  
Pr1523 A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer, And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!  
Pr1524 The [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise, That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below.  
Pr1525 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud and arrogant (self-righteous), But He will establish and protect the boundaries [of the land] of the [godly] widow.  
Pr1526 Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the LORD, But pure words are pleasant words to Him.  
Pr1527 He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house, But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.  
Pr1528 The heart of the righteous thinks carefully about how to answer [in a wise and appropriate and timely way], But the [babbling] mouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things.  
Pr1529 The LORD is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them], But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].  
Pr1530 The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others, And good news puts fat on the bones.  
Pr1531 The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure) Will remain among the wise.  
Pr1532 He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself, But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].  
Pr1533 The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence]; And before honor comes humility.  
Pr1601 The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man, But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the LORD.  
Pr1602 All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the LORD weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].  
Pr1603 Commit your works to the LORD [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].  
Pr1604 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.  
Pr1605 Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the LORD; Be assured he will not go unpunished.  
Pr1606 By mercy and lovingkindness and truth [not superficial ritual] wickedness is cleansed from the heart, And by the fear of the LORD one avoids evil.  
Pr1607 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.  
Pr1608 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income [gained] with injustice.  
Pr1609 A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life], But the LORD directs his steps and establishes them.  
Pr1610 A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative]; His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment.  
Pr1611 A just balance and [honest] scales are the LORD’S; All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles].  
Pr1612 It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly, For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).  
Pr1613 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.  
Pr1614 The wrath of a king is like a messenger of death, But a wise man will appease it.  
Pr1615 In the light of the king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.  
Pr1616 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.  
Pr1617 The highway of the upright turns away and departs from evil; He who guards his way protects his life (soul).  
Pr1618 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.  
Pr1619 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant).  
Pr1620 He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good, And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the LORD.  
Pr1621 The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].  
Pr1622 Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it, But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.  
Pr1623 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom] And adds persuasiveness to his lips.  
Pr1624 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.  
Pr1625 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.  
Pr1626 The appetite of a worker works for him, For his hunger urges him on.  
Pr1627 A worthless man devises and digs up evil, And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.  
Pr1628 A perverse man spreads strife, And one who gossips separates intimate friends.  
Pr1629 A violent and exceedingly covetous man entices his neighbor [to sin], And leads him in a way that is not good.  
Pr1630 He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to plot perverse things; And he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass.  
Pr1631 The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.  
Pr1632 He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.  
Pr1633 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.  
Pr1701 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.  
Pr1702 A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family] And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.  
Pr1703 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.  
Pr1704 An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips; And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.  
Pr1705 Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker, And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.  
Pr1706 Grandchildren are the crown of aged men, And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].  
Pr1707 Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind], Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.  
Pr1708 A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.  
Pr1709 He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.  
Pr1710 A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit Than a hundred lashes into a fool.  
Pr1711 A rebellious man seeks only evil; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.  
Pr1712 Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.  
Pr1713 Whoever returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.  
Pr1714 The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.  
Pr1715 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous Are both repulsive to the LORD.  
Pr1716 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?  
Pr1717 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.  
Pr1718 A man lacking common sense gives a pledge And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.  
Pr1719 He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome; He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].  
Pr1720 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.  
Pr1721 He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.  
Pr1722 A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.  
Pr1723 A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket To pervert the ways of justice.  
Pr1724 [Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it], But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.  
Pr1725 A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.  
Pr1726 It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.  
Pr1727 He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words, And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).  
Pr1728 Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.  
Pr1801 He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom.  
Pr1802 A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].  
Pr1803 When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes, And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).  
Pr1804 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom]; The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].  
Pr1805 To show respect to the wicked person is not good, Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.  
Pr1806 A fool’s lips bring contention and strife, And his mouth invites a beating.  
Pr1807 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul.  
Pr1808 The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].  
Pr1809 He who is careless in his work Is a brother to him who destroys.  
Pr1810 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs to it and is safe and set on high [far above evil].  
Pr1811 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.  
Pr1812 Before disaster the heart of a man is haughty and filled with self-importance, But humility comes before honor.  
Pr1813 He who answers before he hears [the facts]— It is folly and shame to him.  
Pr1814 The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?  
Pr1815 The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.  
Pr1816 A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him And brings him before great men.  
Pr1817 The first one to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and cross-examines him.  
Pr1818 To cast lots puts an end to quarrels And decides between powerful contenders.  
Pr1819 A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city, And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.  
Pr1820 A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.  
Pr1821 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.  
Pr1822 He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the LORD.  
Pr1823 The poor man pleads, But the rich man answers roughly.  
Pr1824 The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.  
Pr1901 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool.  
Pr1902 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark).  
Pr1903 The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; Then his heart is resentful and rages against the LORD [for, being a fool, he blames the LORD instead of himself].  
Pr1904 Wealth makes many friends, But a poor man is separated from his friend.  
Pr1905 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape.  
Pr1906 Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man, And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts.  
Pr1907 All the brothers of a poor man hate him; How much more do his friends abandon him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.  
Pr1908 He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.  
Pr1909 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes lies will perish.  
Pr1910 Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes.  
Pr1911 Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].  
Pr1912 The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.  
Pr1913 A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father, And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water].  
Pr1914 House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers, But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the LORD.  
Pr1915 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep [unmindful of lost opportunity], And the idle person will suffer hunger.  
Pr1916 He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the LORD] keeps (guards) his own life, But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die.  
Pr1917 He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the LORD, And the LORD will repay him for his good deed.  
Pr1918 Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.  
Pr1919 A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control]; For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again.  
Pr1920 Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, That you may be wise in the time to come.  
Pr1921 Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).  
Pr1922 That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love, But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar.  
Pr1923 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.  
Pr1924 The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish, But will not even bring it to his mouth again.  
Pr1925 Strike a scoffer [for refusing to learn], and the naive may [be warned and] become prudent; Reprimand one who has understanding and a teachable spirit, and he will gain knowledge and insight.  
Pr1926 He who assaults his father and chases away his mother Is a son who brings shame and disgrace.  
Pr1927 Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline And you will stray from the words of knowledge.  
Pr1928 A wicked and worthless witness mocks justice, And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.  
Pr1929 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of [thickheaded] fools.  
Pr2001 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.  
Pr2002 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.  
Pr2003 It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight], But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].  
Pr2004 The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives; So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].  
Pr2005 A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well, But a man of understanding draws it out.  
Pr2006 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness, But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?  
Pr2007 The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs— How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].  
Pr2008 A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].  
Pr2009 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?”  
Pr2010 Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures, Both of them are detestable and offensive to the LORD.  
Pr2011 Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts, Whether his conduct is pure and right.  
Pr2012 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The [omnipotent] LORD has made both of them.  
Pr2013 Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.  
Pr2014 “It is [almost] worthless, it is [almost] worthless,” says the buyer [as he negotiates the price]; But when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain].  
Pr2015 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls, But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all].  
Pr2016 [The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.”  
Pr2017 Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].  
Pr2018 Plans are established by counsel; So make war [only] with wise guidance.  
Pr2019 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].  
Pr2020 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.  
Pr2021 An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end.  
Pr2022 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait [expectantly] for the LORD, and He will rescue and save you.  
Pr2023 Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the LORD, And fraudulent scales are not good.  
Pr2024 Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the LORD. How then can a man [fully] understand his way?  
Pr2025 It is a trap for a man to [speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!” And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].  
Pr2026 A wise king sifts out the wicked [from among the good] And drives the [threshing] wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].  
Pr2027 The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being.  
Pr2028 Loyalty and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king, And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.  
Pr2029 The glory of young men is their [physical] strength, And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].  
Pr2030 Blows that wound cleanse away evil, And strokes reach to the innermost parts.  
Pr2101 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it whichever way He wishes.  
Pr2102 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs and examines the hearts [of people and their motives].  
Pr2103 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].  
Pr2104 Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].  
Pr2105 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.  
Pr2106 Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.  
Pr2107 The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net], Because they refuse to act with justice.  
Pr2108 The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.  
Pr2109 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather] Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.  
Pr2110 The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance]; His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.  
Pr2111 When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise; But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.  
Pr2112 The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked— How the wicked are cast down to ruin.  
Pr2113 Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor Will cry out himself and not be answered.  
Pr2114 A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath.  
Pr2115 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God), But to the evildoers it is disaster.  
Pr2116 A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom) Will remain in the assembly of the dead.  
Pr2117 He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves and is devoted to wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.  
Pr2118 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps].  
Pr2119 It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.  
Pr2120 There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future], But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.  
Pr2121 He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness, and honor.  
Pr2122 A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.  
Pr2123 He who guards his mouth and his tongue Guards himself from troubles.  
Pr2124 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names Who acts with overbearing and insolent pride.  
Pr2125 The desire of the lazy kills him, For his hands refuse to labor;  
Pr2126 He craves all the day long [and does no work], But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].  
Pr2127 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the LORD]. How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?  
Pr2128 A false witness will perish, But a man who listens to the truth will speak forever and go unchallenged.  
Pr2129 A wicked man puts on a bold face, But as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].  
Pr2130 There is no [human] wisdom or understanding Or counsel [that can prevail] against the LORD.  
Pr2131 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance and victory belong to the LORD.  
Pr2201 A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold.  
Pr2202 The rich and poor have a common bond; The LORD is the Maker of them all.  
Pr2203 A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it], But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].  
Pr2204 The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD Is riches, honor, and life.  
Pr2205 Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.  
Pr2206 Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.  
Pr2207 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.  
Pr2208 He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble, And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.  
Pr2209 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.  
Pr2210 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away; Even strife and dishonor will cease.  
Pr2211 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.  
Pr2212 The eyes of the LORD keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.  
Pr2213 The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”  
Pr2214 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable]; He who is cursed by the LORD [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.  
Pr2215 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.  
Pr2216 He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.  
Pr2217 Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;  
Pr2218 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles]; Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].  
Pr2219 So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the LORD, I have taught these things to you today, even to you.  
Pr2220 Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge,  
Pr2221 To let you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?  
Pr2222 Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],  
Pr2223 For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.  
Pr2224 Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,  
Pr2225 Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].  
Pr2226 Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.  
Pr2227 If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults], Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?  
Pr2228 Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set.  
Pr2229 Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.  
Pr2301 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is [set] before you;  
Pr2302 For you will put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great appetite.  
Pr2303 Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food [offered to you with questionable motives].  
Pr2304 Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth; Cease from your own understanding of it.  
Pr2305 When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies to the heavens.  
Pr2306 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies;  
Pr2307 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]. He says to you, “Eat and drink,” Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].  
Pr2308 The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up, And you will waste your compliments.  
Pr2309 Do not speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words.  
Pr2310 Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] And do not go into the fields of the fatherless [to take what is theirs],  
Pr2311 For their Redeemer is strong and mighty; He will plead their case against you.  
Pr2312 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.  
Pr2313 Do not withhold discipline from the child; If you swat him with a reed-like rod [applied with godly wisdom], he will not die.  
Pr2314 You shall swat him with the reed-like rod And rescue his life from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).  
Pr2315 My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will also be glad;  
Pr2316 Yes, my heart will rejoice When your lips speak right things.  
Pr2317 Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation], But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD day by day.  
Pr2318 Surely there is a future [and a reward], And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.  
Pr2319 Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way [of the LORD].  
Pr2320 Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat,  
Pr2321 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags.  
Pr2322 Listen to your father, who sired you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.  
Pr2323 Buy truth, and do not sell it; Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.  
Pr2324 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who sires a wise child will have joy in him.  
Pr2325 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who gave birth to you rejoice [in your wise and godly choices].  
Pr2326 My son, give me your heart And let your eyes delight in my ways,  
Pr2327 For a prostitute is a deep pit, And an immoral woman is a narrow well.  
Pr2328 She lurks and lies in wait like a robber [who waits for prey], And she increases the faithless among men.  
Pr2329 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Whose eyes are red and dim?  
Pr2330 Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine.  
Pr2331 Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the glass, When it goes down smoothly.  
Pr2332 At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper.  
Pr2333 Your [drunken] eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things [untrue things, twisted things].  
Pr2334 And you will be [as unsteady] as one who lies down in the middle of the sea, And [as vulnerable to disaster] as one who lies down on the top of a ship’s mast, saying,  
Pr2335 “They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me, but I did not feel it! When will I wake up? I will seek more wine.”  
Pr2401 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;  
Pr2402 For their minds plot violence, And their lips talk of trouble [for the innocent].  
Pr2403 Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],  
Pr2404 And by knowledge its rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.  
Pr2405 A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge strengthens his power;  
Pr2406 For by wise guidance you can wage your war, And in an abundance of [wise] counselors there is victory and safety.  
Pr2407 Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant] fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].  
Pr2408 He who plans to do evil Will be called a schemer or deviser of evil.  
Pr2409 The devising of folly is sin, And the scoffer is repulsive to men.  
Pr2410 If you are slack (careless) in the day of distress, Your strength is limited.  
Pr2411 Rescue those who are being taken away to death, And those who stagger to the slaughter, Oh hold them back [from their doom]!  
Pr2412 If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives? And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul? And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?  
Pr2413 My son, eat honey, because it is good, And the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.  
Pr2414 Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your life and soul; If you find wisdom, then there will be a future and a reward, And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.  
Pr2415 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place;  
Pr2416 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse.  
Pr2417 Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,  
Pr2418 Or the LORD will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.  
Pr2419 Do not get upset because of evildoers, Or be envious of the wicked,  
Pr2420 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.  
Pr2421 My son, fear the LORD and the king; And do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary],  
Pr2422 For their tragedy will rise suddenly, And who knows the punishment that both [the LORD and the king] will bring on the rebellious?  
Pr2423 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.  
Pr2424 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Peoples will curse him, nations will denounce him;  
Pr2425 But to those [honorable judges] who rebuke the wicked, it will go well with them and they will find delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.  
Pr2426 He kisses the lips [and wins the hearts of people] Who gives a right and straightforward answer.  
Pr2427 Prepare your work outside And get it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward build your house and establish a home.  
Pr2428 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips [speak neither lies nor half-truths].  
Pr2429 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for his deed.”  
Pr2430 I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding and common sense;  
Pr2431 And, behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, And nettles were covering its surface, And its stone wall was broken down.  
Pr2432 When I saw, I considered it well; I looked and received instruction.  
Pr2433 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest [and daydream],”  
Pr2434 Then your poverty will come as a robber, And your want like an armed man.  
Pr2501 These are also the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:  
Pr2502 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.  
Pr2503 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.  
Pr2504 Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].  
Pr2505 Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.  
Pr2506 Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men;  
Pr2507 For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.  
Pr2508 Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges]; Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and] When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?  
Pr2509 Argue your case with your neighbor himself [before you go to court]; And do not reveal another’s secret,  
Pr2510 Or he who hears it will shame you And the rumor about you [and your action in court] will have no end.  
Pr2511 Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken at the right time.  
Pr2512 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to an ear that listens and learns.  
Pr2513 Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the life of his masters.  
Pr2514 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts falsely of gifts [he does not give].  
Pr2515 By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].  
Pr2516 Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as you need, Otherwise, being filled excessively, you vomit it.  
Pr2517 Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become tired of you and hate you.  
Pr2518 Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance).  
Pr2519 Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot Is confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble.  
Pr2520 Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.  
Pr2521 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;  
Pr2522 For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD will reward you.  
Pr2523 The north wind brings forth rain; And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.  
Pr2524 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather] Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.  
Pr2525 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a distant land.  
Pr2526 Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring Is a righteous man who yields and compromises his integrity before the wicked.  
Pr2527 It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.  
Pr2528 Like a city that is broken down and without walls [leaving it unprotected] Is a man who has no self-control over his spirit [and sets himself up for trouble].  
Pr2601 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool.  
Pr2602 Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying, So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].  
Pr2603 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].  
Pr2604 Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly, Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.  
Pr2605 Answer [and correct the erroneous concepts of] a fool according to his folly, Otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes [if he thinks you agree with him].  
Pr2606 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool Cuts off his own feet (sabotages himself) and drinks the violence [it brings on himself as a consequence].  
Pr2607 Like the legs which are useless to the lame, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].  
Pr2608 Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw], So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.  
Pr2609 Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man, So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].  
Pr2610 Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.  
Pr2611 Like a dog that returns to his vomit Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.  
Pr2612 Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.  
Pr2613 The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work I will be killed]!”  
Pr2614 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].  
Pr2615 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity]; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.  
Pr2616 The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes Than seven [sensible] men who can give a discreet answer.  
Pr2617 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears [and is likely to be bitten] Is he who, passing by, stops to meddle with a dispute that is none of his business.  
Pr2618 Like a madman who throws Firebrands, arrows, and death,  
Pr2619 So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend) And then says, “Was I not joking?”  
Pr2620 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.  
Pr2621 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.  
Pr2622 The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].  
Pr2623 Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value] Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart.  
Pr2624 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, But he stores up deceit in his heart.  
Pr2625 When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart.  
Pr2626 Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly.  
Pr2627 Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.  
Pr2628 A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.  
Pr2701 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring.  
Pr2702 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.  
Pr2703 Stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But a fool’s [unreasonable] wrath is heavier and more burdensome than both of them.  
Pr2704 Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood, But who is able to endure and stand before [the sin of] jealousy?  
Pr2705 Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction] Than love that is hidden.  
Pr2706 Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].  
Pr2707 He who is satisfied loathes honey, But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.  
Pr2708 Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety], So is a man who wanders from his home.  
Pr2709 Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.  
Pr2710 Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.  
Pr2711 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.  
Pr2712 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it, But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].  
Pr2713 [The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger; And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].”  
Pr2714 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].  
Pr2715 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious (quarrelsome) woman are alike;  
Pr2716 Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.  
Pr2717 As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].  
Pr2718 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.  
Pr2719 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.  
Pr2720 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the underworld) are never satisfied; Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.  
Pr2721 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal], And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud].  
Pr2722 Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain, Yet his foolishness will not leave him.  
Pr2723 Be diligent to know the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;  
Pr2724 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.  
Pr2725 When the grass is gone, the new growth is seen, And herbs of the mountain are gathered in,  
Pr2726 The lambs will supply wool for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field.  
Pr2727 And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And for the maintenance of your maids.  
Pr2801 The wicked flee when no one pursues them, But the righteous are as bold as a lion.  
Pr2802 When a land does wrong, it has many princes, But when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures.  
Pr2803 A poor man who oppresses and exploits the lowly Is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.  
Pr2804 Those who set aside the law [of God and man] praise the wicked, But those who keep the law [of God and man] struggle with them.  
Pr2805 Evil men do not understand justice, But they who long for and seek the LORD understand it fully.  
Pr2806 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked and two- faced though he is rich.  
Pr2807 He who keeps the law [of God and man] is a wise and discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father [and himself].  
Pr2808 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest) Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.  
Pr2809 He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God].  
Pr2810 He who leads the upright astray on an evil path Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good.  
Pr2811 The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes, But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.  
Pr2812 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration; But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves.  
Pr2813 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.  
Pr2814 Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times, But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.  
Pr2815 Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.  
Pr2816 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days], But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.  
Pr2817 A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder) Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.  
Pr2818 He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe, But he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall.  
Pr2819 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty.  
Pr2820 A faithful (right-minded) man will abound with blessings, But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.  
Pr2821 To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.  
Pr2822 He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich And does not know that poverty will come upon him.  
Pr2823 He who [appropriately] reprimands a [wise] man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.  
Pr2824 He who robs his father or his mother And says, “This is no sin,” Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.  
Pr2825 An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper.  
Pr2826 He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.  
Pr2827 He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses.  
Pr2828 When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves; But when the wicked perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become great.  
Pr2901 He who hardens his neck and refuses instruction after being often reproved (corrected, criticized), Will suddenly be broken beyond repair.  
Pr2902 When the righteous are in authority and become great, the people rejoice; But when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh.  
Pr2903 A man who loves [skillful and godly] wisdom makes his father joyful, But he who associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.  
Pr2904 The king establishes (stabilizes) the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.  
Pr2905 A man who flatters his neighbor [with smooth words intending to do harm] Is spreading a net for his own feet.  
Pr2906 By his wicked plan an evil man is trapped, But the righteous man sings and rejoices [for his plan brings good things to him].  
Pr2907 The righteous man cares for the rights of the poor, But the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge.  
Pr2908 Scoffers set a city afire [by stirring up trouble], But wise men turn away anger [and restore order with their good judgment].  
Pr2909 If a wise man has a controversy with a foolish and arrogant man, The foolish man [ignores logic and fairness and] only rages or laughs, and there is no peace (rest, agreement).  
Pr2910 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless [because of his integrity], But the upright are concerned for his life.  
Pr2911 A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.  
Pr2912 If a ruler pays attention to lies [and encourages corruption], All his officials will become wicked.  
Pr2913 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.  
Pr2914 If a king faithfully and truthfully judges the poor, His throne shall be established forever.  
Pr2915 The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.  
Pr2916 When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, But the righteous will see the downfall of the wicked.  
Pr2917 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; Yes, he will delight your soul.  
Pr2918 Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].  
Pr2919 A servant will not be corrected by words alone; For though he understands, he will not respond [nor pay attention].  
Pr2920 Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]? There is more hope for a [thickheaded] fool than for him.  
Pr2921 He who pampers his slave from childhood Will find him to be a son in the end.  
Pr2922 An angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.  
Pr2923 A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down, But he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor.  
Pr2924 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the curse [when swearing an oath to testify], but discloses nothing [and commits perjury by omission].  
Pr2925 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the LORD will be exalted and safe.  
Pr2926 Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.  
Pr2927 An unjust man is repulsive to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way [of the LORD] is repulsive to the wicked.  
Pr3001 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle: The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:  
Pr3002 Surely I am more brutish and stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man [for I do not know what I do not know].  
Pr3003 I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom, Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].  
Pr3004 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Certainly you know!  
Pr3005 Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver]; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.  
Pr3006 Do not add to His words, Or He will reprove you, and you will be found a liar.  
Pr3007 Two things I have asked of You; Do not deny them to me before I die:  
Pr3008 Keep deception and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion,  
Pr3009 So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I will not be poor and steal, And so profane the name of my God.  
Pr3010 Do not slander or malign a servant before his master [stay out of another’s personal life], Or he will curse you [for your interference], and you will be found guilty.  
Pr3011 There is a generation (class of people) that curses its father And does not bless its mother.  
Pr3012 There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.  
Pr3013 There is a generation (class of people)—oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are raised in arrogance.  
Pr3014 There is a generation (class of people) whose teeth are like swords And whose jaw teeth are like knives, To devour the afflicted from the earth And the needy from among men.  
Pr3015 The leech has two daughters, “Give, give!” There are three things that are never satisfied, Four that do not say, “It is enough”:  
Pr3016 Sheol, and the barren womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, “It is enough.”  
Pr3017 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young vultures will devour it.  
Pr3018 There are three things which are too astounding and unexpectedly wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:  
Pr3019 The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.  
Pr3020 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth And says, “I have done no wrong.”  
Pr3021 Under three things the earth is disquieted and quakes, And under four it cannot bear up:  
Pr3022 Under a servant when he reigns, Under a [spiritually blind] fool when he is filled with food,  
Pr3023 Under an unloved woman when she gets married, And under a maidservant when she supplants her mistress.  
Pr3024 There are four things that are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:  
Pr3025 The ants are not a strong people, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;  
Pr3026 The shephanim are not a mighty folk, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;  
Pr3027 The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in groups;  
Pr3028 You may grasp the lizard with your hands, Yet it is in kings’ palaces.  
Pr3029 There are three things which are stately in step, Even four which are stately in their stride:  
Pr3030 The lion, which is mighty among beasts And does not turn back before any;  
Pr3031 The strutting rooster, the male goat also, And the king when his army is with him.  
Pr3032 If you have foolishly exalted yourself, Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.  
Pr3033 Surely the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.  
Pr3101 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle, which his mother taught him:  
Pr3102 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what [shall I advise you], O son of my vows?  
Pr3103 Do not give your [generative] strength to women [neither foreign wives in marriages of alliances, nor concubines], Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.  
Pr3104 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink,  
Pr3105 Otherwise they drink and forget the law and its decrees, And pervert the rights and justice of all the afflicted.  
Pr3106 Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, And wine to him whose life is bitter.  
Pr3107 Let him drink and forget his poverty And no longer remember his trouble.  
Pr3108 Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;  
Pr3109 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And administer justice for the afflicted and needy.  
Pr3110 An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls.  
Pr3111 The heart of her husband trusts in her [with secure confidence], And he will have no lack of gain.  
Pr3112 She comforts, encourages, and does him only good and not evil All the days of her life.  
Pr3113 She looks for wool and flax And works with willing hands in delight.  
Pr3114 She is like the merchant ships [abounding with treasure]; She brings her [household’s] food from far away.  
Pr3115 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And assigns tasks to her maids.  
Pr3116 She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding her business prudently]; With her profits she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.  
Pr3117 She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God- given task] And makes her arms strong.  
Pr3118 She sees that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out, but it burns continually through the night [she is prepared for whatever lies ahead].  
Pr3119 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle [as she spins wool into thread for clothing].  
Pr3120 She opens and extends her hand to the poor, And she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.  
Pr3121 She does not fear the snow for her household, For all in her household are clothed in [expensive] scarlet [wool].  
Pr3122 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is linen, pure and fine, and purple [wool].  
Pr3123 Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.  
Pr3124 She makes [fine] linen garments and sells them; And supplies sashes to the merchants.  
Pr3125 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared].  
Pr3126 She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].  
Pr3127 She looks well to how things go in her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.  
Pr3128 Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired); Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,  
Pr3129 “Many daughters have done nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], But you excel them all.”  
Pr3130 Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.  
Pr3131 Give her of the product of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city].  
Ec0101 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.  
Ec0102 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”  
Ec0103 What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)?  
Ec0104 One generation goes and another generation comes, But the earth remains forever.  
Ec0105 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hurries to the place where it rises again.  
Ec0106 The wind blows toward the south, Then circles toward the north; The wind circles and swirls endlessly, And on its circular course the wind returns.  
Ec0107 All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again.  
Ec0108 All things are wearisome and all words are frail; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.  
Ec0109 That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun.  
Ec0110 Is there anything of which it can be said, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for [the vast] ages [of time recorded or unrecorded] Which were before us.  
Ec0111 There is no remembrance of earlier things, Nor also of the later things that are to come; There will be for them no remembrance By generations who will come after them.  
Ec0112 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.  
Ec0113 And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed.  
Ec0114 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0115 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is defective and lacking cannot be counted.  
Ec0116 I spoke with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom and experience, more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.”  
Ec0117 And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0118 For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.  
Ec0201 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness).  
Ec0202 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”  
Ec0203 I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.  
Ec0204 I made great works: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself;  
Ec0205 I made gardens and orchards for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;  
Ec0206 I made pools of water for myself from which to water the forest and make the trees bud.  
Ec0207 I bought male and female slaves and had slaves born in my house. I also possessed herds and flocks larger than any who preceded me in Jerusalem.  
Ec0208 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights and pleasures of men—many concubines.  
Ec0209 So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.  
Ec0210 Whatever my eyes looked at with desire I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor.  
Ec0211 Then I considered all which my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.  
Ec0212 So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done.  
Ec0213 Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.  
Ec0214 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and yet I know that [in the end] one fate happens to them both.  
Ec0215 Then I said to myself, “As it happens to the fool, so death will also happen to me. What use is it then for me to be extremely wise?” Then I said in my heart, “This too is vanity (meaningless).”  
Ec0216 For there is no [more] lasting remembrance of the wise man than of the fool, since in the days to come all will be long forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Even as the fool!  
Ec0217 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0218 So I hated all the fruit (gain) of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will succeed me.  
Ec0219 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity (futility, self-conceit).  
Ec0220 So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.  
Ec0221 For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.  
Ec0222 For what does a man get from all his labor and from the striving and sorrow of his heart with which he labors under the sun?  
Ec0223 For all his days his work is painful and sorrowful; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity (worthless).  
Ec0224 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God.  
Ec0225 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?  
Ec0226 For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0301 There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—  
Ec0302 A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.  
Ec0303 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.  
Ec0304 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.  
Ec0305 A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.  
Ec0306 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.  
Ec0307 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to keep silent and a time to speak.  
Ec0308 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.  
Ec0309 What profit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?  
Ec0310 I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.  
Ec0311 He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.  
Ec0312 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live;  
Ec0313 and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.  
Ec0314 I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe- filled reverence, knowing that He is God].  
Ec0315 That which is has already been, and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by [so that history repeats itself].  
Ec0316 Moreover, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.  
Ec0317 I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,” for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and for every deed.  
Ec0318 I said to myself regarding the sons of men, “God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals.”  
Ec0319 For the [earthly] fate of the sons of men and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no preeminence or advantage for man [in and of himself] over an animal, for all is vanity.  
Ec0320 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.  
Ec0321 Who knows if the spirit of man ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?  
Ec0322 So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?  
Ec0401 Then I looked again and considered all the acts of oppression that were being practiced under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.  
Ec0402 So I congratulated and thought more fortunate are those who are already dead than the living who are still living.  
Ec0403 But better off than either of them is the one who has not yet been born, who has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.  
Ec0404 I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0405 The fool folds his hands [together] and consumes his own flesh [destroying himself by idleness and apathy].  
Ec0406 One hand full of rest and patience is better than two fists full of labor and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0407 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun [in one of its peculiar forms].  
Ec0408 There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self- conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task.  
Ec0409 Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;  
Ec0410 for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up.  
Ec0411 Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?  
Ec0412 And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  
Ec0413 A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—  
Ec0414 for the poor youth has [used his wisdom and] come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.  
Ec0415 I have seen all the living under the sun join with the second youth (the king’s acknowledged successor) who replaces him.  
Ec0416 There is no end to all the people; to all who were before them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. Surely this also is vanity (emptiness) and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0501 Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil.  
Ec0502 Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.  
Ec0503 For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.  
Ec0504 When you make a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him]. Pay what you vow.  
Ec0505 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.  
Ec0506 Do not allow your speech to cause you to sin, and do not say before the messenger (priest) of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of your voice (words) and destroy the work of your hands?  
Ec0507 For in a multitude of dreams and in a flood of words there is worthlessness. Rather [reverently] fear God [and worship Him with awe-filled respect, knowing who He is].  
Ec0508 If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].  
Ec0509 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.  
Ec0510 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).  
Ec0511 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes?  
Ec0512 The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach (greed) of the rich [who hungers for even more] will not let him sleep.  
Ec0513 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery.  
Ec0514 For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child].  
Ec0515 As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came; and he will take away nothing from all his labor that he can carry in his hand.  
Ec0516 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as he was born, so he shall die. So what advantage has he who labors for the wind?  
Ec0517 All of his life he also eats in darkness [cheerlessly, without sweetness and light], with great frustration, sickness, and anger.  
Ec0518 Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward.  
Ec0519 Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him].  
Ec0520 For he will not often consider the [troubled] days of his life, because God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him].  
Ec0601 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men:  
Ec0602 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the power or capacity to enjoy them [all those things which are gifts from God], but a stranger [in whom he has no interest succeeds him and] enjoys them. This is vanity and it is a [cause of] great distress.  
Ec0603 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he is not respected and is not given a proper burial [he is not laid to rest in the sepulcher of his fathers], then I say, “Better the miscarriage than he,  
Ec0604 for the miscarriage comes in futility (in vain) and passes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.  
Ec0605 It has not seen the sun nor had any knowledge; yet it has more rest and is better off than he.  
Ec0606 Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice over and yet has seen no good and experienced no enjoyment—do not both go to one place [the grave]?”  
Ec0607 All the labor of man is for his mouth [for self-preservation and enjoyment], and yet the desire [of his soul] is not satisfied.  
Ec0608 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool [for being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness]? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk [publicly] among the living [with men’s eyes on him; for being poor is not the secret to happiness either]?  
Ec0609 What the eyes see [enjoying what is available] is better than [craving] what the soul desires. This too is futility and chasing after the wind.  
Ec0610 Whatever exists has already been named [long ago], and it is known what [a frail being] man is; for he cannot dispute with Him who is mightier than he.  
Ec0611 For there are many other words that increase futility. What then is the advantage for a man?  
Ec0612 For who [limited by human wisdom] knows what is good for man during his lifetime, during the few days of his futile life? He spends them like a shadow [staying busy, but achieving nothing of lasting value]. For who can tell a man what will happen after him [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun [after his life is over]?  
Ec0701 A good name is better than precious perfume, And the day of one’s death better than the day of one’s birth.  
Ec0702 It is better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that [day of death] is the end of every man, And the living will take it to heart and solemnly ponder its meaning.  
Ec0703 Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy [because it is growing in wisdom].  
Ec0704 The heart of the wise [learns when it] is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is [senseless] in the house of pleasure.  
Ec0705 It is better to listen to the rebuke of the wise man and pursue wisdom Than for one to listen to the song of fools and pursue stupidity.  
Ec0706 For like the crackling of [burning] thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool; And this too is vanity (futility).  
Ec0707 For oppression makes a wise man foolish, And a bribe corrupts the [good judgment of the] heart.  
Ec0708 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (pride).  
Ec0709 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger dwells in the heart of fools.  
Ec0710 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.  
Ec0711 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good And an [excellent] advantage for those who see the sun.  
Ec0712 For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection, But the [excellent] advantage of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the lives of its possessors.  
Ec0713 Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what He has bent?  
Ec0714 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one as well as the other, So that man will not find out anything that will be after him.  
Ec0715 I have seen everything during my [fleeting] days of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives a long life in [spite of] his wickedness.  
Ec0716 Do not be excessively righteous [like those given to self-conceit], and do not be overly wise (pretentious)—why should you bring yourself to ruin?  
Ec0717 Do not be excessively or willfully wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?  
Ec0718 It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them.  
Ec0719 Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.  
Ec0720 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins.  
Ec0721 Also, do not take seriously everything that is said, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you,  
Ec0722 for you also know that you too have cursed others many times.  
Ec0723 I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, “I will be wise [independently of God],” but true wisdom was far from me.  
Ec0724 Whatever has been is far off, deeply remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it [for it is beyond the grasp of man]?  
Ec0725 I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness].  
Ec0726 And I discovered that [of all irrational sins none has been so destructive in beguiling one away from God as immoral women for] more bitter than death is the woman whose heart is [composed of] snares and nets, and whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the sinner will be taken captive by her [evil].  
Ec0727 “Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “while adding one thing to another to find an explanation,  
Ec0728 which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand [who pleases God], but I have not found [such] a woman among all these [a thousand in my harem].  
Ec0729 Behold, I have found only this [as a reason]: God made man upright and uncorrupted, but they [both men and women] have sought out many devices [for evil].”  
Ec0801 Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines his face, And causes his stern face to beam.  
Ec0802 I counsel you to keep the command of the king because of the oath before God [by which you swore loyalty to him].  
Ec0803 Do not be in a hurry to get out of his presence. Do not join in a malevolent matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases.  
Ec0804 For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful, And who will say to him, “What are you doing?”  
Ec0805 Whoever keeps and observes a royal command will experience neither trouble nor misery; For a wise heart will know the proper time and [appropriate] procedure.  
Ec0806 For there is a proper time and [appropriate] procedure for every delight, Though mankind’s misery and trouble lies heavily upon him [who rebels against the king].  
Ec0807 For no one knows what will happen; So who can tell him how and when it will happen?  
Ec0808 There is no man who has power and authority over the wind to restrain the wind, Nor does he have authority over the day of death; There is no discharge [from service] during time of war, And evil will not rescue those who [actively seek to] practice it.  
Ec0809 All this I have seen while applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has exercised power over others to their detriment.  
Ec0810 So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out of the holy place [but did not thereby escape their doom], and they are [praised in spite of their evil and] soon forgotten in the city where they did such things. This too is futility (vanity, emptiness).  
Ec0811 Because the sentence against an evil act is not executed quickly, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.  
Ec0812 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life [seemingly] is prolonged [in spite of his wickedness], still I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who fear and worship Him openly [realizing His omnipresence and His power].  
Ec0813 But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.  
Ec0814 There is a meaningless and futile thing which is done on the earth: that is, there are righteous men whose gain is as though they were evil, and evil men whose gain is as though they were righteous. I say that this too is futility (meaningless, vain).  
Ec0815 Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.  
Ec0816 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night—  
Ec0817 and I saw all the work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though man may labor in seeking, he will not discover; and [more than that], though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, he will not be able to find it out.  
Ec0901 For I have taken all this to heart, exploring and examining it all, how the righteous (those in right standing with God) and the wise and their deeds are in the hands of God. No man knows whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him.  
Ec0902 It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers sacrifices and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as he who swears an oath is, so is he who is afraid to swear an oath.  
Ec0903 This evil is in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes to all. Also, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they go to the dead.  
Ec0904 [There is no exemption,] but whoever is joined with all the living, has hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.  
Ec0905 For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they no longer have a reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten.  
Ec0906 Indeed their love, their hatred and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share [in this age] in anything that is done under the sun.  
Ec0907 Go your way, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God]; for God has already approved and accepted your works.  
Ec0908 Let your clothes always be white [with purity], and do not let the oil [of gladness] be lacking on your head.  
Ec0909 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given you under the sun—all the days of vanity and futility. For this is your reward in life and in your work in which you have labored under the sun.  
Ec0910 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.  
Ec0911 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the strong, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to those of intelligence and understanding nor favor to men of ability; but time and chance overtake them all.  
Ec0912 For man also does not know his time [of death]; like fish caught in a treacherous net, and birds caught in the snare, so the sons of men are ensnared in an evil time when a dark cloud suddenly falls on them.  
Ec0913 This [illustration of] wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and great it was to me:  
Ec0914 There was a little city with few men in it and a great king came against it and besieged it and built great battlements against it.  
Ec0915 But there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he rescued the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man.  
Ec0916 But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.  
Ec0917 The words of wise men heard in quietness are better than the shouting of one who rules among fools.  
Ec0918 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.  
Ec1001 Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor.  
Ec1002 A wise man’s heart turns him toward the right [which is the way of blessing], but a fool’s heart turns him toward the left [which is the way of condemnation].  
Ec1003 Even when a fool walks along the road, his [common] sense and good judgment fail him and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool.  
Ec1004 If the temper of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post [showing resistance], because composure and calmness prevent great offenses.  
Ec1005 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceeds from the ruler—  
Ec1006 folly is set in many exalted places and in great dignity while the rich sit in humble places.  
Ec1007 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the ground.  
Ec1008 He who digs a pit [for others] may fall into it, and a serpent may bite him who breaks through a [stone] wall.  
Ec1009 He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.  
Ec1010 If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort].  
Ec1011 If the serpent bites before being charmed, then there is no profit for the charmer.  
Ec1012 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him;  
Ec1013 the beginning of his talking is foolishness and the end of his talk is wicked madness.  
Ec1014 Yet the fool multiplies words, though no man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after he is gone?  
Ec1015 The labor of a fool so wearies him [because he is ignorant] that he does not even know how to go to a city.  
Ec1016 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials and princes feast in the morning.  
Ec1017 Blessed [prosperous and admired] are you, O land, when your king is a man of noble birth, and your princes and officials feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.  
Ec1018 Through laziness the rafters [of state affairs] decay and the roof sags, and through idleness [the roof of] the house leaks.  
Ec1019 The officials make a feast for enjoyment [instead of repairing what is broken], and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything.  
Ec1020 Moreover, do not curse the king, even in your bedroom, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry the sound and a winged creature will make the matter known.  
Ec1101 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions], for you will find it after many days.  
Ec1102 Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.  
Ec1103 If the clouds are full [of rain], they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it lies.  
Ec1104 He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest].  
Ec1105 Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.  
Ec1106 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle with your hands in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening planting will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both alike will be good.  
Ec1107 The light is sweet and pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.  
Ec1108 Yes, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. All that is to come will be futility.  
Ec1109 Rejoice, young man, in your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant in the days of your young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desires of your eyes, but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.  
Ec1110 Therefore, remove sorrow and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, for childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.  
Ec1201 Remember [thoughtfully] also your Creator in the days of your youth [for you are not your own, but His], before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], “I have no enjoyment and delight in them”;  
Ec1202 before the sun and the light, and the moon and the stars are darkened [by impaired vision], and the clouds [of depression] return after the rain [of tears];  
Ec1203 in the day when the keepers of the house (hands, arms) tremble, and the strong men (feet, knees) bow themselves, and the grinders (molar teeth) cease because they are few, and those (eyes) who look through the windows grow dim;  
Ec1204 when the doors (lips) are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding [of the teeth] is low, and one rises at the sound of a bird and the crowing of a rooster, and all the daughters of music (voice, ears) sing softly.  
Ec1205 Furthermore, they are afraid of a high place and of dangers on the road; the almond tree (hair) blossoms [white], and the grasshopper (a little thing) is a burden, and the caperberry (desire, appetite) fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets and market places.  
Ec1206 Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;  
Ec1207 then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.  
Ec1208 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”  
Ec1209 Furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered and searched out and arranged many proverbs.  
Ec1210 The Preacher sought to find delightful words, even to write correctly words of truth.  
Ec1211 The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.  
Ec1212 But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.  
Ec1213 When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.  
Ec1214 For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.  
Ss0101 The Song of Songs [the best of songs], which is Solomon’s.  
Ss0102 “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” [Solomon arrives, she turns to him, saying,] “For your love is better than wine.  
Ss0103 “The aroma of your oils is fragrant and pleasing; Your name is perfume poured out; Therefore the maidens love you.  
Ss0104 “Draw me away with you and let us run together! Let the king bring me into his chambers.” “We will rejoice and be glad in you; We will remember and extol your love more [sweet and fragrant] than wine. Rightly do they love you.”  
Ss0105 “I am deeply tanned but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, [I am dark] like the tents of [the Bedouins of] Kedar, Like the [beautiful] curtains of Solomon.  
Ss0106 “Do not gaze at me because I am deeply tanned, [I have worked in] the sun; it has left its mark on me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard (my complexion) I have not kept.”  
Ss0107 “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you make it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who is veiled Beside the flocks of your companions?”  
Ss0108 “If you do not know [where your lover is], O you fairest among women, Run along, follow the tracks of the flock, And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds.  
Ss0109 “To me, my love, you are like My [favorite] mare among the chariots of Pharaoh.  
Ss0110 “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with strings of jewels.”  
Ss0111 “We will make for you chains and ornaments of gold, [Studded] with beads of silver.”  
Ss0112 “While the king was at his table, My perfume (Solomon) sent forth [his] fragrance [surrounding me].  
Ss0113 “My beloved is to me like a pouch of myrrh Which lies all night between my breasts.  
Ss0114 “My beloved is to me a cluster of henna flowers In the [fragrant] vineyards of Engedi.”  
Ss0115 “Behold, how beautiful you are, my darling, Behold, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are dove’s eyes.”  
Ss0116 “Behold, how fair and handsome you are, my beloved; And so delightful! Our arbor is green and luxuriant.  
Ss0117 “The beams of our houses are cedars, Our rafters and panels are cypresses.  
Ss0201 “I am the rose [of the plain] of Sharon, The lily of the valleys [that grows in deep places].”  
Ss0202 “Like the lily among the thorns, So are you, my darling, among the maidens.”  
Ss0203 “Like an apple tree [rare and welcome] among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men! In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet and delicious to my palate.  
Ss0204 “He has brought me to his banqueting place, And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me].  
Ss0205 “Sustain me with raisin cakes, Refresh me with apples, Because I am sick with love.  
Ss0206 “Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.”  
Ss0207 “I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field [which run free], That you do not rouse nor awaken my love Until she pleases.”  
Ss0208 “Listen! My beloved! Behold, he comes, Climbing on the mountains, Leaping and running on the hills!  
Ss0209 “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is gazing through the lattice.  
Ss0210 “My beloved speaks and says to me, ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away.  
Ss0211 ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.  
Ss0212 ‘The flowers appear on the earth once again; The time for singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.  
Ss0213 ‘The fig tree has budded and ripens her figs, And the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away [to climb the rocky steps of the hillside].’”  
Ss0214 “O my dove, [here] in the clefts in the rock, In the sheltered and secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.”  
Ss0215 “Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that spoil and ruin the vineyards [of love], While our vineyards are in blossom.”  
Ss0216 “My beloved is mine and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies.  
Ss0217 “Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, Return quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelle Or a young stag on the mountains of Bether [which separate us].”  
Ss0301 “On my bed night after night [I dreamed that] I sought the one Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.  
Ss0302 “I said ‘So I must arise now and go out into the city; Into the streets and into the squares [places I do not know] I must seek him whom my soul loves.’ I sought him but I did not find him.  
Ss0303 “The watchmen who go around the city found me, And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’  
Ss0304 “Scarcely had I passed them When I found him whom my soul loves. I held on to him and would not let him go Until I had brought him to my mother’s house, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.”  
Ss0305 “I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, That you do not rouse nor awaken my love Until she pleases.”  
Ss0306 “What is this coming up from the wilderness Like [stately] pillars of smoke Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the fragrant powders of the merchant?”  
Ss0307 “Behold, it is the couch (palanquin) of Solomon; Sixty mighty men around it, Of the mighty men of Israel.  
Ss0308 “All of them handle the sword, All expert in war; Each man has his sword at his thigh, Guarding against the terrors of the night.  
Ss0309 “King Solomon has made for himself a palanquin From the [cedar] wood of Lebanon.  
Ss0310 “He made its posts of silver, Its back of gold, Its seat of purple cloth, The interior lovingly and intricately wrought By the daughters of Jerusalem.  
Ss0311 “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, And gaze on King Solomon wearing the crown With which his mother [Bathsheba] has crowned him On the day of his wedding, On the day of his gladness of heart.”  
Ss0401 “How fair and beautiful you are, my darling, How very beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like those of a dove; Your hair is like [the shimmering black fleece of] a flock of [Arabian] goats That have descended from Mount Gilead [beyond the Jordan].  
Ss0402 “Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.  
Ss0403 “Your lips are like a ribbon of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a slice of the pomegranate Behind your veil.  
Ss0404 “Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with rows of [glistening] stones, Whereon hang a thousand shields, All of them shields of warriors.  
Ss0405 “Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle Which feed among the lilies.  
Ss0406 “Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, [In my thoughts] I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh And to the hill of frankincense.  
Ss0407 “O my love, you are altogether beautiful and fair. There is no flaw nor blemish in you!  
Ss0408 “Come away with me from Lebanon, my [promised] bride, May you come with me from Lebanon. Journey down from the top of Amana, From the summit of Senir and Hermon, From the dens of lions, From the mountains of leopards.  
Ss0409 “You have ravished my heart and given me courage, my sister, my [promised] bride; You have ravished my heart and given me courage with a single glance of your eyes, With one jewel of your necklace.  
Ss0410 “How beautiful is your love, my sister, my [promised] bride! How much better is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than all kinds of balsam and spices.  
Ss0411 “Your lips, my [promised] bride, drip honey [as the honeycomb]; Honey and milk are under your tongue, And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.  
Ss0412 “A garden enclosed is my sister, my [promised] bride— A rock garden locked, a spring sealed up.  
Ss0413 “Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, [A paradise] with precious fruits, henna with fragrant plants,  
Ss0414 Fragrant plants and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices.  
Ss0415 “You are a fountain in a garden, A well of fresh and living water, And streams flowing from Lebanon.”  
Ss0416 “Awake, O north wind, And come, south wind [blow softly upon my garden]; Make my garden breathe out fragrance, [for the one in whom my soul delights], Let its spices flow forth. Let my beloved come into his garden And eat its choicest fruits.”  
Ss0501 “I have come into my garden, my sister, my [promised] bride; I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam and spice [from your sweet words]. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and drink deeply, O lovers.”  
Ss0502 “I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice [in my dream]! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with the [heavy night] dew; My hair [is covered] with the dampness of the night.’  
Ss0503 “I had taken off my dress, How can I put it on again? I had washed my feet, How could I get them dirty again?  
Ss0504 “My beloved extended his hand through the opening [of the door], And my feelings were aroused for him.  
Ss0505 “I arose to open for my beloved; And my hands dripped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid [sweet-scented] myrrh, On the handles of the bolt.  
Ss0506 “I opened for my beloved, But my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart went out to him when he spoke. I searched for him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me.  
Ss0507 “The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; The guardsmen of the walls took my shawl from me.  
Ss0508 “I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, As to what you tell him— [Say that] I am sick from love [sick from being without him].”  
Ss0509 “What is your beloved more than another beloved, O most beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, That you should so command us to take an oath?”  
Ss0510 “My beloved is exquisitely handsome and ruddy, Outstanding among ten thousand.  
Ss0511 “His head is like [precious] gold, pure gold; His hair is [curly] like clusters of dates And black as a raven.  
Ss0512 “His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk And reposed in their setting.  
Ss0513 “His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet, fragrant herbs. His lips are lilies Dripping sweet-scented myrrh.  
Ss0514 “His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is a figure of carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires.  
Ss0515 “His legs are [strong and steady] pillars of alabaster Set upon pedestals of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, Stately and choice as the cedars.  
Ss0516 “His mouth is full of sweetness; Yes, he is altogether lovely and desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”  
Ss0601 “Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where is your beloved hiding himself, That we may seek him with you?”  
Ss0602 “My beloved has gone down to his garden, To the beds of balsam, To feed his flock in the gardens And gather lilies.  
Ss0603 “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, He who feeds his flock among the lilies.”  
Ss0604 “You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, As lovely as Jerusalem, As majestic as an army with banners!  
Ss0605 “Turn your [flashing] eyes away from me, For they have confused and overcome me; Your hair is like [the shimmering black fleece of] a flock of [Arabian] goats That have descended from Mount Gilead.  
Ss0606 “Your teeth are like a flock of ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.  
Ss0607 “Your temples are like a slice of the pomegranate Behind your veil.  
Ss0608 “There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, And maidens without number;  
Ss0609 But my dove, my perfect one, stands alone [above them all]; She is her mother’s only daughter; She is the pure child of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed and happy, The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,  
Ss0610 ‘Who is this that looks down like the dawn, Fair and beautiful as the full moon, Clear and pure as the sun, As majestic as an army with banners?’  
Ss0611 “I went down to the orchard of nut trees To see the flowers of the valley, To see whether the grapevine had budded And the pomegranates were in flower.  
Ss0612 “Before I was aware [of what was happening], my desire had brought me Into the area of the princes of my people [the king’s retinue].”  
Ss0613 “Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may gaze at you.” “Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, As at the dance of the two armies?  
Ss0701 “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! The curves of your hips are like jewels, The work of the hands of an artist.  
Ss0702 “Your navel is a round goblet Which never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is like a heap of wheat Surrounded with lilies.  
Ss0703 “Your two breasts are like two fawns, The twins of a gazelle.  
Ss0704 “Your neck is like a tower of ivory, Your eyes the [sparkling] pools of Heshbon By the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looks toward Damascus.  
Ss0705 “Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, And the flowing hair of your head like purple threads; I, the king, am held captive by your tresses.  
Ss0706 “How beautiful and how delightful you are, My love, with all your delights!  
Ss0707 “Your stature is like that of a palm tree And your breasts like its clusters [of dates].  
Ss0708 “I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree; I will grasp its branches. Let your breasts be like clusters of the grapevine, And the fragrance of your breath like apples,  
Ss0709 And your kisses like the best wine!’” “It goes down smoothly and sweetly for my beloved, Gliding gently over his lips while he sleeps.  
Ss0710 “I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me.  
Ss0711 “Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country, Let us spend the night in the villages.  
Ss0712 “Let us go out early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine has budded And its blossoms have opened, And whether the pomegranates have flowered. There I will give you my love.  
Ss0713 “The mandrakes give forth fragrance, And over our doors are all [kinds of] choice fruits, Both new and old, Which I have saved up for you, my beloved.  
Ss0801 “Oh, that you were like a brother to me, Who nursed at the breasts of my mother. If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you; No one would blame me or despise me, either.  
Ss0802 “I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.  
Ss0803 “Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.”  
Ss0804 “I command you to take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, That you do not rouse nor awaken my love Until she pleases.”  
Ss0805 “Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning upon her beloved?” “Under the apple tree I awakened you [to my love]; There your mother was in labor with you, There she was in labor and gave you birth.  
Ss0806 “Put me like a seal on your heart, Like a seal on your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, [A most vehement flame] the very flame of the LORD!  
Ss0807 “Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can rivers drown it. If a man would offer all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly scorned and despised.”  
Ss0808 “We have a little sister And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for [in marriage]?  
Ss0809 “If she is a wall (discreet, womanly), We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver; But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious), We will enclose her with planks of cedar.”  
Ss0810 “I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers. Then I became in the king’s eyes As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.  
Ss0811 “Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers; Each one was to bring him a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.  
Ss0812 “My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand [shekels of silver] are for you, O Solomon, And two hundred are for those who tend the fruit.”  
Ss0813 “O you who sit in the gardens, My companions are listening for your voice— Let me hear it.”  
Ss0814 “Hurry, my beloved and come quickly, Like a gazelle or a young stag [taking me home] On the mountains of spices.”  
Is0101 The vision of [the prophet] Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning [the kingdom of] Judah and [its capital] Jerusalem, which he saw [as revealed by God] during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.  
Is0102 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; For the LORD has spoken: “I have reared and brought up sons, But they have rebelled against Me and have broken away.  
Is0103 “The ox [instinctively] knows its owner, And the donkey its master’s feeding trough, But Israel does not know [Me as LORD], My people do not understand.”  
Is0104 Ah, sinful nation, A people loaded down with wickedness [with sin, with injustice, with wrongdoing], Offspring of evildoers, Sons who behave corruptly! They have abandoned (rejected) the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel [provoking Him to anger], They have turned away from Him.  
Is0105 Why should you be stricken and punished again [since no change results from it]? You [only] continue to rebel. The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint and sick.  
Is0106 From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing healthy in the nation’s body, Only bruises, welts, and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil [as a remedy].  
Is0107 Your land lies desolate [because of your disobedience], Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your very presence; It is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.  
Is0108 The Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem) is left like a [deserted] shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city [isolated, surrounded by devastation].  
Is0109 If the LORD of hosts Had not left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.  
Is0110 Hear the word of the LORD [rulers of Jerusalem], You rulers of [another] Sodom, Listen to the law and instruction of our God, You people of [another] Gomorrah.  
Is0111 “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me [without your repentance]?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of [your] burnt offerings of rams And the fat of well-fed cattle [without your obedience]; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls or lambs or goats [offered without repentance].  
Is0112 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires this of you, this trampling of My [temple] courts [by your sinful feet]?  
Is0113 “Do not bring worthless offerings again, [Your] incense is repulsive to Me; [Your] New Moon and Sabbath [observances], the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing] and [the squalor of] the festive assembly.  
Is0114 “I hate [the hypocrisy of] your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.  
Is0115 “So when you spread out your hands [in prayer, pleading for My help], I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are full of blood!  
Is0116 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Get your evil deeds out of My sight. Stop doing evil,  
Is0117 Learn to do good. Seek justice, Rebuke the ruthless, Defend the fatherless, Plead for the [rights of the] widow [in court].  
Is0118 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.  
Is0119 “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the best of the land;  
Is0120 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.  
Is0121 How the faithful city has become a prostitute [idolatrous, despicable], She who was full of justice! Right standing with God once lodged in her, But now murderers.  
Is0122 Your silver has turned to lead, Your wine is diluted with water.  
Is0123 Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes And chases after gifts. They do not defend the fatherless, Nor does the widow’s cause come before them [instead they delay or turn a deaf ear].  
Is0124 Therefore the Lord GOD of hosts, The Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will be freed of My adversaries And avenge Myself on My enemies.  
Is0125 “And I will turn My hand against you, And will [thoroughly] purge away your dross as with lye And remove all your tin (impurity).  
Is0126 “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; Afterward you will be called the city of righteousness, The faithful city.”  
Is0127 Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness.  
Is0128 But rebels and sinners will be crushed and destroyed together, And those who abandon (turn away from) the LORD will be consumed (perish).  
Is0129 For you will be ashamed [of the degradation] of the oaks in which you took [idolatrous] pleasure, And you will be ashamed of the gardens [of passion] which you have chosen [for pagan worship].  
Is0130 For you will be like an oak whose leaf withers and dies And like a garden that has no water.  
Is0131 The strong man will become tinder, And his work a spark. So both will burn together And there will be none to quench them.  
Is0201 The word [from God] which Isaiah son of Amoz saw [in a vision] concerning [the nation of] Judah and [its capital city] Jerusalem.  
Is0202 Now it will come to pass that In the last days The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be [firmly] established as the highest of the mountains, And will be exalted above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it.  
Is0203 And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house (temple) of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go out from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  
Is0204 And He will judge between the nations, And will mediate [disputes] for many peoples; And they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up the sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.  
Is0205 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.  
Is0206 Most certainly [LORD] You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with influences from the east, And they are soothsayers [who foretell] like the Philistines; Also they strike bargains with the children of foreigners (pagans).  
Is0207 Their land has also been filled with silver and gold And there is no end to their treasures; Their land has also been filled with horses And there is no end to their chariots.  
Is0208 Their land has also been filled with idols; They worship the work of their hands, That which their own fingers have made.  
Is0209 So the common man has been humbled [before idols] And the man of importance has been degraded, Therefore do not forgive them [O LORD].  
Is0210 Go among the rocks and hide in the dust From the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty.  
Is0211 The proud look of man will be degraded And the arrogance of men will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.  
Is0212 For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against all who are proud and arrogant And against all who are lifted up, That they may be degraded.  
Is0213 And the wrath of God will be against all the cedars of Lebanon [west of the Jordan] that are high and lifted up, Against all the oaks of Bashan [east of the Jordan],  
Is0214 Against all the high mountains, Against all the hills that are lifted up,  
Is0215 Against every high tower, Against every fortified wall,  
Is0216 Against all the ships of Tarshish And against all the beautiful craft.  
Is0217 Then the pride of man will be humbled And the arrogance of men will be degraded; The LORD alone shall be exalted in that day,  
Is0218 And the idols will completely vanish (be abolished).  
Is0219 They [the stricken, deprived of all in which they had trusted] will go into the caves of the rocks And into the holes of the ground [fleeing] From the terror and dread of the LORD And from the splendor of His majesty, When He arises to terrify the earth.  
Is0220 In that day men will throw away to the moles and to the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves [as objects] to worship,  
Is0221 To go into the caverns of the rocks and into the clefts of the [ragged] cliffs [as they flee] From the terror and dread of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty, When He arises to terrify the earth.  
Is0222 Stop regarding man, whose breath [of life] is in his nostrils [for so little time]; For why should he be esteemed?  
Is0301 Listen carefully, the Lord GOD of hosts is removing from Jerusalem and from Judah Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread And the whole supply of water;  
Is0302 The brave man and the warrior [He is also removing], The judge and the prophet, The diviner and the elder,  
Is0303 The captain of fifty and the man of honor, The counselor and the expert artisan, And the skillful enchanter.  
Is0304 And I will make mere boys their princes, And capricious (impulsive, unpredictable) children will rule over them.  
Is0305 And the people will be oppressed, Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor; The boy will be arrogant and insolent toward the elder And the vulgar (common) toward the honorable [person of rank].  
Is0306 When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, “You have a robe, you shall be our judge and ruler, And this pile of ruins will be under your control,”  
Is0307 He will protest on that day, saying, “I will not be a governor; For in my house there is neither bread nor clothing; You should not make me a judge and ruler of the people.”  
Is0308 For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, Because their words and their actions are against the LORD, To rebel against His glorious presence and defiantly provoke Him.  
Is0309 Their partiality testifies against them, They display their sin like Sodom; They do not even hide it. Woe (judgment is coming) to them! For they have brought evil on themselves [as a reward].  
Is0310 Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, For they will eat the fruit of their [righteous] actions.  
Is0311 Woe (judgment is coming) to the wicked! It shall go badly with him, For what his hand has done shall be done to him.  
Is0312 O My people! Children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you astray And confuse (destroy, swallow up) the direction of your paths.  
Is0313 The LORD rises to contend, And stands to judge the people.  
Is0314 The LORD enters into judgment with the elders of His people and their princes, “For it is you who have devoured the vineyard [with your oppression, you have robbed the people and ruined the country]; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.  
Is0315 “What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the face of the poor?” Declares the Lord GOD of hosts.  
Is0316 Moreover, the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with outstretched necks and seductive (flirtatious, alluring) eyes, And trip along with mincing steps and an affected gait And walk with jingling anklets on their feet,  
Is0317 Therefore the Lord will afflict the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs [making them bald], And the LORD will expose their foreheads (send them into captivity).”  
Is0318 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, [braided] caps, crescent [head] ornaments,  
Is0319 dangling earrings, bracelets, and the hanging veils and scarves,  
Is0320 head wraps (turbans), [short, jingling] ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets (charms),  
Is0321 signet [finger] rings, nose rings,  
Is0322 festival robes, outer tunics, shawls, handbags,  
Is0323 hand mirrors, [fine linen] undergarments, headbands, and veils [covering the entire body].  
Is0324 Now it will come to pass that instead of the sweet fragrance of spices there will be [the stench of] rottenness; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well- set hair, baldness; Instead of fine clothes, a robe of sackcloth; And branding [of captives by the scorching heat] instead of beauty.  
Is0325 Your men will fall by the sword And your mighty men in battle.  
Is0326 And Jerusalem’s gates will lament (cry out in grief) and mourn [as those who wail for the dead]; And she, being ruined and desolate, will sit upon the ground.  
Is0401 And in that day seven women will take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear [and provide] our own clothes; only let us be called by your name; take away our shame [of being unmarried].”  
Is0402 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be splendid and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be excellent and lovely to those of Israel who have survived.  
Is0403 It will come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy (set apart for God)—everyone who is recorded for [eternal] life in Jerusalem.  
Is0404 When the Lord has washed away the [moral] filth of the daughters of Zion and has cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,  
Is0405 then the LORD will create over the entire site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud by day, smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory and brilliance will be a canopy [a defense, a covering of His divine love and protection].  
Is0406 And there will be a pavilion for shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and the rain.  
Is0501 Now let me sing for my greatly Beloved [LORD] A song of my Beloved about His vineyard (His chosen people). My greatly Beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile slope (the promised land, Canaan).  
Is0502 He dug it all around and cleared away its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine (the people of Judah). And He built a tower in the center of it; And also hewed out a wine vat in it. Then He expected it to produce [the choicest] grapes, But it produced only worthless ones.  
Is0503 “And now, says the LORD, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge between Me and My vineyard (My people).  
Is0504 “What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to produce good grapes, why did it yield worthless ones?  
Is0505 “So now let me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will take away its thorn-hedge, and it will be burned up; I will break down its stone wall and it will be trampled down [by enemies].  
Is0506 “I will turn it into a wasteland; It will not be pruned or cultivated, But briars and thorns will come up. I will also command the clouds not to rain on it.”  
Is0507 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house (nation) of Israel And the men of Judah are His delightful planting [which He loves]. So He looked for justice, but in fact, [He saw] bloodshed and lawlessness; [He looked] for righteousness, but in fact, [He heard] a cry of distress and oppression.  
Is0508 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who join house to house and join field to field [to increase their holdings by depriving others], Until there is no more room [for others], So that you have to live alone in the midst of the land!  
Is0509 In my ears the LORD of hosts said, “Be assured that many houses will become desolate, Even great and beautiful ones will be unoccupied.  
Is0510 “For ten acres of vineyard will yield [only] one bath of wine, And a homer (six bushels) of seed will produce [only] one ephah of grain.”  
Is0511 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who rise early in the morning to pursue intoxicating drink, Who stay up late in the night till wine inflames them!  
Is0512 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts; But they do not regard nor even pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, Nor do they consider the work of His hands.  
Is0513 Therefore My people go into exile because they lack knowledge [of God]; And their honorable men are famished, And their common people are parched with thirst.  
Is0514 Therefore Sheol (the realm of the dead) has increased its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her [boisterous] uproar and her [drunken] revelers descend into it.  
Is0515 So the common man will be bowed down and the man of importance degraded, And the eyes of the proud (arrogant) will be degraded.  
Is0516 But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in justice, And God, the Holy One, will show Himself holy in righteousness [through His righteous judgments].  
Is0517 Then the lambs will graze [among the ruins] as in their own pasture, And strangers will eat in the desolate places of the [exiled] wealthy.  
Is0518 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who drag along wickedness with cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes [towing their own punishment];  
Is0519 Who say, “Let Him move speedily, let Him expedite His work [His promised vengeance], so that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel approach And come to pass, so that we may know it!”  
Is0520 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  
Is0521 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever and shrewd in their own sight!  
Is0522 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are heroes at drinking wine And men of strength in mixing intoxicating drinks,  
Is0523 Who justify the wicked and acquit the guilty for a bribe, And take away the rights of those who are in the right!  
Is0524 Therefore, as the tongue of fire consumes the stubble [from straw] And the dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away like fine dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised and discarded the word of the Holy One of Israel.  
Is0525 Therefore the anger of the LORD has burned against His people, And He has stretched out His hand against them and has struck them down. And the mountains trembled, and their dead bodies lay like rubbish in the middle of the streets. In spite of all this God’s anger is not turned away, But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].  
Is0526 He will lift up a flag to [call] the distant nations [to bring His judgment on Judah], And will whistle for them from the ends of the earth; And indeed, they will come with great speed swiftly.  
Is0527 No one among them is weary or stumbles, No one slumbers or sleeps; Nor is the belt at their waist undone [as if unprepared for action], Nor is the strap of their sandal broken.  
Is0528 Their arrows are sharp and all their bows are strung and bent; Their horses’ hoofs seem like flint and their chariot wheels like a whirlwind.  
Is0529 Their roaring is like a lioness, they roar like young lions; They growl and seize their prey And carry it off and there is no one to save it.  
Is0530 And in that day they will roar against them (Judah) like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, in fact, there is darkness and distress; Even the light will be darkened by its clouds.  
Is0601 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw [in a vision] the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of His royal robe filling the [most holy part of the] temple.  
Is0602 Above Him seraphim (heavenly beings) stood; each one had six wings: with two wings he covered his face, with two wings he covered his feet, and with two wings he flew.  
Is0603 And one called out to another, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is filled with His glory.”  
Is0604 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, and the temple was filling with smoke.  
Is0605 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am ruined, Because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”  
Is0606 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  
Is0607 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Listen carefully, this has touched your lips; your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing] is taken away and your sin atoned for and forgiven.”  
Is0608 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  
Is0609 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’  
Is0610 “Make the heart of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”  
Is0611 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, And houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,  
Is0612 The LORD has removed [His] people far away, And there are many deserted places in the midst of the land.  
Is0613 “And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land, It will again be subject to destruction [consumed and burned], Like a massive terebinth tree or like an oak Whose stump remains when it is chopped down. The holy seed [the elect remnant] is its stump [the substance of Israel].”  
Is0701 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but they could not conquer it.  
Is0702 When the house of David (Judah) was told, “Aram is allied with Ephraim (Israel),” the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.  
Is0703 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz [king of Judah], you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field;  
Is0704 and say to him, ‘Take care and be calm, do not fear and be weak-hearted because of these two stumps of smoldering logs, on account of the fierce anger of [King] Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah (Pekah, usurper of the throne of Israel).  
Is0705 Because Aram, along with Ephraim (Israel) and the son of Remaliah, have planned evil against you (Judah), saying,  
Is0706 “Let us go up against Judah and terrorize it; and let us breach its wall and tear it apart [each of us taking a portion] and set up the son of Tabeel over it as its [puppet] king,”  
Is0707 for this is what the Lord GOD says, “It shall not stand nor shall it happen.  
Is0708 For the head (capital) of Aram is Damascus and the head of Damascus is [King] Rezin (now within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken to pieces and will no longer be a people).  
Is0709 And the head (capital) of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son [King Pekah]. If you will not believe [and trust in God and His message], be assured that you will not be established.”’”  
Is0710 Then the LORD spoke again to [King] Ahaz, saying,  
Is0711 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God [one that will convince you that God has spoken and will keep His word]; make your request as deep as Sheol or as high as heaven.”  
Is0712 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”  
Is0713 Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too small a thing for you to try the patience of men, but will you try the patience of my God as well?  
Is0714 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us).  
Is0715 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.  
Is0716 For before the child will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land (Canaan) whose two kings you dread will be deserted [both Ephraim and Aram].  
Is0717 The LORD will bring on you, on your people, and on your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim (the ten northern tribes) separated from Judah—[He will call for] the king of Assyria.”  
Is0718 In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the mouth of the rivers and canals of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.  
Is0719 These [armies, like flies and bees] will all come and settle on the steep and rugged ravines and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thorn bushes and in all the watering places.  
Is0720 In that day [when foreign armies swarm the land] the Lord will shave with a razor, hired from the regions beyond the Euphrates (that is, with the king of Assyria), [that razor will shave] the head and the hair of the legs; and it will also remove the beard [leaving Judah stripped, shamed and scorned].  
Is0721 Now in that day [because of the poverty caused by the invaders] a man will keep alive only a young milk cow and two sheep;  
Is0722 and because of the abundance of milk produced he will eat curds, for everyone that is left in the land will eat [only] curds and [wild] honey.  
Is0723 And it will come to pass in that day, in every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be briars and thorns.  
Is0724 People will come there [to hunt] with arrows and with bows because all the land will be briars and thorns.  
Is0725 As for all the hills which used to be cultivated with the pick and the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of briars and thorns; but they will become a place where oxen are pastured and where sheep tread.  
Is0801 Then the LORD said to me, “Take for yourself a large tablet [for public display] and write on it in ordinary characters: Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.  
Is0802 And I will get faithful witnesses to attest [to this prophecy] for me, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”  
Is0803 So I approached [my wife] the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz [to remind the people of the prophecy];  
Is0804 for before the boy knows how to say, ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus (Aram’s capital) and the spoil of Samaria (Israel’s capital) will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”  
Is0805 Again the LORD spoke to me, saying,  
Is0806 “Because these people (Judah) have refused the gently flowing waters of Shiloah And rejoice in Rezin [the king of Aram] and Remaliah’s son [Pekah the king of Israel],  
Is0807 Now therefore, listen carefully, the Lord is about to bring on them the waters of the [Euphrates] River, strong and abundant— The king of Assyria and all his glory; And it will rise over all its channels and canals and go far beyond its banks.  
Is0808 “Then it will sweep on into Judah; it will overflow and pass through [the hills], Reaching even to the neck [of which Jerusalem is the head], And its outstretched wings (the armies of Assyria) will fill the width of Your land, O Immanuel.  
Is0809 “Be broken [in pieces], O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all you [our enemies from the] far countries. Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered; Prepare yourselves [for war], and be shattered.  
Is0810 “Take counsel together [against Judah], but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us (Immanuel).”  
Is0811 For in this way the LORD spoke to me with His strong hand [upon me] and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people [behaving as they do], saying,  
Is0812 “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear nor be in dread of it.  
Is0813 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you are to regard as holy and awesome. He shall be your [source of] fear, He shall be your [source of] dread [not man].  
Is0814 “Then He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred, indestructible shelter for those who fear and trust Him]; But to both the houses of Israel [both the northern and southern kingdoms—Israel and Judah, He will be] a stone on which to stumble and a rock on which to trip, A trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
Is0815 “Many [among them] will stumble over them; Then they will fall and be broken, They will even be snared and trapped.”  
Is0816 Bind up the testimony, seal the law and the teaching among my (Isaiah’s) disciples.  
Is0817 And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; and I will look eagerly for Him.  
Is0818 Listen carefully, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders [that will occur] in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.  
Is0819 When the people [instead of trusting God] say to you, “Consult the mediums [who try to talk to the dead] and the soothsayers who chirp and whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?  
Is0820 [Direct those people] to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.  
Is0821 They [who consult mediums and soothsayers] will pass through the land deeply distressed and hungry, and when they are hungry, they will become enraged and will curse their king and their God as they look upward.  
Is0822 Then they will look to the earth, they will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness and overwhelming night.  
Is0901 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish [for with judgment comes the promise of salvation]. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make them honored [by the presence of the Messiah], by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.  
Is0902 The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.  
Is0903 You [O God] will increase the nation, You will multiply their joy; They will rejoice before You Like the joy and jubilation of the harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil [of victory].  
Is0904 For You will break the yoke of Israel’s burden and the staff (goad) on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.  
Is0905 For every boot of the marching warrior in the battle tumult, And [every soldier’s] garment rolled in blood, will be used for burning, fuel for the fire.  
Is0906 For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  
Is0907 There shall be no end to the increase of His government and of peace, [He shall rule] on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From that time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.  
Is0908 The Lord sends a word (message) against Jacob, And it falls on Israel [the ten northern tribes, the kingdom of Ephraim].  
Is0909 And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria [its capital], Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:  
Is0910 “The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild [all the better] with ashlar (hewed stones); The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with [expensive] cedars.”  
Is0911 Therefore the LORD raises against Ephraim adversaries from Rezin [king of Aram] And spurs their enemies on,  
Is0912 The Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west; And they devour Israel with gaping jaws. In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].  
Is0913 Yet the people do not turn back [in repentance] to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts [as their most essential need].  
Is0914 Therefore the LORD cuts off head and tail [the highest and the lowest] from Israel, Both [the high] palm branch and [the low] bulrush in one day.  
Is0915 The elderly and honorable man, he is the head; And the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.  
Is0916 For those who lead this people are causing them to go astray; And those who are led [astray] by them are swallowed up.  
Is0917 Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, Nor does He have compassion on their fatherless or their widows; For every one of them is godless and an evildoer, And every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].  
Is0918 For wickedness burns like a fire; It consumes briars and thorns, It even sets the forest thickets ablaze; And it swirls upward in a column of smoke.  
Is0919 By the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up, And the people are like fuel for the fire; No man spares his brother.  
Is0920 They slice off [in discord] what is on the right hand but are still hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied; Each eats the flesh of his own arm.  
Is0921 [The tribe of] Manasseh devours [the tribe of his brother] Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, And together they are against Judah (the southern kingdom, the house of David). In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].  
Is1001 Woe (judgment is coming) to those [judges] who issue evil statutes, And to those [magistrates] who constantly record unjust and oppressive decisions,  
Is1002 So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of rightful claims, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the fatherless.  
Is1003 Now what will you do in the day of [God’s] punishment, And in the storm of devastation which will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth [for safekeeping]?  
Is1004 Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives Or fall [dead] among the slain [on the battlefield]. In spite of all this, God’s anger does not turn away, But His hand is still stretched out [in judgment].  
Is1005 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger [against Israel], The staff in whose hand is My indignation and fury [against Israel’s disobedience]!  
Is1006 I send Assyria against a godless nation And commission it against the people of My wrath To take the spoil and to seize the plunder, And to trample them down like mud in the streets.  
Is1007 Yet it is not Assyria’s intention [to do My will], Nor does it plan so in its heart, But instead it is its purpose to destroy And to cut off many nations.  
Is1008 For Assyria says, “Are not my princes all kings?  
Is1009 “Is not Calno [conquered] like Carchemish [on the Euphrates]? Is not Hamath [subdued] like Arpad [her neighbor]? Is not Samaria [in Israel] like Damascus [in Aram]?  
Is1010 “As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images were greater and more feared than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,  
Is1011 Shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images Just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?” [declares Assyria].  
Is1012 So when the Lord has completed all His work [of judgment] on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit [the thoughts, the declarations, and the actions] of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the haughtiness of his pride.”  
Is1013 For the Assyrian king has said, “I have done this by the power of my [own] hand and by my wisdom, For I have understanding and skill. I have removed the boundaries of the peoples And have plundered their treasures; Like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.  
Is1014 “My hand has found the wealth of the people like a nest, And as one gathers eggs that are abandoned, so I have gathered all the earth; And there was not one that flapped its wing, or that opened its beak and chirped.”  
Is1015 Is the axe able to lift itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw able to magnify itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club moving those who lift it, Or like a staff raising him who is not [made of] wood [like itself]!  
Is1016 Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among the stout warriors of Assyria; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame.  
Is1017 And the Light of Israel will become a fire and His Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and briars in a single day.  
Is1018 The Lord will consume the glory of Assyria’s forest and of its fruitful garden, both soul and body, And it will be as when a sick man wastes away.  
Is1019 And the remaining trees of Assyria’s forest will be so few in number That a child could write them down.  
Is1020 Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.  
Is1021 A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.  
Is1022 For though your people, O Israel, may be as the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; The destruction is determined [it is decided and destined for completion], overflowing with justice (righteous punishment).  
Is1023 For the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will execute a complete destruction, one that is decreed, in the midst of all the land.  
Is1024 Therefore, the Lord GOD of hosts says this, “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian who strikes you with a rod and lifts up his staff against you, as [the king of] Egypt did.  
Is1025 For yet a very little while and My indignation [against you] will be fulfilled and My anger will be directed toward the destruction of the Assyrian.”  
Is1026 The LORD of hosts will brandish a whip against them like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and His staff will be over the [Red] Sea and He will lift it up the way He did in [the flight from] Egypt.  
Is1027 So it will be in that day, that the burden of the Assyrian will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck. The yoke will be broken because of the fat.  
Is1028 The Assyrian has come against Aiath [in Judah], He has passed through Migron [with his army]; At Michmash he stored his equipment.  
Is1029 They have gone through the pass, saying, “Geba will be our lodging place for the night.” Ramah trembles, and Gibeah [the city] of Saul has fled.  
Is1030 Cry aloud with your voice [in consternation], O Daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!  
Is1031 Madmenah has fled; The inhabitants of Gebim have fled [with their belongings] to safety.  
Is1032 Yet today the Assyrian will halt at Nob [the city of priests]; He shakes his fist at the mountain of the Daughter of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.  
Is1033 Listen carefully, the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will lop off the [beautiful] boughs with terrifying force; The tall in stature will be cut down And the lofty will be abased and humiliated.  
Is1034 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an iron axe, And Lebanon (the Assyrian) will fall by the Mighty One.  
Is1101 Then a Shoot (the Messiah) will spring from the stock of Jesse [David’s father], And a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.  
Is1102 And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him— The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and strength, The Spirit of knowledge and of the [reverential and obedient] fear of the LORD—  
Is1103 And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make decisions by what His ears hear;  
Is1104 But with righteousness and justice He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the downtrodden of the earth; And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.  
Is1105 And righteousness will be the belt around His loins, And faithfulness the belt around His waist.  
Is1106 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatted steer together; And a little child will lead them.  
Is1107 And the cow and the bear will graze [together], Their young will lie down together, And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  
Is1108 And the nursing child will [safely] play over the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den [and not be hurt].  
Is1109 They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.  
Is1110 Then in that day The nations will make supplications to the Root of Jesse Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious.  
Is1111 Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again acquire with His hand a second time The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, from [Lower] Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush (Ethiopia), from Elam [in Persia], from Shinar [Babylonia], from Hamath [in Aram], And from the coastlands bordering the [Mediterranean] Sea.  
Is1112 And He will lift up a signal for the nations And assemble the outcasts of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.  
Is1113 Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, And those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, And Judah will not harass Ephraim.  
Is1114 Ephraim and Judah will [unite and] swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines toward the west; Together they will plunder the sons (Arabs) of the east. They will possess Edom and Moab, And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them.  
Is1115 And the LORD will utterly destroy The tongue of the Sea of Egypt; And with His scorching wind He will wave His hand over the River; He will strike and divide it into seven channels And make [it possible for] people [to] walk over in sandals.  
Is1116 And there will be a highway from Assyria For the remnant of His people who will be left, Just as there was for Israel In the day when they came up out of the land of Egypt.  
Is1201 And on that day you will say, “I will give thanks to You, O LORD; For though You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, And You comfort me.  
Is1202 “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the LORD GOD is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”  
Is1203 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the springs of salvation.  
Is1204 And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name [in prayer]. Make His deeds known among the peoples [of the earth]; Proclaim [to them] that His name is exalted!”  
Is1205 Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done excellent and glorious things; Let this be known throughout the earth.  
Is1206 Rejoice and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.  
Is1301 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw [in a prophetic vision]:  
Is1302 Lift up a signal banner on the bare mountain, Summon them [the Medes and Persians] with a loud voice, Wave the [beckoning] hand so that they may enter the doorways of the [Babylonian] nobles.  
Is1303 I [the LORD] have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My great warriors, My proudly exulting ones [the Medes and the Persians who triumph for My honor]— To execute My anger.  
Is1304 A sound of tumult on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of the kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle.  
Is1305 They are coming from a distant country, From the end of heaven [the farthest horizon]— The LORD and the weapons of His indignation— To destroy the whole land.  
Is1306 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty (All Sufficient One—Invincible God)!  
Is1307 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man’s heart will melt.  
Is1308 They [of Babylon] will be shocked and terrified, Pains and anguish will grip them; They will be in pain like a woman in childbirth. They will stare aghast and horrified at one another, Their faces aflame [from the effects of the unprecedented warfare].  
Is1309 Listen carefully, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with wrath and raging anger, To make the land a horror [of devastation]; And He shall exterminate its sinners from it.  
Is1310 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash with their light; The sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed its light.  
Is1311 In this way I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their wickedness [their sin, their injustice, their wrongdoing]; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And will abase the arrogance of the tyrant.  
Is1312 I will make mortal man more rare than fine gold, And mankind [scarcer] than the pure gold of Ophir.  
Is1313 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; And the earth will be shaken from its place At the wrath of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger.  
Is1314 And like the hunted gazelle, Or like sheep that no man gathers, Each [foreign resident] will turn [and go back] to his own people, And each one flee to his own land.  
Is1315 Anyone who is found will be pierced through, And anyone who is captured will fall by the sword.  
Is1316 Their children also will be smashed to pieces Before their eyes; Their houses will be looted And their wives ravished.  
Is1317 Listen carefully, I will put the Medes [in motion] against them, Who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold [and therefore cannot be bribed].  
Is1318 Their bows will cut down the young men [of Babylon]; They will take no pity on the fruit of the womb, Their eyes will not look with compassion on the children.  
Is1319 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.  
Is1320 Babylon will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, Nor will the shepherds let their sheep lie down there.  
Is1321 But desert creatures will lie down there, And their houses will be full of owls; Ostriches also will live there, and wild goats will dance there.  
Is1322 Hyenas will howl in their castles, And jackals in their luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time has nearly come, And her days will not be prolonged.  
Is1401 For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob (the captives in Babylon) and will again choose Israel, and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners (Gentiles) will join them [as proselytes] and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob (Israel).  
Is1402 The peoples will take them along and bring them to their own place (Judea), and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of the LORD as male and female servants; and they will take captive those whose captives they have been, and they will rule over their [former] oppressors.  
Is1403 And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and from the harsh service in which you have been enslaved,  
Is1404 that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased [his insolence], And how the fury has ceased!  
Is1405 “The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the [tyrant] rulers  
Is1406 Which used to strike the peoples in anger with incessant blows, Which subdued and ruled the nations in wrath with unrelenting persecution.  
Is1407 “The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break into shouts of joy.  
Is1408 “Even the cypress trees rejoice over you [kings of Babylon], even the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’  
Is1409 “Sheol below is excited about you to meet you when you come [you tyrant of Babylon]; It stirs up the spirits of the dead [to greet you], all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones [in astonishment at your fall].  
Is1410 “All of them will respond [tauntingly] and say to you, ‘You have become as weak as we are. You have become like us.  
Is1411 ‘Your pomp and magnificence have been brought down to Sheol, Along with the music of your harps; The maggots [which prey on the dead] are spread out under you [as a bed] And worms are your covering [Babylonian rulers].’  
Is1412 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning [light-bringer], son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, You who have weakened the nations [king of Babylon]!  
Is1413 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly In the remote parts of the north.  
Is1414 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  
Is1415 “But [in fact] you will be brought down to Sheol, To the remote recesses of the pit (the region of the dead).  
Is1416 “Those who see you will gaze at you, They will consider you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,  
Is1417 Who made the world like a wilderness And overthrew its cities, Who did not permit his prisoners to return home?’  
Is1418 “All the kings of the nations, all of them lie [dead] in glorious array, Each one in his own sepulcher.  
Is1419 “But you [king of Babylon] have been cast out of your tomb (denied burial) Like a rejected branch, Clothed with the slain who are pierced by the sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit [into which carcasses are thrown], Like a dead body trampled [underfoot].  
Is1420 “You will not be united with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land, You have slain your people. May the descendants of evildoers never be named!  
Is1421 “Prepare a slaughtering place for his sons Because of the wickedness [the sin, the injustice, the wrongdoing] of their fathers. They must not rise and take possession of the earth, And fill the face of the world with cities.”  
Is1422 “I will rise up against them,” says the LORD of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and survivors, and son and grandson,” declares the LORD.  
Is1423 “I will also make Babylon a possession of the hedgehog and of swamps of water, and I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of hosts.  
Is1424 The LORD of hosts has sworn [an oath], saying, “Just as I have intended, so it has certainly happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand—  
Is1425 to break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains I will trample him underfoot. Then the Assyrian’s yoke will be removed from them (the people of Judah) and his burden removed from their shoulder.  
Is1426 This is the plan [of God] decided for the whole earth [regarded as conquered and put under tribute by Assyria]; and this is the hand [of God] that is stretched out over all the nations.  
Is1427 For the LORD of hosts has decided and planned, and who can annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”  
Is1428 In the year that King Ahaz [of Judah] died this [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) came:  
Is1429 “Do not rejoice, O Philistia, any of you, Because the rod [of Judah] that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent’s root will come a viper [King Hezekiah of Judah], And its offspring will be a flying serpent.  
Is1430 “The firstborn of the helpless [of Judah] will feed [on My meadows], And the needy will lie down in safety; But I will kill your root with famine, And your survivors will be put to death.  
Is1431 “Howl, O gate; cry, O city! Melt away, O Philistia, all of you; For smoke comes out of the north, And there is no straggler in his ranks and no one stands detached [in Hezekiah’s battalions].  
Is1432 “Then what answer will one give the messengers of the [Philistine] nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the afflicted of His people will seek and find refuge in it.”  
Is1501 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Moab: Because in a night Ar of Moab is devastated and ruined; Because in a night Kir of Moab is devastated and ruined.  
Is1502 They have gone up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba; Everyone’s head is shaved, and every beard is cut off [in mourning].  
Is1503 In their streets they have wrapped themselves with sackcloth; On their [flat] housetops and in their open squares Everyone is wailing, dissolved in tears.  
Is1504 Heshbon and Elealeh [cities claimed by Moab] cry out; Their voice is heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry out; Moab’s soul trembles within him.  
Is1505 My heart cries out for Moab; His fugitives are [fleeing] as far as Zoar and Eglath- shelishiyah. For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping; For on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their destruction.  
Is1506 For the waters of Nimrim are desolate. Indeed the grass is withered, the new growth dies; There is no green thing.  
Is1507 Therefore the abundance which they have acquired and stored away They carry off over the Brook of the Willows.  
Is1508 For the cry of distress has echoed around the territory of Moab; The wailing goes as far as Eglaim and the mournful cry to Beer-elim.  
Is1509 For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; Yet I will bring even more woes on Dimon— A lion upon those of Moab who escape and upon the remnant of the land.  
Is1601 Send lambs to the ruler of the land [you Moabites], From Sela [that is, Petra in Edom] through the wilderness to the mountain of the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem).  
Is1602 For like wandering birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the [river] Arnon.  
Is1603 [Say to the ruler] “Give us advice, make a decision [for Moab, king of Judah]; Cast your shadow [over us] like night in the midst of noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive [to his pursuer].  
Is1604 “Let our outcasts of Moab live among you; Be a [sheltered] hiding place to them from the destroyer.” For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased, Oppressors [who trample men] have completely disappeared from the land,  
Is1605 A throne will be established in lovingkindness, And One will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent (dynasty, family) of David; Judging and seeking justice And being prompt to do righteousness.  
Is1606 We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride— Even of his arrogance, his conceit, his rage, His untruthful boasting.  
Is1607 Therefore Moab will wail for Moab; everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, As those who are utterly stricken and discouraged.  
Is1608 For the fields of Heshbon have languished and withered, and the vines of Sibmah as well; The lords of the nations have trampled down [Moab’s] choice vine branches, Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered into the wilderness; Its tendrils stretched out, they passed over [the shores of] the [Dead] Sea.  
Is1609 Therefore I (Isaiah) will weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vines of Sibmah. I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For the war-cry [of the enemy] has fallen on your summer fruits and your harvest.  
Is1610 Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing or joyful sound; No treader treads out wine in the presses, For I (God) put an end to the joyful shouting.  
Is1611 Therefore my heart sounds like a harp [in mournful compassion] for Moab, And my inner being mourns for Kir-hareseth.  
Is1612 So it will come to pass when Moab presents himself, When he wearies himself [worshiping] on his high place [of idolatry] And comes to his sanctuary [of Chemosh, god of Moab] to pray, That he will not prevail.  
Is1613 This is the word which the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab [when Moab’s pride and resistance to God were first known].  
Is1614 But now the LORD speaks, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man [who will not serve longer than the agreed time], the glory of Moab will be degraded along with all the great population, and the remnant [that survives] will be very small and of no account.”  
Is1701 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Damascus [capital of Aram (Syria), and Israel’s defense against Assyria]. “Listen carefully, Damascus will cease to be a city And will become a fallen ruin.  
Is1702 “The cities of Aroer [east of the Jordan] are deserted; They will be [only a refuge] for flocks to lie down in, And there will be no one to make them afraid.  
Is1703 “The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, And the kingdom from Damascus And the remnant of Aram (Syria); They will be like the [departed] glory of [her ally] the children of Israel,” Declares the LORD of hosts.  
Is1704 “Now in that day the [former] glory of Jacob [Israel—his might, his population, his prosperity] will fade, And the fatness of his flesh will become lean.  
Is1705 “And it will be like the reaper gathering the standing grain, As his arm harvests the ears of grain; Yes, it will be like one gleaning ears of grain In the [fertile] Valley of Rephaim.  
Is1706 “Yet gleanings will be left in the land [of Israel] like the shaking of the olive tree, Two or three olives on the topmost branch, Four or five on the [outermost] branches of the fruitful tree,” Declares the LORD, the God of Israel.  
Is1707 In that day man will have regard for his Maker, And his eyes will regard the Holy One of Israel [with awe-inspired reverence].  
Is1708 And he will not have regard for the [idolatrous] altars, the work of his hands, Nor will he look to that which his fingers have made, Neither the Asherim (symbols of the goddess Asherah) nor the incense altars.  
Is1709 In that day the strong cities of Aram and Israel will be like deserted places in the forest, Or like branches which they abandoned before the children of Israel; And the land will be a desolation.  
Is1710 Because you [Judah] have forgotten the God of your salvation And have not remembered the Rock of your Stronghold— Therefore you plant lovely plants And set the grounds with vine slips of a strange god,  
Is1711 In the day that you plant it you carefully fence it in, And in the morning you bring your seed to blossom; Yet [promising as it is] the harvest will be a heap [of ruins that passes away] In the day of sickness and incurable pain.  
Is1712 Oh, the uproar of many peoples Who roar like the roaring of the seas, And the noise of nations Who roar like the rumbling of mighty waters!  
Is1713 The nations roar on like the roaring of many waters, But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, And be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, Or like whirling dust before the storm.  
Is1714 At evening time, now look, sudden terror! Before morning the Assyrians are no more. This is the portion (fate) of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who pillage us.  
Is1801 Woe (judgment is coming) to the land of whirring wings Which is beyond the rivers of Cush (Ethiopia),  
Is1802 Which sends ambassadors by the sea, Even in vessels of papyrus on the surface of the waters. Go, swift messengers, to a nation [of people] tall and smooth (clean shaven), To a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation Whose land the rivers divide.  
Is1803 All you inhabitants of the world, you who dwell on the earth, When a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it! When a trumpet is blown, you will hear it!  
Is1804 For this is what the LORD has said to me, “I will be quiet and I will look on from My dwelling place, Like shimmering heat above the sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”  
Is1805 For before the harvest, when the blossom is over And the flower becomes a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs [without buds] with pruning knives, And [He will] remove and cut away the spreading branches.  
Is1806 They (warriors) will be left together for the mountain birds of prey, And for the beasts of the earth; And the birds of prey will [spend the] summer feeding on them, And all the beasts of the earth will spend harvest time on them.  
Is1807 At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the LORD of hosts From a people tall and smooth (clean shaven), From a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation, Whose land the rivers divide— To the place [of worship] of the name of the LORD of hosts, to Mount Zion [in Jerusalem].  
Is1901 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Egypt: Listen carefully, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.  
Is1902 “So I will provoke Egyptians against Egyptians; And they will fight, each one against his brother and each one against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.  
Is1903 “Then the spirit of the Egyptians will become exhausted within them and emptied out; And I will confuse their strategy, So that they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, And mediums and soothsayers.  
Is1904 “And I will hand over the Egyptians to a hard and cruel master, And a mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.  
Is1905 The waters from the sea will dry up, And the river will be parched and dry.  
Is1906 The canals will become foul-smelling, The streams of Egypt will thin out and dry up, The reeds and the rushes will rot away.  
Is1907 The meadows by the Nile, by the edge of the Nile, And all the sown fields of the Nile Will become dry, be blown away, and be no more.  
Is1908 The fishermen will lament (cry out in grief), And all those who cast a hook into the Nile will mourn, And those who spread nets upon the waters will languish.  
Is1909 Moreover, those who make linen from combed flax And those who weave white cloth will be ashamed.  
Is1910 [Those who are] the pillars and foundations of Egypt will be crushed; And all those who work for wages will be grieved in soul.  
Is1911 The princes of Zoan are complete fools; The counsel of the Pharaoh’s wisest advisors has become stupid. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings?”  
Is1912 Where then are your wise men? Please let them tell you, And let them understand what the LORD of hosts Has purposed against Egypt [if they can].  
Is1913 The princes of Zoan have acted like fools, The princes of Memphis are deluded [and entertain false hope]; Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes Have led Egypt astray.  
Is1914 The LORD has mixed a spirit of distortion within her; Her leaders have caused Egypt to stagger in all that she does, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.  
Is1915 There will be no work for Egypt Which head or tail, [high] palm branch or [low] bulrush, may do.  
Is1916 In that day the Egyptians will become like [helpless] women, and they will tremble and be frightened because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He is going to wave over them.  
Is1917 The land of Judah [Assyria’s ally] will become a terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the LORD of hosts which He is planning against Egypt.  
Is1918 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of [the Hebrews of] Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One [of them] will be called the City of Destruction.  
Is1919 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a memorial stone to the LORD near its border.  
Is1920 It will become a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior, a [Great] Defender, and He will rescue them.  
Is1921 And so the LORD will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know [heed, honor, and cherish] the LORD in that day. They will even worship with sacrifices [of animals] and offerings [of produce]; they will make a vow to the LORD and fulfill it.  
Is1922 The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing it; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and heal them.  
Is1923 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship and serve [the LORD] with the Assyrians.  
Is1924 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and with Assyria [in a Messianic league], a blessing in the midst of the earth,  
Is1925 whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My heritage.”  
Is2001 In the year that the Tartan [the Assyrian commander in chief] came to Ashdod [in Philistia], when Sargon king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it,  
Is2002 at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, untie the sackcloth from your hips and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking around stripped [to his loincloth] and barefoot.  
Is2003 And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has walked stripped and barefoot for three years as a sign and forewarning concerning Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia),  
Is2004 in the same way the king of Assyria will lead away the Egyptian captives and the Cushite exiles, young and old, stripped and barefoot, even with buttocks uncovered—to the shame of Egypt.  
Is2005 Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast.  
Is2006 So the inhabitants of this coastland [the Israelites and their neighbors] will say in that day, ‘Look what has happened to those in whom we hoped and trusted and to whom we fled for help to be spared from the king of Assyria! But we, how will we escape [captivity and exile]?’”  
Is2101 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning the Desert of the Sea (the seasonally flooded plains just south of Babylon): As windstorms in the Negev (the South) sweep through, So it (God’s judgment) comes from the desert, from [the hostile armies of] a terrifying land.  
Is2102 A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! All the groaning [caused by Babylon’s ruthless oppressions] I [the LORD] have brought to an end.  
Is2103 Therefore [continues Isaiah] my loins are filled with anguish; Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in childbirth; I am so bent and bewildered that I cannot hear, I am so terrified that I cannot see.  
Is2104 My mind reels, horror overwhelms me; The twilight I longed for has been turned into fear and trembling for me.  
Is2105 They set the table [for the doomed banquet], they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains [of Belshazzar’s court], oil your shields [for battle, for your enemy is at the gates]!”  
Is2106 This is what the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.  
Is2107 “When he sees a chariot, horsemen in pairs, A train of donkeys and a train of camels, Let him pay attention and listen closely, very closely.”  
Is2108 And the lookout called like a lion, “O Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower by day, And I am stationed every night at my guard post.  
Is2109 “Now look! Here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the carved images of her gods are shattered on the ground.”  
Is2110 O my threshed people [Judah, who must be judged and trampled down by Babylon], my afflicted of the threshing floor. What I have heard from the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, I have [joyfully] announced to you [that Babylon is to fall].  
Is2111 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Dumah (Edom): Someone keeps calling to me from Seir (Edom), “Watchman, what is left of the night [of Assyrian oppression]? Watchman, what is left of the night? [How long until morning?]”  
Is2112 The watchman says, “The morning comes [only briefly], but also [comes] the night [of Babylonian oppression]. If you would ask [of me then], ask [again, if Edom really wishes to know]; Come back again.”  
Is2113 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, Caravans of Dedanites.  
Is2114 Bring water for the thirsty [Dedanites], O inhabitants of the land of Tema [in Arabia]; Meet the fugitive with bread.  
Is2115 For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, from the bent bow And from the press of battle and grief of war.  
Is2116 For the Lord has said this to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired man [who will work no longer than was agreed], all the splendor of [the tribe of] Kedar will end;  
Is2117 and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.”  
Is2201 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning the Valley of Vision: What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,  
Is2202 You [Jerusalem] who were full of noise, A tumultuous city, a joyous and exuberant city; Your slain were not slain [in a glorious death] with the sword, Nor did they die in battle.  
Is2203 All your leaders have fled together [with your king], And have been captured without the bow [which they had thrown away]; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away.  
Is2204 Therefore I say, “Look away from me; Let me weep bitterly. Do not try to comfort me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”  
Is2205 For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic and of tumult, of trampling, of confusion In the Valley of Vision, A [day of] breaking down walls And a crying [for help] to the mountain.  
Is2206 Elam took up the quiver With the chariots, infantry and horsemen; And Kir uncovered the shield.  
Is2207 And it came to pass that your choicest valleys were full of chariots, And the horsemen took their fixed positions [in an offensive array] at the gate [of Jerusalem].  
Is2208 Then God removed the [protective] covering of Judah; And in that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest (Solomon’s armory).  
Is2209 You saw that the breaches In the wall of the City of David [the citadel of Zion] were many; You collected [within the city’s walls] the waters of the Lower Pool (Siloam).  
Is2210 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And you tore down the houses [to get materials] to fortify the city wall [by extending it].  
Is2211 You also made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the Old Pool, But you did not look to its Maker, Nor did you recognize Him who planned it long ago.  
Is2212 Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to mourning, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth [in humiliation].  
Is2213 Instead, there is joy and jubilation, Killing of oxen and slaughtering of sheep, Eating meat and drinking wine, saying, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”  
Is2214 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself in my ears, “This sin absolutely will not be forgiven you Until you die,” says the Lord GOD of hosts.  
Is2215 For the Lord GOD of hosts says this, “Go to this [contemptible] steward, To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household [but is building himself a tomb worthy of a king, and say to him],  
Is2216 ‘What business do you have here? And whom do you have here, That you have hewn out a tomb here for yourself, You who hew a sepulcher on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock?  
Is2217 ‘Listen carefully, the LORD is about to hurl you away violently, O man; And He is about to grasp you firmly  
Is2218 And roll you up tightly like a ball And toss you into a vast country; There you will die And there your splendid chariots will be, You shame of your master’s house.’  
Is2219 “I will depose you from your office, And you will be pulled down from your position [of importance].  
Is2220 “Then it will come to pass in that day That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah.  
Is2221 “And I will clothe him with your tunic [of distinction] And tie your sash securely around him. I will entrust him with your authority; He will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.  
Is2222 “Then I will set on his shoulder the key of the house of David; When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.  
Is2223 “I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, And he will become a throne of honor and glory to his father’s house.  
Is2224 So they will hang on him all the honor and glory [the complete responsibility] of his father’s house, offspring and issue [of the family, high and low], all the least of the articles, from the bowls to all the jars.  
Is2225 In that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “the peg (Eliakim) that was driven into the firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the burden hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.”  
Is2301 The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For Tyre is destroyed, without house, without harbor; It is reported to them from the land of Cyprus (Kittim).  
Is2302 Be silent, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon; Your messengers crossed the sea  
Is2303 And they were on great waters. The grain of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile River, was Tyre’s revenue; And she was the market of nations.  
Is2304 Be ashamed, O Sidon [mother-city of Tyre, now like a widow bereaved of her children]; For the sea speaks, the stronghold of the sea, saying, “I have neither labored nor given birth [to children]; I have neither brought up young men nor reared virgins.”  
Is2305 When the report reaches Egypt, They will be in agony at the report about Tyre.  
Is2306 Cross over to Tarshish [to seek safety as exiles]; Wail, O inhabitants of the coastland [of Tyre].  
Is2307 Is this your jubilant city, Whose origin dates back to antiquity, Whose feet used to carry her [far away] to colonize distant places?  
Is2308 Who has planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, Whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?  
Is2309 The LORD of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To bring into contempt and humiliation all the honored of the earth.  
Is2310 Overflow your land like [the overflow of] the Nile, O Daughter of Tarshish; There is no more restraint [on you to make you pay tribute to Tyre].  
Is2311 He has stretched out His hand over the sea, He has shaken the kingdoms; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to destroy her strongholds and her fortresses [like Tyre and Sidon].  
Is2312 He has said, “You shall never again exult [in triumph], O crushed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest.”  
Is2313 Now look at the land of the Chaldeans (Babylonia)—this is the people which was not; the Assyrians allocated Tyre for desert creatures—they set up their siege towers, they stripped its palaces, they made it a ruin.  
Is2314 Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold [of Tyre] is destroyed.  
Is2315 Now in that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the prostitute’s song:  
Is2316 Take a harp, walk around the city, O forgotten prostitute; Play the strings skillfully, sing many songs, That you may be remembered.  
Is2317 It will come to pass at the end of seventy years that the LORD will remember Tyre. Then she will return to her prostitute’s wages and will play the [role of a] prostitute [by trading] with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.  
Is2318 But her commercial gain and her prostitute’s wages will be dedicated to the LORD; it will not be treasured or stored up, but her commercial gain will become sufficient food and stately clothing for those who dwell (minister) in the presence of the LORD.  
Is2401 Behold, the LORD lays waste to the earth, devastates it, twists and distorts its face and scatters its inhabitants.  
Is2402 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor [as God’s impartial judgment of sin comes on all].  
Is2403 The earth will be completely laid waste and utterly pillaged, for the LORD has spoken this word.  
Is2404 The earth dries up and crumbles away, the world dries out and crumbles away, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.  
Is2405 The earth also is polluted by its inhabitants, because they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.  
Is2406 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live on it suffer the punishment of their guilt. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned [under the curse of God’s wrath], and few people are left.  
Is2407 The new wine mourns, The vine decays; All the merry-hearted sigh and groan.  
Is2408 The mirth of the timbrels (tambourines) ceases, The noise of those who rejoice ends, The joy of the harp ceases.  
Is2409 They do not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.  
Is2410 The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that no one may enter.  
Is2411 There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All jubilation is darkened, The joy of the earth is banished.  
Is2412 Horrible desolation is left in the city, And the gate is battered into ruins.  
Is2413 For so it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over [and only a little of the fruit remains].  
Is2414 They [who have escaped and remain] raise their voices, they shout for joy; They rejoice from the [Mediterranean] Sea in the majesty of the LORD.  
Is2415 Therefore honor and glorify the LORD in the east [in the region of light], The name of the LORD, the God of Israel [honor His name], In the coastlands and islands of the [Mediterranean] Sea.  
Is2416 From the ends of the earth we hear songs, “Glory and honor to the Righteous One,” But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe to me! The treacherous deal treacherously, Indeed, the treacherous deal very treacherously.”  
Is2417 Terror and pit [of destruction] and snare Confront you, O inhabitant of the earth.  
Is2418 Then it will be that he who flees at the sound of terror will fall into the pit, And he who comes up out of the pit will be caught in the snare; For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.  
Is2419 The earth is broken completely apart, The earth is split apart, The earth is shaken violently.  
Is2420 The earth reels back and forth like a drunkard And sways like a shack; Its transgression lies heavily upon it, And it will fall and not rise again.  
Is2421 So it will happen in that day That the LORD will visit and punish the host (fallen angels) of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on the earth.  
Is2422 They will be gathered together As prisoners [are gathered] in a dungeon; They will be shut up in prison, And after many days they will be visited and punished.  
Is2423 Then the full moon will be embarrassed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory and brilliance will shine before His elders.  
Is2501 O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise and give thanks to Your name; For You have done miraculous things, Plans formed long, long ago, [fulfilled] with perfect faithfulness.  
Is2502 For You have made a city into a heap [of trash], A fortified city into a ruin; A palace of foreigners is no longer a city, It will never be rebuilt.  
Is2503 Therefore a strong people will honor You; Cities of terrible and violent nations will fear You.  
Is2504 For You have been a stronghold for the helpless, A stronghold for the poor in his distress, A shelter from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of tyrants Is like a rainstorm against a wall.  
Is2505 Like heat in a dry land, You will subdue the noise of foreigners [rejoicing over their enemies]; Like heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the tyrants is silenced.  
Is2506 On this mountain [Zion] the LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples [to welcome His reign on earth], A banquet of aged wines—choice pieces [flavored] with marrow, Of refined, aged wines.  
Is2507 And on this mountain He will destroy the covering that is [cast] over all peoples, And the veil [of death] that is woven and spread over all the nations.  
Is2508 He will swallow up death [and abolish it] for all time. And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, And He will take away the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.  
Is2509 It will be said in that day, “Indeed, this is our God for whom we have waited that He would save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us shout for joy and rejoice in His salvation.”  
Is2510 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain [Zion], And Moab will be trampled down in his place As straw is trampled down in the [filthy] water of a manure pile.  
Is2511 And Moab will spread out his hands in the middle of the filth As a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim, But the Lord will humiliate his pride in spite of the [skillful] movements of his hands.  
Is2512 The high fortifications of your walls He will bring down, Lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.  
Is2601 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as walls and ramparts.  
Is2602 “Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful and trustworthy.  
Is2603 “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].  
Is2604 “Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], For the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].  
Is2605 “For He has thrown down the [arrogant] ones who dwell on high, the lofty and inaccessible city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He hurls it to the dust.  
Is2606 “The foot will trample it, Even the feet of the suffering, and the steps of the helpless.”  
Is2607 The way of the righteous [those in right-standing with God—living in moral and spiritual integrity] is smooth and level; O Upright One, make a level path for the just and righteous.  
Is2608 Indeed, in the path of Your judgments, O LORD, We have waited expectantly for You; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire and deep longing of our souls.  
Is2609 In the night my soul longs for You [O LORD], Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For [only] when Your judgments are experienced on the earth Will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.  
Is2610 Though the wicked is shown compassion and favor, He does not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he deals unjustly, And refuses to see the majesty of the LORD.  
Is2611 Though Your hand is lifted up [to strike], O LORD, the wicked do not see it. Let them see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame; Indeed, let the fire reserved for Your enemies consume them.  
Is2612 LORD, You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed for us all that we have done.  
Is2613 O LORD our God, other masters besides You have ruled over us; But through You alone we confess Your name.  
Is2614 The [wicked] dead will not live [again], the spirits of the dead will not rise and return; Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, And You have wiped out every memory of them [every trace of them].  
Is2615 You have increased the nation, O LORD; You have increased the nation, You are glorified; You have extended all the borders of the land.  
Is2616 O LORD, they sought You in distress; They managed only a prayerful whisper When Your discipline was upon them.  
Is2617 As a woman with child approaches the time to give birth, She is in pain and struggles and cries out in her labor, So we were before You, O LORD.  
Is2618 We have been with child, we have twisted and struggled in labor; We gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish salvation for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born.  
Is2619 Your dead will live; Their dead bodies will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy! For your dew is a dew of [celestial] light [heavenly, supernatural], And the earth will give birth to the spirits of the dead.  
Is2620 Come, my people, enter your chambers And shut your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until the [LORD’S] wrath is past.  
Is2621 Listen carefully, the LORD is about to come out of His [heavenly] place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their wickedness [their sin, their injustice, their wrongdoing]; The earth will reveal the [innocent] blood shed upon her And will no longer cover her slain.  
Is2701 In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent With His fierce and great and mighty sword [rescuing Israel from her enemy], Even Leviathan the twisted serpent; And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea.  
Is2702 In that day [it will be said of the redeemed nation of Israel], “A vineyard of wine, sing in praise of it!  
Is2703 “I, the LORD, am its Keeper; I water it every moment. So that no one will harm it, I guard it night and day.  
Is2704 “I have no wrath. Should anyone give Me briars and thorns in battle, I would step on them, I would set them all on fire.  
Is2705 “Or let him (Israel) cling to My strength and rely on My protection [My stronghold], Let him make peace with Me, Let him make peace with Me.”  
Is2706 In the generations to come Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and sprout, And they will fill the surface of the world with fruit.  
Is2707 Like the striking by Him who has struck them, has He struck them? Or like the slaughter of His slain, have they been slain?  
Is2708 You contended with them by exile, by driving them away [from Canaan]; He has expelled them with His fierce wind on the day of the east wind.  
Is2709 Therefore through this the wickedness [the sin, the injustice, the wrongdoing] of Jacob (Israel) will be atoned for and forgiven; And this will be the full price [that God requires] for taking away his sin: When Israel makes all the stones of the [pagan] altars like crushed chalk stones; When the Asherim and the incense altars will not stand.  
Is2710 For the fortified city is isolated, A settlement deserted and abandoned like the desert; There the calf will graze, And there it will lie down and feed on its branches.  
Is2711 When its branches are dry, they are broken off; The women come and make a fire with them. For they are not a people of understanding, Therefore He who made them will not have compassion on them, And He who created them will not be gracious to them.  
Is2712 In that day the LORD will thresh [out His grain] from the flowing stream of the River [Euphrates] to the Brook of Egypt, and you will be gathered up one by one, O sons of Israel.  
Is2713 It will come to pass in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost and perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.  
Is2801 Woe (judgment is coming) to [Samaria] the splendid crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, And to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the rich valley Of those who are overcome with wine!  
Is2802 Listen carefully, the Lord has a strong and mighty agent [the Assyrian]; Like a tempest of hail, a disastrous storm, Like a tempest of mighty overflowing waters, He has cast it down to the earth with His hand.  
Is2803 The splendid crown of the drunkards of Ephraim is trampled by [the foreigners’] feet.  
Is2804 And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, Which is at the head of the rich valley, Will be like the early fig before the summer, Which one sees, And as soon as it is in his hand He [greedily] swallows it [and so will the Assyrians rapidly devour Samaria, Israel’s capital].  
Is2805 In that day the LORD of hosts will become a magnificent crown And a glorious diadem to the [converted] remnant of His people,  
Is2806 A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment [administering the law], A strength to those who drive back the battle at the gate.  
Is2807 But even these reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink; They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while seeing visions, They stagger when pronouncing judgment.  
Is2808 For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, so that there is no place [that is clean.]  
Is2809 They say “To whom would He teach knowledge? And to whom would He explain the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?  
Is2810 “For He says, ‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Rule upon rule, rule upon rule, Here a little, there a little.’”  
Is2811 Indeed, the LORD will teach this people [in a more humiliating way] By [men with] stammering lips and a foreign tongue,  
Is2812 He who said to them, “This is the place of quiet, give rest to the weary,” And, “This is the resting place,” yet they would not listen.  
Is2813 Therefore the word of the LORD to them will be [merely monotonous repetitions]: “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Rule upon rule, rule upon rule, Here a little, there a little.” That they may go and stumble backward, and be broken, ensnared, and taken captive.  
Is2814 Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you arrogant men Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem!  
Is2815 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol (the place of the dead) we have made an agreement, When the overwhelming scourge passes by, it will not reach us, For we have made lies our refuge and we have concealed ourselves in deception.”  
Is2816 Therefore the Lord GOD says this, “Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone, A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed. He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].  
Is2817 “I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the mason’s level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies And waters will flood over the secret [hiding] place.  
Is2818 “Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol (the place of the dead) will not stand; When the overwhelming scourge passes through, Then you will become its trampling ground.  
Is2819 “As often as it passes through, it will seize you; For morning after morning it will pass through, by day and by night, And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.”  
Is2820 For the bed is too short to stretch out on, And the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself [and likewise all their preparations are inadequate].  
Is2821 For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be stirred up as in the Valley of Gibeon, To do His work, His unusual and incredible work, And to accomplish His work, His extraordinary work.  
Is2822 Now do not carry on as scoffers, Or the bands which bind you will be made stronger; For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts [a decree] Of decisive destruction on all the earth.  
Is2823 Listen and hear my voice; Listen carefully and hear my words.  
Is2824 Does the farmer plow all day to plant seed? Does he continually dig furrows and harrow his ground [after it is prepared]?  
Is2825 When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow [the seed of] dill and scatter cumin, And plant wheat in rows, And barley in its [intended] place and rye within its border?  
Is2826 For his God instructs [him correctly] and teaches him properly.  
Is2827 For dill is not threshed with a sharp threshing sledge, Nor is a cartwheel rolled over cumin; But dill is beaten out with a staff, and cumin with a rod.  
Is2828 Bread grain is crushed fine, Indeed, the farmer does not continue to thresh it forever. Because the wheel of his cart and his horses eventually damage it, He does not thresh it longer.  
Is2829 This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great.  
Is2901 Woe (judgment is coming) to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David [once] camped! Add yet another year; let the feasts run their course [but only one year more].  
Is2902 Then I will harass Ariel, And she will be a city of mourning and lamenting (crying out in grief) Yet she will be like an Ariel [an altar hearth] to Me.  
Is2903 I will camp against you and encircle you, And I will hem you in with siege works, And I will raise fortifications against you.  
Is2904 Then you [Jerusalem] will be brought low, You will speak from the earth, And from the dust where you lie face down Your muffled words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the earth [like one produced by a medium], And your speech will whisper and squeak from the dust.  
Is2905 But the multitude of your enemies [that assault you] will become like fine dust, And the multitude of the tyrants like the chaff which blows away; And it will happen in an instant, suddenly [that your enemy is destroyed].  
Is2906 You will be punished by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.  
Is2907 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel (Jerusalem), Even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, Will be like a dream, a vision of the night.  
Is2908 It will be as when a hungry man dreams That he is eating, But when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied; Or as when a thirsty man dreams That he is drinking, But when he awakens, in fact, he is faint And his thirst is not quenched. So will the multitude of all the nations be Who fight against Mount Zion.  
Is2909 Stop and take some time and wonder [at this prophecy], Blind yourselves and be blinded [at its fulfillment by your spiritual incompetence]. They are drunk, but not from wine; They stagger, but not from strong drink.  
Is2910 For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep. He has closed your eyes, [you who are] the prophets; And He has covered your heads, [you who are] the seers.  
Is2911 The entire vision [of all these things] will be to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which they give to one who can read, saying, “Read this, please,” he shall say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”  
Is2912 Then the book will be given to the one who cannot read, saying, “Read this, please.” And he will say, “I cannot read.”  
Is2913 Then the Lord said, “Because this nation approaches [Me only] with their words And honors Me [only] with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me is a tradition that is learned by rote [without any regard for its meaning],  
Is2914 Therefore, listen carefully, I will again do marvelous and amazing things with this people, wonderful and astonishing things; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the understanding of their discerning men will be hidden.”  
Is2915 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who [try to] deeply hide their plans from the LORD, Whose deeds are done in a dark place, And who say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”  
Is2916 You turn things upside down [with your perversity]! Shall the potter be considered equal with the clay, That the thing that is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or the thing that is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?  
Is2917 Is it not yet a very little while Until Lebanon will be turned into a fertile field, And the fertile field regarded as a forest?  
Is2918 On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see [the words of the book].  
Is2919 The afflicted also will increase their joy in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice and celebrate in the Holy One of Israel.  
Is2920 For the tyrant will come to an end and the scorner will be finished, Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off—  
Is2921 Those who cause a person to be condemned with a [false] word, And lay a trap for him who upholds justice at the [city] gate, And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments.  
Is2922 Therefore, the LORD, who redeemed Abraham [from paganism] says this, concerning the house of Jacob (Israel): “Jacob will not be ashamed, nor will his face turn pale [with disappointment because of his children’s degenerate behavior];  
Is2923 For when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, They will sanctify My Name; They will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob And will stand in awe and reverent fear of the God of Israel.  
Is2924 “Those who err in mind will know the truth, And those who criticize and murmur discontentedly will accept instruction.  
Is3001 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “Who carry out a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance [by pouring out a libation], but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin;  
Is3002 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the stronghold of Pharaoh And to take shelter in the shadow of Egypt!  
Is3003 “Therefore the safety and protection of Pharaoh will be your shame And the refuge in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation and disgrace.  
Is3004 “For his princes are at Zoan And his ambassadors arrive at Hanes [in Egypt].  
Is3005 “All will be ashamed because of a people (the Egyptians) who cannot benefit them, Who are not a help or benefit, but a shame and also a disgrace.”  
Is3006 A [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning the beasts of the Negev (the South): Through a land of trouble and anguish, From where come lioness and lion, viper and [fiery] flying serpent, They carry their riches on the shoulders of young donkeys And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people (Egyptians) who cannot benefit them.  
Is3007 For Egypt’s help is worthless and good for nothing. Therefore, I have called her “Rahab Who Has Been Exterminated.”  
Is3008 Now, go, write it on a tablet before them And inscribe it on a scroll, So that it may serve in the time to come As a witness [against them] forevermore.  
Is3009 For this is a rebellious people, lying sons, Sons who refuse to listen to The law and instruction of the LORD;  
Is3010 Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions from God”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right! Speak to us pleasant things and smooth words, Prophesy [deceitful] illusions [that we will enjoy].  
Is3011 “Get out of the [true] way, turn aside from the path [of God], Stop bothering us with the Holy One of Israel.”  
Is3012 Therefore, the Holy One of Israel says this, “Because you have refused and rejected this word [of Mine] And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them,  
Is3013 Therefore this wickedness [this sin, this injustice, this wrongdoing] will be to you Like a crack [in a wall] about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant,  
Is3014 Whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, Crushed so savagely that there cannot be found among its pieces a potsherd [large enough] To take [coals of] fire from a fireplace, Or to scoop water from a cistern.”  
Is3015 For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said this, “In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confident trust is your strength.” But you were not willing,  
Is3016 And you said, “No! We will flee on horses!” Therefore you will flee [from your enemies]! And [you said], “We will ride on swift horses!” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.  
Is3017 A thousand of you will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left like a flag on the top of a mountain, And like a signal on a hill.  
Is3018 Therefore the LORD waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].  
Is3019 O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will most certainly be gracious to you at the sound of your cry for help; when He hears it, He will answer you.  
Is3020 Though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of oppression, yet your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will [constantly] see your Teacher.  
Is3021 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.  
Is3022 And you will defile your carved images overlaid with silver, and your cast images plated with gold. You will scatter them like a bloodstained cloth, and will say to them, “Be gone!”  
Is3023 Then He will give you rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread [grain] from the produce of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful. In that day your livestock will graze in large and roomy pastures.  
Is3024 Also the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, which has been winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.  
Is3025 On every lofty mountain and on every high hill there will be streams of water on the day of the great slaughter (the day of the LORD), when the towers fall [and all His enemies are destroyed].  
Is3026 The light of the full moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days [concentrated in one], in the day the LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the wound He has inflicted [because of their sins].  
Is3027 Now look, the name of the LORD comes from far away, Burning with His anger, and heavy with smoke; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue is like a consuming fire.  
Is3028 His breath is like an overflowing river, Which reaches to the neck, To sift the nations back and forth in a sieve [of disaster], And to put in the jaws of the peoples the bridle which leads to ruin.  
Is3029 You will have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, And joy of heart as when one marches [in procession] with a flute, To go to the [temple on the] mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.  
Is3030 And the LORD will make His majestic voice heard, And show the descending of His arm [striking] in [His] fierce anger, And in the flame of a devouring fire, In the crashing sound of heavy rain, cloudburst, and hailstones.  
Is3031 For at the voice of the LORD the Assyrians will be terrified, When He strikes [them] with the rod.  
Is3032 And every blow of the rod of punishment, Which the LORD will lay on them, Will be to the music of Israel’s tambourines and lyres; And in battles, brandishing weapons, He will fight Assyria.  
Is3033 For Topheth [in Hinnom] has long been ready; Indeed, it has been prepared for the [Assyrian] king. He has made it deep and wide, A pit of fire with plenty of wood; The breath of the LORD, like a river of brimstone (blazing sulfur), kindles and fans it.  
Is3101 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who go down to Egypt for help, Who rely on horses And trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek and consult the LORD!  
Is3102 Yet He is also wise and will bring disaster, And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers And against the helpers of those who do evil.  
Is3103 Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; And the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he (Egypt) who helps will stumble, And he (Judah) who is helped will fall, And all of them will perish together.  
Is3104 For so the LORD says to me, “As the lion or the young lion growls over his prey, And though a large group of shepherds is called out against him He will not be terrified at their voice nor cringe at their noise, So the LORD of hosts will come down to wage war on Mount Zion and on its hill.”  
Is3105 Like flying birds, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will protect and save it, He will pass over and rescue it.  
Is3106 Return to Him from whom you have so deeply defected, O sons of Israel.  
Is3107 For in that day every man will reject and throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold [in disgust], which your own hands have sinfully made for you.  
Is3108 Then the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of man will devour him. And he will flee from the sword [of God], And his young men will become forced labor.  
Is3109 “His rock [his stronghold] will pass away because of panic, And his princes will be terrified at the [sight of the battle] standard,” Declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.  
Is3201 Behold, a King will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice.  
Is3202 Each [one of them] will be like a hiding place from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry land, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched and weary land [to those who turn to them].  
Is3203 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen attentively.  
Is3204 The heart (mind) of those who act impulsively will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hurry to speak clearly.  
Is3205 The fool (the good-for-nothing) will no longer be called noble, Nor the rogue said to be generous.  
Is3206 For the fool speaks nonsense, And his heart (mind) plans wickedness: To practice ungodliness and to speak error concerning the LORD, To keep the craving of the hungry unsatisfied And to deprive the thirsty of drink.  
Is3207 As for the rogue, his weapons are evil; He conceives wicked plans To ruin the poor with lies, Even when the plea of the needy one is just and right.  
Is3208 But the noble man conceives noble and magnificent things; And he stands by what is noble and magnificent.  
Is3209 Rise up, you women who are carefree, And hear my voice, You confident and unsuspecting daughters! Listen to what I am saying.  
Is3210 In little more than a year You will tremble [with anxiety], you unsuspecting and complacent women; For the vintage has ended, And the harvest will not come.  
Is3211 Tremble, you women who are carefree; Tremble with fear, you complacent ones! Strip, undress and wear sackcloth on your waist [in grief],  
Is3212 Beat your breasts [in mourning] for the beautiful fields, for the fruitful vine,  
Is3213 For the land of my people growing over with thorns and briars— Yes, [mourn] for all the houses of joy in the joyous city.  
Is3214 For the palace has been abandoned, the populated city deserted; The hill [of the city] and the watchtower have become caves [for wild animals] forever, A delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks,  
Is3215 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is valued as a forest.  
Is3216 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness will live in the fertile field.  
Is3217 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.  
Is3218 Then my people will live in a peaceful surrounding, And in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places.  
Is3219 But it will hail, when the forest comes down, And the [capital] city will fall in utter humiliation.  
Is3220 Blessed (happy, fortunate) are you who cast your seed upon all waters [when the river overflows its banks and irrigates the land], You who allow the ox and the donkey to roam freely.  
Is3301 Woe (judgment is coming) to you, O destroyer, You who were not destroyed, And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him. As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed; As soon as you stop dealing treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.  
Is3302 O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] for You. Be the arm of Your servants every morning [that is, their strength and their defense], Our salvation also in the time of trouble.  
Is3303 At the sound of the tumult, the peoples flee; At the lifting up of Yourself nations scatter.  
Is3304 Your spoil [of Israel’s foe] is gathered [by the people of Jerusalem] as the caterpillar gathers; As locusts swarming so people swarm on it.  
Is3305 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.  
Is3306 And He will be the security and stability of your times, A treasure of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is your treasure.  
Is3307 Now look, their brave men shout outside; The ambassadors [seeking a treaty] of peace weep bitterly.  
Is3308 The highways are deserted, the traveler has ceased [to appear]. The enemy has broken the covenant, he has rejected the cities, He has no regard for [any] man.  
Is3309 The land mourns and dries out, Lebanon is shamed and [its lush foliage] withers; Sharon is like a desert plain, And Bashan and [Mount] Carmel shake off their leaves.  
Is3310 “Now I will arise,” says the LORD. “Now I will be exalted; now I will be lifted up.  
Is3311 “You have conceived dried grass, you will give birth to stubble; My breath is a fire that will consume you.  
Is3312 “The peoples will be burned to lime, Like thorns cut down which are burned in the fire.  
Is3313 “You who are far away, hear what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might.”  
Is3314 The sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. [They cry] “Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with everlasting burning?”  
Is3315 He who walks righteously and speaks with integrity, Who rejects gain from fraud and from oppression, Who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil;  
Is3316 He will dwell on the heights, His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, His bread will be given him; His water will be permanent.  
Is3317 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see a far-distant land.  
Is3318 Your mind will meditate on the terror [asking]: “Where is he who counts? Where is he who weighs [the tribute]? Where is he who counts the towers?”  
Is3319 You will no longer see the fierce and insolent people, A people of unintelligible speech which no one comprehends, Of a strange and stammering tongue which no one understands.  
Is3320 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts and observances; Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a undisturbed settlement, A tent which will not be taken down; Not one of its stakes will ever be pulled up, Nor any of its ropes be severed.  
Is3321 But there the mighty and magnificent LORD will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams, Where no oar-driven boat will go, And on which no mighty and stately ship will pass.  
Is3322 For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Ruler, The LORD is our King; He will save us.  
Is3323 Your ship’s ropes (tackle) hang loose; They cannot hold the base of their mast firmly, Nor spread out the sail. Then an abundance of spoil and plunder will be divided; Even the lame will take the plunder.  
Is3324 And no inhabitant [of Zion] will say, “I am sick”; The people who dwell there will be forgiven their wickedness [their sin, their injustice, their wrongdoing].  
Is3401 Come near, you nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all that is in it hear, and the world and all that comes forth from it.  
Is3402 For the LORD is angry at all the nations, And His wrath is against all their armies; He has utterly doomed them, He has given them over to slaughter.  
Is3403 So their slain will be thrown out, And the stench of their corpses will rise, And the mountains will flow with their blood.  
Is3404 All the host of heaven will be dissolved, And the skies will be rolled up like a scroll; All their hosts [the stars and the planets] will also wither away As a leaf withers from the vine, And as a fig withers from the fig tree.  
Is3405 For My sword is satiated [with blood] in heaven; Indeed, it will come down for judgment on Edom And on the people whom I have doomed for destruction.  
Is3406 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood [from sacrifices], It drips with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah (Edom’s capital city) And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.  
Is3407 Wild oxen will also fall with them And the young bulls with the strong bulls; And their land will be soaked with blood, And their dust made greasy with fat.  
Is3408 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of retribution for the cause of Zion.  
Is3409 The streams [of Edom] will be turned into pitch, And its dust into brimstone, And its land will become burning pitch.  
Is3410 The burning will not be quenched night or day; Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation it will lie in ruins; No one will ever again pass through it.  
Is3411 But the pelican and the porcupine will take possession of it; The owl and the raven will dwell in it. And He will stretch over it (Edom) the measuring line of desolation And the plumb line of emptiness.  
Is3412 Its nobles—there is no one there Whom they may proclaim king— And all its princes will be nothing.  
Is3413 Thorns will come up in its fortified palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortified cities; It will be a haunt for jackals, An abode for ostriches.  
Is3414 The creatures of the desert will encounter jackals And the hairy goat will call to its kind; Indeed, Lilith (night demon) will settle there And find herself a place of rest.  
Is3415 There the arrow snake will make her nest and lay her eggs, And hatch them and gather her young under her protection; Indeed, the birds of prey will be gathered there [to breed], Every one with its own kind.  
Is3416 Seek from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these [creatures] will be missing; None will lack its mate. For His mouth has commanded, And His Spirit has gathered them.  
Is3417 The LORD has cast the lot for them, And His hand has divided and apportioned Edom to the wild beasts by measuring-line. They will possess it forever; From generation to generation they will dwell in it.  
Is3501 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; The Arabah (desert) will shout in exultation and blossom Like the autumn crocus.  
Is3502 It will blossom abundantly And rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of [Mount] Carmel and [the plain] of Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty and splendor of our God.  
Is3503 Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm.  
Is3504 Say to those with an anxious and panic-stricken heart, “Be strong, fear not! Indeed, your God will come with vengeance [for the ungodly]; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.”  
Is3505 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.  
Is3506 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the desert.  
Is3507 And the burning sand (mirage) will become a pool [of water] And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, where they lay resting, Grass becomes reeds and rushes.  
Is3508 A highway will be there, and a roadway; And it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed]; And fools will not wander on it.  
Is3509 No lion will be there, Nor will any predatory animal come up on it; They will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there.  
Is3510 And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come to Zion with shouts of jubilation, And everlasting joy will be upon their heads; They will find joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.  
Is3601 Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them.  
Is3602 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh [his military commander] from Lachish [the Judean fortress commanding the road from Egypt] to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem with a large army. And he stood by the canal of the Upper Pool on the highway to the Fuller’s Field.  
Is3603 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the [royal] household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recording historian, came out to [meet] him.  
Is3604 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria says, “What is [the reason for] this confidence that you have?  
Is3605 I say, ‘Your plan and strength for the war are only empty words.’ Now in whom do you trust and on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?  
Is3606 Listen carefully, you rely on the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.  
Is3607 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in and rely on the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?  
Is3608 So now, exchange pledges with my master the king of Assyria and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to put riders on them.  
Is3609 How then can you repulse [the attack of] a single commander of the least of my master’s servants, and rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?  
Is3610 Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have now come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’”  
Is3611 Then Eliakim and Shebna and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please, speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak to us in Judean (Hebrew) in the hearing of the people who are [stationed] on the wall.”  
Is3612 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, doomed to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?”  
Is3613 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Judean (Hebrew): “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.  
Is3614 This is what the king says, ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you;  
Is3615 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will most certainly rescue us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  
Is3616 Do not listen to Hezekiah,’ for this is what the king of Assyria says, ‘Make peace with me and come out to me, and each one of you will eat from his own vine and each from his own fig tree and each [one of you] drink from the water of his own cistern,  
Is3617 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.  
Is3618 Beware that Hezekiah does not mislead you by saying, “The LORD will rescue us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations [ever] rescued his land from the hand of the king of Assyria?  
Is3619 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad [in Aram]? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? And when have they rescued Samaria from my hand?  
Is3620 Who among all the gods of these lands have rescued their land from my hand, that [you should think that] the LORD would rescue Jerusalem from my hand?’”  
Is3621 But they kept silent and did not say a word to him in reply, for King Hezekiah’s command was, “Do not answer him.”  
Is3622 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph, the recording historian, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn [in grief], and told him the words of the Rabshakeh [the Assyrian commander].  
Is3701 And when King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the LORD.  
Is3702 Then he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the [royal] household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.  
Is3703 They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke and disgrace; for children have come to birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.  
Is3704 It may be that the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh [the commander], whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will avenge the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left.’”  
Is3705 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.  
Is3706 Isaiah said to them, “You shall say the following to your master: ‘This is what the LORD says, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.  
Is3707 Listen carefully, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’”  
Is3708 So the Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah [a fortified city of Judah], for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.  
Is3709 And Sennacherib king of Assyria, heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush (Ethiopia), “He has come out to fight against you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,  
Is3710 “You shall say to Hezekiah king of Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  
Is3711 Listen carefully, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, utterly destroying them. So will you be rescued?  
Is3712 Did the gods of the nations which my fathers destroyed rescue them—Gozan, Haran [of Mesopotamia], Rezeph, and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar?  
Is3713 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad [of northern Syria], the king of the city of Sepharvaim, [the king of] Hena, or [the king of] Ivvah?’”  
Is3714 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.  
Is3715 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD saying,  
Is3716 “O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.  
Is3717 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib that he has sent to taunt and defy the living God.  
Is3718 It is true, O LORD, that the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their lands,  
Is3719 and have cast the gods [of those peoples] into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them.  
Is3720 Now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know and fully realize that You alone, LORD, are God.”  
Is3721 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah, saying, “For the LORD, the God of Israel says this, ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria,  
Is3722 this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: “She has shown contempt for you and mocked you, The Virgin Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem); She has shaken her head behind you, The Daughter of Jerusalem!  
Is3723 “Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice And haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!  
Is3724 “Through your servants you have taunted and defied the Lord, And you have said, ‘With my many chariots I have gone up to the heights of the mountains, To the remotest parts of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars and its choicest cypress trees; And I will go to its remotest height, its most luxuriant and thickest forest.  
Is3725 ‘I dug wells and drank [foreign] waters, And with the sole of my feet I dried up All the canals [of the Nile] of Egypt.’  
Is3726 “Have you not heard [says the God of Israel] That I did it long ago, That I planned it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, That you [king of Assyria] would [be My instrument to] turn fortified cities into ruinous heaps.  
Is3727 “Therefore their inhabitants had little power, They were terrorized and shamed; They were like the grass of the field and the green vegetation, Like grass on the housetops and like a field [of grain] scorched before it is grown.  
Is3728 “But I know your sitting down And your going out and your coming in [every detail of your life], And your raging against Me.  
Is3729 “Because your raging against Me And your arrogance has come up to My ears, I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your mouth, And I will turn you back by the way you came.  
Is3730 “This shall be the sign [of these things] to you [Hezekiah]: you are to eat this year what grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same, and in the third year you are to sow and harvest, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit.  
Is3731 The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward.  
Is3732 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant and from Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”’  
Is3733 “Therefore, the LORD says this concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with shield, or raise an assault ramp against it.  
Is3734 By the way that he came, by the same way he will return, and he will not come into this city,’ declares the LORD.  
Is3735 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”  
Is3736 And the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when the [surviving] men got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead.  
Is3737 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned and lived at Nineveh.  
Is3738 It came to pass as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons killed him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat [in Armenia]. And Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.  
Is3801 In those days Hezekiah [king of Judah] became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “For the LORD says this, ‘Set your house in order and prepare a will, for you shall die; you will not live.’”  
Is3802 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,  
Is3803 and said, “Please, O LORD, just remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness and truth, and with a whole heart [absolutely devoted to You], and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept greatly.  
Is3804 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying,  
Is3805 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘For the LORD, the God of David your father says this, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; listen carefully, I will add fifteen years to your life.  
Is3806 I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city [Jerusalem].”’  
Is3807 “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken:  
Is3808 Listen carefully, I will turn the shadow on the stairway [denoting the time of day] ten steps backward, the shadow on the stairway (sundial) of Ahaz.” And the sunlight went ten steps backward on the stairway where it had [previously] gone down.  
Is3809 This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after he had been sick and had recovered from his illness:  
Is3810 I said, “In mid-life I am to go through the gates of Sheol (the place of the dead), I am to be summoned, deprived of the remainder of my years.”  
Is3811 I said, “I will not see the LORD, The LORD in the land of the living; I will no longer see man among the inhabitants of the world.  
Is3812 “My dwelling (body) is pulled up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have rolled up my life as a weaver [rolls up the finished web]. He cuts me free from the warp [of the loom]; From day to night You bring me to an end.  
Is3813 “I lay down until morning. Like a lion, so He breaks all my bones; From day until night You bring me to an end.  
Is3814 “Like a swallow, like a crane, so I chirp; I coo like a dove. My eyes look wistfully upward; O Lord, I am oppressed, take my side and be my security.  
Is3815 “What shall I say? For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it; I will wander aimlessly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.  
Is3816 “O Lord, by these things men live, And in all these is the life of my spirit; Restore me to health and let me live!  
Is3817 “Indeed, it was for my own well-being that I had such bitterness; But You have loved back my life from the pit of nothingness (destruction), For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.  
Is3818 “For Sheol cannot praise or thank You, Death cannot praise You and rejoice in You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.  
Is3819 “It is the living who give praise and thanks to You, as I do today; A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.  
Is3820 “The LORD is ready to save me; Therefore we will play my songs on stringed instruments All the days of our lives at the house of the LORD.”  
Is3821 Now Isaiah had said, “Have them take a cake of figs and rub it [as an ointment] on the inflamed spot, that he may recover.”  
Is3822 Hezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?”  
Is3901 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent [messengers with] letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered.  
Is3902 Hezekiah was pleased and showed them his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his entire armory and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his area of dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.  
Is3903 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did these men say? From where have they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.”  
Is3904 Then Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”  
Is3905 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts,  
Is3906 ‘Listen carefully, the days are coming when everything that is in your house and everything that your predecessors have stored up until this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD.  
Is3907 ‘And some of your own sons (descendants) who will come from you, whom you will father, will be taken away, and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”  
Is3908 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and faithfulness [to God’s promises to us] in my days.”  
Is4001 “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.  
Is4002 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, And call out to her, that her time of compulsory service in warfare is finished, That her wickedness has been taken away [since her punishment is sufficient], That she has received from the LORD’S hand Double [punishment] for all her sins.”  
Is4003 A voice of one is calling out, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness [remove the obstacles]; Make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God.  
Is4004 “Every valley shall be raised, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged places a broad valley.  
Is4005 “And the glory and majesty and splendor of the LORD will be revealed, And all humanity shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”  
Is4006 A voice says, “Call out [prophesy].” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” [The voice answered:] All humanity is [as frail as] grass, and all that makes it attractive [its charm, its loveliness] is [momentary] like the flower of the field.  
Is4007 The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Most certainly [all] the people are [like] grass.  
Is4008 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.  
Is4009 O Zion, herald of good news, Get up on a high mountain. O Jerusalem, herald of good news, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, do not fear; Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”  
Is4010 Listen carefully, the Lord GOD will come with might, And His arm will rule for Him. Most certainly His reward is with Him, And His restitution accompanies Him.  
Is4011 He will protect His flock like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom; He will gently and carefully lead those nursing their young.  
Is4012 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens with a span [of the hand], And calculated the dust of the earth with a measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?  
Is4013 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or has taught Him as His counselor?  
Is4014 With whom did He consult and who enlightened Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding?  
Is4015 In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.  
Is4016 And [the forests of] Lebanon cannot supply sufficient fuel to start a fire, Nor are its wild beasts enough for a burnt offering [worthy of the LORD].  
Is4017 All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.  
Is4018 To whom then will you liken God? Or with what likeness will you compare Him?  
Is4019 As for the cast image (idol), a metalworker casts it, A goldsmith overlays it with gold And a silversmith casts its silver chains.  
Is4020 He who is too impoverished for such an offering [to give to his god] Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To [carve and] set up an idol that will not totter.  
Is4021 Do you [who worship idols] not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth [the omnipotence of God and the stupidity of bowing to idols]?  
Is4022 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; [It is He] who stretches out the heavens like a veil And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  
Is4023 It is He who reduces dignitaries to nothing, Who makes the judges (rulers) of the earth meaningless (useless).  
Is4024 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And a strong wind carries them away like stubble.  
Is4025 “To whom then will you compare Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.  
Is4026 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these heavenly bodies, The One who brings out their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one is missing.  
Is4027 Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”?  
Is4028 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become tired or grow weary; There is no searching of His understanding.  
Is4029 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who has no might He increases power.  
Is4030 Even youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,  
Is4031 But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.  
Is4101 “Listen to Me in silence, you islands and coastlands, And let the nations gain their strength; Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment [and decide the issue between us concerning the enemy from the east].  
Is4102 “Who has stirred up and put into action one from the east [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great] Whom He calls in righteousness to His service and whom victory meets at every step? The LORD turns nations over to him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, Like wind-driven chaff with his bow.  
Is4103 “He (Cyrus) pursues them and passes along safely, By a way his feet had not traveled before.  
Is4104 “Who has performed and done this, Calling forth [and guiding the destinies of] the generations [of the nations] from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD—the first, and with the last [existing before history began, the ever-present, unchanging God]—I am He.’”  
Is4105 The islands and coastlands have seen and they fear; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come.  
Is4106 They each help his neighbor And say to his brother [as he fashions his idols], “Be of good courage!”  
Is4107 So the craftsman encourages the goldsmith, And he who smooths metal with the smith’s hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering (welding), “That is good”; And he fastens the idol with nails, So that it will not totter nor be moved.  
Is4108 “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The offspring of Abraham My friend,  
Is4109 You whom I [the LORD] have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you [even though you are exiled].  
Is4110 ‘Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’  
Is4111 “Indeed, all those who are angry with you will be put to shame and humiliated; Those who strive against you will be as nothing and will perish.  
Is4112 “You shall search for those who quarrel with you, but will not find them; They who war against you will be as nothing, as nothing at all.  
Is4113 “For I the LORD your God keep hold of your right hand; [I am the Lord], Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’  
Is4114 “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.  
Is4115 “In fact, I have made of you a new, sharp threshing implement with sharp edges; You will thresh the mountains and crush them, And make the hills like chaff.  
Is4116 “You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, And a high wind will scatter them; But you will rejoice in the LORD, You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.  
Is4117 “The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none; Their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself; I, the God of Israel, will not neglect them.  
Is4118 “I will open rivers on the barren heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a reed-pool of water And the dry land springs of water.  
Is4119 “I will put the cedar in the wilderness, The acacia, the myrtle and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert Together with the box tree and the cypress,  
Is4120 So that they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, That the Holy One of Israel has created it.  
Is4121 “Present your case [for idols made by men’s hands],” says the LORD. “Produce your evidence [of divinity],” Says the king of Jacob.  
Is4122 Let them bring forward [their evidence] and tell us what is going to happen. Regarding the former events, tell what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome; Or announce to us the things that are going to come.  
Is4123 Tell us the things that are to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, you should do something good or do evil, that we may be afraid and fear [you] together [as we observe the miracle].  
Is4124 Hear this! You [idols] are less than nothing, And your work is worthless; The worshiper who chooses you [as a god] is repulsive.  
Is4125 “I have stirred up and put into action one from the north [the king of Persia, Cyrus the Great], and he has come; From the rising of the sun he will call on My Name [in prayer]. And he will trample on [the Babylonian] officials as on mortar, Even as a potter treads clay.”  
Is4126 Who [among the idols] has declared this from the beginning, so that we could know? Or from earlier times, so that we could say, “He is [unquestionably] right!”? In fact, there was no one who declared it, Indeed, there was no one who proclaimed it; There was no one at all who heard you speak [for you pagan gods are speechless].  
Is4127 “I was first to say to Zion, ‘Listen carefully, here they are [the Jews who will be restored to their own land].’ And to Jerusalem, ‘I will provide a messenger (Isaiah) to bring the good news [that Cyrus will be stirred up and put into action to save them].’  
Is4128 “But when I look [on the pagan prophets and priests], there is no one [who could predict these events], And there is no counselor among them, Who, if I ask, can give an answer.  
Is4129 “In fact, all of these [pagan prophets and priests] are false; Their works are worthless, Their cast images are [merely] wind and emptiness.  
Is4201 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.  
Is4202 “He will not call out or shout aloud, Nor make His voice heard in the street.  
Is4203 “A broken reed He will not break [off] And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish [He will not harm those who are weak and suffering]; He will faithfully bring forth justice.  
Is4204 “He will not be disheartened or crushed [in spirit]; [He will persevere] until He has established justice on the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”  
Is4205 This is what God the LORD says, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its produce, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk on it,  
Is4206 “I am the LORD, I have called You (the Messiah) in righteousness [for a righteous purpose], I will also take You by the hand and keep watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people [Israel], As a light to the nations (Gentiles),  
Is4207 To open the eyes of the blind, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who sit in darkness from the prison.  
Is4208 “I am the LORD, that is My Name; My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved idols.  
Is4209 “Indeed, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”  
Is4210 Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You islands and coastlands, and those who inhabit them [sing His praise]!  
Is4211 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The villages where Kedar lives. Let the inhabitants of Sela shout for joy, Let them shout joyfully from the tops of the mountains.  
Is4212 Let them give glory to the LORD And declare His praise in the islands and coastlands.  
Is4213 The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will stir up His zeal like a man of war; He will shout out, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail [mightily] against His enemies.  
Is4214 “I [the LORD] have been silent for a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will moan like a woman in labor, I will both gasp and pant.  
Is4215 “I will lay waste the mountains and hills And wither all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into coastlands And dry up the ponds.  
Is4216 “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know; I will guide them in paths that they do not know. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These things I will do [for them], And I will not leave them abandoned or undone.”  
Is4217 Those who trust in carved idols will be turned back, And utterly put to shame, Who say to cast images, “You are our gods.”  
Is4218 Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see.  
Is4219 Who is blind but My servant [Israel], Or deaf like My messenger whom I send? Who is blind like the one who is at peace with Me [in a covenant relationship], Or so blind as the servant of the LORD?  
Is4220 You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but no one hears.  
Is4221 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness’ sake To make the law great and prove to be glorious.  
Is4222 But this is a people despoiled and plundered; All of them are trapped in holes, Or are hidden away in prisons. They have become a prey with no one to rescue them, And a spoil, with no one to say, “Give them back!”  
Is4223 Who among you will listen to this? Who will listen and pay attention in the time to come?  
Is4224 Who gave up Jacob [the kingdom of Judah] for spoil, and [the kingdom of] Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we [of Judah] have sinned, And in whose ways they [of Israel] were unwilling to walk, And whose law and teaching they did not obey?  
Is4225 Therefore He poured out on Israel the heat of His anger And the fierceness of battle; And engulfed him in fire, Yet he did not recognize [the lesson of repentance which the Assyrian conquest was intended to teach]; It burned him, but he did not take it to heart.  
Is4301 But now, this is what the LORD, your Creator says, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  
Is4302 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.  
Is4303 “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt [to the Babylonians] as your ransom, Cush (ancient Ethiopia) and Seba [its province] in exchange for you.  
Is4304 “Because you are precious in My sight, You are honored and I love you, I will give other men in return for you and other peoples in exchange for your life.  
Is4305 “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east [where they are scattered], And gather you from the west.  
Is4306 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from far way And My daughters from the ends of the earth,  
Is4307 Everyone who is called by My Name, Whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”  
Is4308 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, And the deaf, even though they have ears.  
Is4309 All the nations have gathered together So that the peoples may be assembled. Who among them (the idolaters) can predict this [that Judah would return from captivity] And proclaim to us the former events? Let them provide their witnesses so that they may be justified, Or let them hear and say [in acknowledgement], “It is the truth.”  
Is4310 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.  
Is4311 “I, [only] I, am the LORD, And there is no Savior besides Me.  
Is4312 “I have declared [the future] and saved [the nation] and proclaimed [that I am God], And there was no strange (alien) god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses [among the pagans],” declares the LORD, “That I am God.  
Is4313 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can revoke or reverse it?”  
Is4314 This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says, “For your sake I have sent [one] to Babylon, And I will bring down all of them as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon], into the ships over which they rejoiced.  
Is4315 “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.”  
Is4316 This is what the LORD says, He who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,  
Is4317 He who brings out the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty warrior, (They will lie down together, they will not rise again; They have been extinguished, they have been put out like a lamp’s wick):  
Is4318 “Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past.  
Is4319 “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.  
Is4320 “The beasts of the field will honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.  
Is4321 “The people whom I formed for Myself Will make known My praise.  
Is4322 “Yet you have not called on Me [in prayer and worship], O Jacob; But you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.  
Is4323 “You have not brought Me your sheep or goats for your burnt offerings, Nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, Nor wearied you with [demands for offerings of] incense.  
Is4324 “You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; But you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your wickedness.  
Is4325 “I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.  
Is4326 “Remind Me [of your merits with a thorough report], let us plead and argue our case together; State your position, that you may be proved right.  
Is4327 “Your first father [Jacob] sinned, And your spokesmen [the priests and the prophets—your mediators] have transgressed against Me.  
Is4328 “So I will profane the officials of the sanctuary, And I will consign Jacob to destruction and [I will subject] Israel to defamation and abuse.  
Is4401 “But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:  
Is4402 This is what the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you says, ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And Jeshurun (Israel, the upright one) whom I have chosen.  
Is4403 ‘For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty, And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants;  
Is4404 And they will spring up among the grass Like willows by the streams of water.’  
Is4405 “One will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’; And another will name himself after Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘I am the LORD’S,’ And be called by the [honorable] name of Israel.  
Is4406 “For the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts says this, ‘I am the First and I am the Last; And there is no God besides Me.  
Is4407 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim it and declare it; Yes, let him confront Me, Since I established the people of antiquity. And let them [those supposed gods] tell those people [who foolishly follow them] the things to come And the events that are going to take place.  
Is4408 ‘Do not tremble nor be afraid [of the violent upheavals to come]; Have I not long ago proclaimed it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? There is no other Rock; I know of none.’”  
Is4409 All who make carved idols are nothing. Their precious objects are worthless [to them], and their own witnesses (worshipers) fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.  
Is4410 Who has made a god or cast an idol which is profitable for nothing?  
Is4411 In fact, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble, let them stand up, let them be terrified, let them together be put to shame.  
Is4412 The ironsmith shapes iron and uses a chisel and works it over the coals. He forms the [idol’s] core with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He also becomes hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and grows tired.  
Is4413 The carpenter stretches out a measuring line, he marks out the shape [of the idol] with red chalk; he works it with planes and outlines it with the compass; and he makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, that it may sit in a house.  
Is4414 He cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain nourishes it.  
Is4415 Then it becomes fuel for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god [from the same wood] and worships it. He makes it into a carved idol [with his own hands] and falls down and worships it!  
Is4416 He burns half of the wood in the fire; over this half he [cooks and] eats meat, he roasts meat and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.”  
Is4417 But from what is left of the wood he makes a god, his carved idol. He falls down before it, he worships it and prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”  
Is4418 They do not know, nor do they understand, for God has muddied their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts (minds) as well so that they cannot understand.  
Is4419 No one remembers, nor has knowledge and understanding [enough] to say [to himself], “I have burned half of this log in the fire, and also baked bread on its coals and have roasted meat and eaten it. Then I make the rest of it into an repulsive thing [to God]; I bow down [to worship] before a block of wood!”  
Is4420 That kind of man (the idolater) feeds on ashes [and is satisfied with ashes]! A deceived mind has led him astray, so that he cannot save himself, or ask, “Is this thing [that I am holding] in my right hand not a lie?”  
Is4421 “Remember [the foolishness of] these things, O Jacob And Israel, for you are My servant! I formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.  
Is4422 “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”  
Is4423 Shout for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout in triumph, you depths of the earth; Break forth into jubilant rejoicing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And He shows His glory in Israel.  
Is4424 For the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says this, “I am the LORD, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself,  
Is4425 Frustrating the signs and confounding the omens of boasters (false prophets), Making fools out of fortune-tellers, Counteracting the wise And making their knowledge ridiculous,  
Is4426 Confirming the word of His servant And carrying out the plan of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be inhabited!’ And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall [again] be built.’ And I will raise up and restore her ruins.  
Is4427 “It is I who says to the deep, ‘Be dried up!’ And I will make your rivers dry.  
Is4428 “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd (ruler), And he will carry out all that I desire—’ Saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall [again] be laid.’”  
Is4501 This is what the LORD says to His anointed, to Cyrus [king of Persia], Whose right hand I have held To subdue nations before him, And I will ungird the loins of kings [disarming them]; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:  
Is4502 “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.  
Is4503 “I will give you the treasures of darkness [the hoarded treasures] And the hidden riches of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you (Cyrus the Great) by your name.  
Is4504 “For the sake of Jacob My servant, And of Israel My chosen, I have also called you by your name; I have given you an honorable name Though you have not known Me.  
Is4505 “I am the LORD, and there is no one else; There is no God except Me. I will embrace and arm you, though you have not known Me,  
Is4506 That people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun [the world over] That there is no one except Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other,  
Is4507 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing peace and creating disaster; I am the LORD who does all these things.  
Is4508 “Rain down, O heavens, from above, Let the clouds pour down righteousness [all the blessings of God]; Let the earth open up, let salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.  
Is4509 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who quarrels with his Maker— A [worthless] piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces [equally worthless]! Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or does the thing say, ‘He has no hands’?  
Is4510 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who says to a father, ‘What are you fathering?’ Or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”  
Is4511 For the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker says this, “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, And give Me orders concerning the work of My hands.  
Is4512 “I made the earth and created man upon it. My hands, stretched out the heavens, And I commanded all their host.  
Is4513 “I have stirred up Cyrus and put him into action in righteousness [to accomplish My purpose] And I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city and let My exiles go, Without any payment or reward,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Is4514 For this is what the LORD says, “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush (ancient Ethiopia) And the Sabeans, men of stature, Will come over to you and they will be yours; They will walk behind you, in chains [of subjection to you] they will come over, And they will bow down before you; They will make supplication to you, [humbly and earnestly] saying, ‘Most certainly God is with you, and there is no other, No other God [besides Him].’”  
Is4515 Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!  
Is4516 They will be put to shame and also humiliated, all of them; They who make idols will go away together in humiliation.  
Is4517 Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated for all eternity.  
Is4518 For the LORD, who created the heavens (He is God, who formed the earth and made it; He established it and did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited) says this, “I am the LORD, and there is no one else.  
Is4519 “I have not spoken in secret, In a corner of a land of darkness; I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain [with no benefit for yourselves].’ I, the LORD, speak righteousness [the truth—trustworthy, a straightforward correlation between deeds and words], Declaring things that are upright.  
Is4520 “Assemble yourselves and come; Come together, you survivors of the nations! They are ignorant, Who carry around their wooden idols [in religious processions or into battle] And keep on praying to a god that cannot save them.  
Is4521 “Declare and present your defense of idols; Indeed, let them consult together. Who announced this [rise of Cyrus and his conquests] long before it happened? Who declared it long ago? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A [consistently and uncompromisingly] just and righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me.  
Is4522 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.  
Is4523 “I have sworn [an oath] by Myself, The word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear [allegiance].  
Is4524 “It shall be said of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’ To Him people will come, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.  
Is4525 “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified (declared free of guilt) and will glory [in God].”  
Is4601 Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; Their idols are on the beasts [of burden] and on the cattle. Your burdens [of idols] are loaded [on them], Burdens on the weary animals.  
Is4602 They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden [of their own idols], But have themselves gone into captivity.  
Is4603 “Listen to Me,” [says the LORD], “O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been carried by Me from your birth And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb,  
Is4604 Even to your old age I am He, And even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.  
Is4605 “To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we may be alike?  
Is4606 “Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh out silver on the scales Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.  
Is4607 “They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it; They set it in its place and there it remains standing. It cannot move from its place. Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer; It cannot save him from his distress.  
Is4608 “Remember this, and take courage; Take it to heart, you rebellious and disloyal people.  
Is4609 “Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me,  
Is4610 Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’  
Is4611 Calling a bird of prey from the east, From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, be assured I will do it.  
Is4612 “Listen to Me, you stiff-necked people, You who are far from righteousness (right standing with God).  
Is4613 “I bring near My righteousness [in the salvation of Israel], it is not far away; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel.  
Is4701 “Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground [in abject humiliation]; there is no throne for you, O daughter of the Chaldeans, For you will no longer be called tender and delicate.  
Is4702 “Take millstones [as a female slave does] and grind meal; Remove your veil, strip off the skirt, Uncover the leg, cross the rivers [at the command of your captors].  
Is4703 “Your nakedness will be uncovered, Your shame will also be exposed; I will take vengeance and will spare no man.”  
Is4704 Our Redeemer [will do all this], the LORD of hosts is His name, The Holy One of Israel.  
Is4705 “Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For you will no longer be called The queen of kingdoms.  
Is4706 “I was angry with My people, I profaned [Judah] My inheritance And gave them into your hand [Babylon]. You showed them no mercy; You made your yoke very heavy on the aged.  
Is4707 “And you said, ‘I shall be a queen forevermore.’ You did not consider these things, Nor did you [seriously] remember the [ultimate] outcome of such conduct.  
Is4708 “Now, then, hear this, you who live a luxuriant life, You who dwell safely and securely, Who say in your heart (mind), ‘I am [the queen], and there is no one besides me. I shall not sit as a widow, Nor know the loss of children.’  
Is4709 “But these two things shall come to you abruptly, in one day: Loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in full measure In spite of your many [claims of power through your] sorceries, In spite of the great power of your enchantments.  
Is4710 “For you [Babylon] have trusted and felt confident in your wickedness; you have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and your knowledge have led you astray, And you have said in your heart (mind), ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’  
Is4711 “Therefore disaster will come on you; You will not know how to make it disappear [with your magic]. And disaster will fall on you For which you cannot atone [with all your offerings to your gods]; And destruction about which you do not know Will come on you suddenly.  
Is4712 “Persist, then, [Babylon] in your enchantments And your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit [from them], Perhaps you may prevail and cause trembling.  
Is4713 “You are wearied by your many counsels. Just let the astrologers, The stargazers, Those who predict by the new moons [each month] Stand up and save you from the things that will come upon you [Babylon].  
Is4714 “In fact, they are like stubble; Fire burns them. They cannot save themselves from the power of the flame [much less save the nation], There is no blazing coal for warming Nor fire before which to sit!  
Is4715 “This is how they have become to you, those [astrologers and sorcerers] with whom you have labored, Those who have done business with you from your youth; Each has wandered in his own way. There is no one to save you.  
Is4801 “Hear this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel And who come from the seed of Judah, You who swear [allegiance] by the name of the LORD And invoke the God of Israel, But not in truth (sincerity) nor in righteousness [with moral and spiritual integrity].  
Is4802 “For they call themselves [citizens of Jerusalem] after the holy city And depend on the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is His name.  
Is4803 “I have declared the former things [which happened to Israel] in times past; They went forth from My mouth and I proclaimed them; Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.  
Is4804 “Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron tendon And your brow is bronze [both unyielding],  
Is4805 I have declared them to you long ago; Before they came to pass I announced them to you, So that you could not say, ‘My idol has done them, And my carved image and my cast image have commanded them.’  
Is4806 “You have heard [these things foretold]; look at all this [that has been fulfilled]. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you [specific] new things from this time, Even hidden things which you have not known.  
Is4807 “They are created now [called into being by the prophetic word] and not long ago; And before today you have not heard of them, So that you will not say, ‘Oh yes! I knew them.’  
Is4808 “You have not heard, you have not known; Even from long ago your ear has not been open. For I [the LORD] knew that you [Israel] would act very treacherously; You have been called a transgressor and a rebel from birth.  
Is4809 “For the sake of My Name I refrain from My wrath, And for My praise I restrain Myself from you, So that I do not cut you off.  
Is4810 “Indeed, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.  
Is4811 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it [I refrain and do not completely destroy you]; For how can My Name be defiled and profaned [as it would if My chosen people were completely destroyed]? And I will not give My glory to another [by permitting the worshipers of idols to triumph over you].  
Is4812 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called; I am He, I am the First, I am the Last.  
Is4813 “My hand founded and established the earth, And My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together [in obedience to carry out My decrees].  
Is4814 “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them [the idols and Chaldean astrologers] has declared these things? The LORD loves him (Cyrus of Persia); he will do His pleasure and purpose against Babylon, And his arm will be against the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon].  
Is4815 “I, even I, have spoken; indeed, I have called Cyrus; I have brought him, and will make his way successful.  
Is4816 “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, From the time that it happened, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His [Holy] Spirit.”  
Is4817 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit (benefit), Who leads you in the way that you should go.  
Is4818 “Oh, that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a [flowing] river, And your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.  
Is4819 “Your offspring would have been like the sand, And your descendants [in number] like the grains of sand; Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”  
Is4820 Get out of Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans [who reign there]! Declare with a voice of jubilation, proclaim this, Send it out to the end of the earth; Say, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.”  
Is4821 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He made the waters flow out of the rock for them; He split the rock and the waters flowed.  
Is4822 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.  
Is4901 Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands, And pay attention, you peoples from far away. The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He has named Me.  
Is4902 He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has kept Me hidden; And He has made Me a sharpened arrow, In His quiver He has hidden Me.  
Is4903 And [the LORD] said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.”  
Is4904 Then I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity (pride, uselessness); However My justice is with the LORD, And My reward is with My God.”  
Is4905 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him and that Israel might be gathered to Him, —For I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, And My God is My strength—  
Is4906 He says, “It is too trivial a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations That My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”  
Is4907 This is what the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, Israel’s Holy One says, To the thoroughly despised One, To the One hated by the nation To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes shall also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”  
Is4908 This is what the LORD says, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep watch over You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land [from its present state of ruin] and to apportion and give as inheritances the deserted hereditary lands,  
Is4909 Saying to those who are bound and captured, ‘Go forth,’ And to those who are in [spiritual] darkness, ‘Show yourselves [come into the light of the Savior].’ They will feed along the roads [on which they travel], And their pastures will be on all the bare heights.  
Is4910 “They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them, And He will guide them to springs of water.  
Is4911 “And I will make all My mountains a roadway, And My highways will be raised.  
Is4912 “In fact, these will come from far away; And, lo, these shall come from the north and from the west, And these from the land of Aswan (southern Egypt).”  
Is4913 Shout for joy, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, And break forth into singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted.  
Is4914 But Zion (Jerusalem in captivity) said, “The LORD has abandoned me, And my Lord has forgotten me.”  
Is4915 [The LORD answered] “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.  
Is4916 “Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands; Your city walls [Zion] are continually before Me.  
Is4917 “Your builders hurry; Your destroyers and devastators Will go away from you.  
Is4918 “Lift up your eyes and look around [at the returning exiles]; All these gather together and they come to you [to rebuild you]. As I live,” declares the LORD, “You [Zion] will indeed clothe yourself with all of them as jewels and tie them on as a bride.  
Is4919 “For your ruins and desolate places and your land [once the scene] of destruction— Certainly now [in the coming years] will be too cramped for the inhabitants, And those who once engulfed you will be far away.  
Is4920 “The children of your bereavement [those born in captivity] will yet say in your ears, ‘The place is too cramped for me’; Make room for me that I may live here.  
Is4921 “Then [Zion], you will say in your heart, ‘Who has borne me these children, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Indeed, I was left alone; From where then did these children come?’”  
Is4922 This is what the Lord GOD says, “Listen carefully, I will lift up My hand to the [Gentile] nations And set up My banner to the peoples; And they will bring your sons in the fold of their garments, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.  
Is4923 “Kings will be your attendants, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you shall know [with an understanding based on personal experience] that I am the LORD; For they shall not be put to shame who wait and hope expectantly for Me.  
Is4924 “Can the spoils of war be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?”  
Is4925 Indeed, this is what the LORD says, “Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the tyrant’s spoils of war will be rescued; For I will contend with your opponent, And I will save your children.  
Is4926 “I will make those who oppress you consume their own flesh [in mutually destructive wars] And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; And all mankind will know [with a knowledge grounded in personal experience] that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”  
Is5001 The LORD declares this; “Where is the certificate of divorce By which I have sent your mother away, [O Israel]? Or to which one of My creditors did I sell you [as slaves]? In fact, You were sold for your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing], And for your transgressions your mother was sent away.  
Is5002 “Why, when I came, was there no man [to greet Me]? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is My hand really so short that it cannot redeem [My servants]? Or have I no power to rescue? Listen carefully, with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers into a desert; Their fish stink because there is no water And die of thirst.  
Is5003 “I clothe the heavens with the blackness [of storm clouds] And make sackcloth [of mourning] their clothing.”  
Is5004 The Lord GOD has given Me [His Servant] the tongue of disciples [as One who is taught], That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].  
Is5005 The Lord GOD has opened My ear, And I have not been rebellious Nor have I turned back.  
Is5006 I turned My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.  
Is5007 For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated. Therefore, I have made My face like flint, And I know that I shall not be put to shame.  
Is5008 He who declares Me in the right is near; Who will [dare to] contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who is My adversary? Let him approach Me.  
Is5009 In fact, the Lord GOD helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me [as guilty]? Indeed, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them.  
Is5010 Who is among you who fears the LORD, Who obeys the voice of His Servant, Yet who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust and be confident in the name of the LORD and let him rely on his God.  
Is5011 Listen carefully, all you who kindle your own fire [devising your own man-made plan of salvation], Who surround yourselves with torches, Walk by the light of your [self- made] fire And among the torches that you have set ablaze. But this you will have from My hand: You will lie down in [a place of] torment.  
Is5101 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness (right standing with God), Who seek and inquire of the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut And to the excavation of the quarry from which you were dug.  
Is5102 “Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; For I called him when he was but one, Then I blessed him and made him many.”  
Is5103 For the LORD will comfort Zion [in her captivity]; He will comfort all her ruins. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and the voice of a melody.  
Is5104 “Listen carefully to Me [says the LORD], O My people, And hear Me, O My nation; For a [divine] law will go forth from Me, And I will quickly establish My justice as a light to the peoples.  
Is5105 “My righteousness (justice) is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The islands and coastlands will wait for Me, And they will wait with hope and confident expectation for My arm.  
Is5106 “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, Then look to the earth beneath; For the heavens will be torn to pieces and vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner. But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness (justice) [and faithfully fulfilled promise] will not be broken.  
Is5107 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness (right standing with God), The people in whose heart is My law and instruction; Do not fear the reproach and taunting of man, Nor be distressed at their reviling.  
Is5108 “For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness and justice [faithfully promised] will exist forever, And My salvation to all generations.”  
Is5109 Awake, awake, put on strength and might, O arm of the LORD; Awake as in the ancient days, as in the generations of long ago. Was it not You who cut Rahab (Egypt) in pieces, Who pierced the dragon [of Egypt]?  
Is5110 Was it not You who dried up the [Red] Sea, The waters of the great deep, Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over?  
Is5111 So the redeemed of the LORD will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion; Everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.  
Is5112 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of a son of man who is made [as destructible] as grass,  
Is5113 That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you continually tremble with fear all day long because of the rage of the oppressor, As he takes aim to destroy? And where is the rage of the oppressor?  
Is5114 The [captive] exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his food be lacking.  
Is5115 For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of hosts is His name.  
Is5116 I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the [renewed] heavens and lay the foundations of the [renewed] earth, and to say to Zion (Jerusalem), ‘You are My people.’”  
Is5117 Wake yourself up! Wake yourself up! Stand up, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of His wrath, You who have drunk the cup of staggering and intoxication to the dregs [leaving only sediment].  
Is5118 There is no one to guide her among all the sons she has borne, Nor is there anyone to take her by the hand among all the sons she has reared.  
Is5119 These two tragedies have befallen you; Who will show sympathy for you and mourn with you? The desolation and destruction [on the land and city], famine and sword [on the inhabitants]; How shall I comfort you?  
Is5120 Your sons have fainted; They lie helpless at the head of every street, Like an antelope in a net, Full [from drinking] of the wrath of the LORD, The rebuke of your God.  
Is5121 Therefore, now hear this, you who are afflicted, Who are drunk, but not with wine [but overwhelmed by the wrath of God].  
Is5122 So says your Lord, the LORD, who is also your God Who pleads the cause of His people, “Listen carefully, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering and intoxication, The cup of My wrath; You shall never drink it again.  
Is5123 “I will put it into the hands of your tormentors, Who have said to you, ‘Lie down so that we may walk over you.’ You have even made your back like the ground And like the street for those who walk over it.”  
Is5201 Awake, awake, Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; For the uncircumcised and the unclean Will no longer come into you.  
Is5202 Shake yourself from the dust, arise, O captive Jerusalem; Rid yourself of the chains around your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.  
Is5203 For the LORD says this, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed, but not with money.”  
Is5204 For the Lord GOD says this, “My people went down at the first into Egypt to live there; and [many years later Sennacherib] the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.  
Is5205 But now, what do I have here,” declares the LORD, “seeing that My people have been taken away without reason? Those who rule over them howl [with taunting and mockery of salvation],” declares the LORD, “and My name is continually blasphemed all day long.  
Is5206 Therefore My people shall know My Name and what it means. Therefore in that day I am the One who is speaking, ‘Here I am.’”  
Is5207 How beautiful and delightful on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace, Who brings good news of good [things], Who announces salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  
Is5208 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, Together they shout for joy; For they will see face to face The return of the LORD to Zion.  
Is5209 Break forth, shout joyfully together, You ruins of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.  
Is5210 The LORD has bared His holy arm (His infinite power) Before the eyes of all the nations [revealing Himself as the One by Whom Israel is redeemed from captivity], That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God.  
Is5211 Depart, depart, go out from there (the lands of exile), Touch no unclean thing; Go out of the midst of her (Babylon), purify yourselves, You who carry the articles of the LORD [on your journey from there].  
Is5212 For you will not go out in a hurry [as when you left Egypt], Nor will you go in flight [fleeing, as you did from the Egyptians]; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.  
Is5213 Indeed, My Servant (the Messiah) will act wisely and prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and greatly exalted.  
Is5214 Just as many were astonished and appalled at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form [marred] more than the sons of men.  
Is5215 So He will sprinkle many nations [with His blood, providing salvation], Kings will shut their mouths because of Him; For what they had not been told they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.  
Is5301 Who has believed [confidently trusted in, relied on, and adhered to] our message [of salvation]? And to whom [if not us] has the arm and infinite power of the LORD been revealed?  
Is5302 For He [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender shoot (plant), And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majestic splendor That we would look at Him, Nor [handsome] appearance that we would be attracted to Him.  
Is5303 He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.  
Is5304 But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him].  
Is5305 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.  
Is5306 All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him [instead of us].  
Is5307 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before her shearers, So He did not open His mouth.  
Is5308 After oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation [His contemporaries], who [among them] concerned himself with the fact That He was cut off from the land of the living [by His death] For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke [of death] was due?  
Is5309 His grave was assigned with the wicked, But He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.  
Is5310 Yet the LORD was willing To crush Him, causing Him to suffer; If He would give Himself as a guilt offering [an atonement for sin], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, And the will (good pleasure) of the LORD shall succeed and prosper in His hand.  
Is5311 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He shall see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge [of what He has accomplished] the Righteous One, My Servant, shall justify the many [making them righteous—upright before God, in right standing with Him], For He shall bear [the responsibility for] their sins.  
Is5312 Therefore, I will divide and give Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], And He shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because He [willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors.  
Is5401 “Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth; Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]! For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.  
Is5402 “Enlarge the site of your tent [to make room for more children]; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; Lengthen your tent ropes And make your pegs (stakes) firm [in the ground].  
Is5403 “For you will spread out to the right and to the left; And your descendants will take possession of nations And will inhabit deserted cities.  
Is5404 “Do not fear, for you will not be put to shame, And do not feel humiliated or ashamed, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, And you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood.  
Is5405 “For your husband is your Maker, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of the whole earth.  
Is5406 “For the LORD has called you, Like a wife who has been abandoned, grieved in spirit, And like a wife [married] in her youth when she is [later] rejected and scorned,” Says your God.  
Is5407 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, But with great compassion and mercy I will gather you [to Myself again].  
Is5408 “In an outburst of wrath I hid My face from you for a moment, But with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” Says the LORD your Redeemer.  
Is5409 “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me, As I swore [an oath] that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; In the same way I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor will I rebuke you.  
Is5410 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the LORD who has compassion on you.  
Is5411 “O you afflicted [city], storm-tossed, and not comforted, Listen carefully, I will set your [precious] stones in mortar, And lay your foundations with sapphires.  
Is5412 “And I will make your battlements of rubies, And your gates of [shining] beryl stones, And all your [barrier] walls of precious stones.  
Is5413 “And all your [spiritual] sons will be disciples [of the LORD], And great will be the well-being of your sons.  
Is5414 “You will be firmly established in righteousness: You will be far from [even the thought of] oppression, for you will not fear, And from terror, for it will not come near you.  
Is5415 “If anyone fiercely attacks you it will not be from Me. Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.  
Is5416 “Listen carefully, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals And who produces a weapon for its purpose; And I have created the destroyer to inflict ruin.  
Is5417 “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn. This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And this is their vindication from Me,” says the LORD.  
Is5501 “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].  
Is5502 “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance.  
Is5503 “Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me; Hear, so that your soul may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies [promised and] shown to David.  
Is5504 “Listen carefully, I have appointed him [David, representing the Messiah] to be a witness to the nations [regarding salvation], A leader and commander to the peoples.  
Is5505 “In fact, you [Israel] will call a nation that you do not know, And a nation that does not know you will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”  
Is5506 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.  
Is5507 Let the wicked leave (behind) his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion (mercy) on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.  
Is5508 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.  
Is5509 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.  
Is5510 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,  
Is5511 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  
Is5512 “For you will go out [from exile] with joy And be led forth [by the LORD Himself] with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  
Is5513 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow, And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow; And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”  
Is5601 This is what the LORD says, “Maintain justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is soon to come, And My righteousness and justice is soon to be revealed.  
Is5602 “Blessed (happy, fortunate) is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it, Who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”  
Is5603 Do not let the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will most certainly separate me from His people.” And do not let the eunuch say, “Look, I am a dry tree.”  
Is5604 This is what the LORD says, “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths And choose what pleases Me, And hold firmly to My covenant,  
Is5605 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.  
Is5606 “Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it And holds fast to My covenant [by conscientious obedience];  
Is5607 All these I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”  
Is5608 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares: “I will gather yet others to them (Israel), to those [already] gathered.”  
Is5609 All you beasts of the field, All you beasts (hostile nations) in the forest, Come to eat.  
Is5610 Israel’s watchmen are blind, They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; Panting, lying down, they love to slumber.  
Is5611 And the dogs are greedy; they never have enough. They are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unlawful gain, without exception.  
Is5612 “Come,” [they say,] “let us get wine, and let us fill ourselves with strong drink; And tomorrow will be like today, very great indeed.”  
Is5701 The righteous man perishes [at the hand of evil], and no one takes it to heart; Faithful and devout men are taken away, while no one understands That the righteous person is taken away [to be spared] from disaster and evil.  
Is5702 He enters into peace [through death]; They rest in their beds (graves), Each one who walked uprightly [following God’s will, living with integrity].  
Is5703 “But come here, you sons of a sorceress [raised in deception and superstition], Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.  
Is5704 “Of whom do you make fun? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion (sin), Offspring of deceit,  
Is5705 Who inflame yourselves [with lust in pagan rites] among the oaks (terebinth trees), Under every green and leafy tree, Who slaughter the children [in sacrifice] in the ravines Under the clefts of the rocks?  
Is5706 “Among the smooth stones of the ravine Is your portion, they (the idols) are your lot; Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, You have offered a grain offering. Should I be quiet concerning these things [leaving them unpunished—bearing them with patience]?  
Is5707 “Upon a high and lofty mountain You have [openly and shamelessly] made your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed; Even there you went up to offer sacrifice [to idols, in spiritual unfaithfulness to Me].  
Is5708 “Behind the door and the doorpost You have set up your [pagan] symbol; Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself, And have gone up and made your bed wide. And you have made a [new] agreement for yourself with the adulterers, You have loved their bed, You have looked [with passion] on their manhood.  
Is5709 “You have gone to the king [of a pagan land] with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your messengers a great distance And made them go down to Sheol (the realm of the dead).  
Is5710 “You were wearied by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is no use.’ You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not grow weak.  
Is5711 “About whom were you worried and fearful That you lied and did not remember Me, Nor give Me a thought? Was I not silent even for a long time And [as a result] you do not fear Me?  
Is5712 “I will declare your [hypocritical] righteousness and your deeds, But they will not benefit you.  
Is5713 “When you cry out [for help], let your [ridiculous] collection of idols save you. But the wind will carry them all away, A [mere] breath will take them. But he who takes refuge in Me will possess the land [Judea] And will inherit My holy mountain.”  
Is5714 And it will be said, “Build up, build up, clear the way. Remove the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.”  
Is5715 For the high and exalted One He who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy says this, “I dwell on the high and holy place, But also with the contrite and humble in spirit In order to revive the spirit of the humble And to revive the heart of the contrite [overcome with sorrow for sin].  
Is5716 “For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would grow weak before Me, And the breath of those whom I have created.  
Is5717 “Because of the wickedness of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away and backsliding, in the way of his [own willful] heart.  
Is5718 “I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him [also] and will restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him,  
Is5719 As I create the praise of his lips, Peace, peace, to him who is far away [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near!” Says the LORD; “And I will heal him [making his lips blossom anew with thankful praise].”  
Is5720 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up mire and mud.  
Is5721 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”  
Is5801 “Cry aloud, do not hold back; Lift up your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins.  
Is5802 “Yet they seek Me day by day and delight [superficially] to know My ways, As [if they were in reality] a nation that has done righteousness And has not abandoned (turned away from) the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me righteous judgments, They delight in the nearness of God.  
Is5803 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You do not see it? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Hear this [O Israel], on the day of your fast [when you should be grieving for your sins] you find something you desire [to do], And you force your hired servants to work [instead of stopping all work, as the law teaches].  
Is5804 “The facts are that you fast only for strife and brawling and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You do not fast as you do today to make your voice heard on high.  
Is5805 “Is a fast such as this what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself [with sorrow in his soul]? Is it only to bow down his head like a reed And to make sackcloth and ashes as a bed [pretending to have a repentant heart]? Do you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the LORD?  
Is5806 “[Rather] is this not the fast which I choose, To undo the bonds of wickedness, To tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke, To let the oppressed go free And break apart every [enslaving] yoke?  
Is5807 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?  
Is5808 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth; Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity], The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.  
Is5809 “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away from your midst the yoke [of oppression], The finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and [every form of] wicked (sinful, unjust) speech,  
Is5810 And if you offer yourself to [assist] the hungry And satisfy the need of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.  
Is5811 “And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.  
Is5812 “And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up and restore the age-old foundations [of buildings that have been laid waste]; You will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.  
Is5813 “If you turn back your foot from [unnecessary travel on] the Sabbath, From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a [spiritual] delight, and the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, not going your own way Or engaging in your own pleasure Or speaking your own [idle] words,  
Is5814 Then you will take pleasure in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the high places of the earth, And I will feed you with the [promised] heritage of Jacob your father; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”  
Is5901 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save, Nor His ear so impaired That it cannot hear.  
Is5902 But your wickedness has separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.  
Is5903 For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with wickedness [with sin, with injustice, with wrongdoing]; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue mutters wickedness.  
Is5904 No one sues righteously [but for the sake of doing injury to others—to take some undue advantage], and no one pleads [his case] in truth; [but rather] They trust in empty arguments and speak lies; They conceive trouble and bring forth injustice.  
Is5905 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s webs; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from an egg which is crushed a viper breaks out.  
Is5906 Their webs will not serve as clothing, Nor will they cover themselves with what they make; Their works are works of wickedness [of sin, of injustice, of wrongdoing], And the act of violence is in their hands.  
Is5907 Their feet run to evil, And they rush to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness [of sin, of injustice, of wrongdoing]; Devastation and destruction are in their highways.  
Is5908 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks. They have made them into crooked paths; Whoever walks on them does not know peace.  
Is5909 Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us. We [expectantly] hope for light, but only see darkness; We hope for gleam of light, but we walk in darkness and gloom.  
Is5910 We grope for a wall like the blind, We grope like those who have no eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; Among those who are healthy we are like dead men.  
Is5911 We all groan and growl like bears, And coo sadly like doves; We hope for justice, but there is none, For salvation, but it is far from us.  
Is5912 For our transgressions are multiplied before You [O LORD], And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And we know and recognize our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]:  
Is5913 Rebelling against and denying the LORD, Turning away from [following] our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and muttering from the heart lying words.  
Is5914 Justice is pushed back, And righteous behavior stands far away; For truth has fallen in the city square, And integrity cannot enter.  
Is5915 Yes, truth is missing; And he who turns away from evil makes himself a prey. Now the LORD saw it, And it displeased Him that there was no justice.  
Is5916 He saw that there was no man, And was amazed that there was no one to intercede [on behalf of truth and right]; Therefore His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His own righteousness sustained Him.  
Is5917 For He [the LORD] put on righteousness like a coat of armor, And salvation like a helmet on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And covered Himself with zeal [and great love for His people] as a cloak.  
Is5918 As their deeds deserve, so He will repay: Wrath to His adversaries, retribution to His enemies; To the islands and coastlands He will repay.  
Is5919 So they will fear the name of the LORD from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come in like a narrow, rushing stream Which the breath of the LORD drives [overwhelming the enemy].  
Is5920 “A Redeemer (Messiah) will come to Zion, And to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression (sin),” declares the LORD.  
Is5921 “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you [writing the law of God on the heart], and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, nor from the mouth of your children’s children,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.”  
Is6001 “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you.  
Is6002 “For in fact, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness will cover the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you [Jerusalem] And His glory and brilliance will be seen on you.  
Is6003 “Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.  
Is6004 “Lift up your eyes around you and see; They all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from far away, And your daughters will be looked after at their side.  
Is6005 “Then you will see and be radiant, And your heart will tremble [with joy] and rejoice Because the abundant wealth of the seas will be brought to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you.  
Is6006 “A multitude of camels [from the eastern trading tribes] will cover you [Jerusalem], The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba [who once came to trade] will come Bringing gold and frankincense And proclaiming the praises of the LORD.  
Is6007 “All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you [as the eastern pastoral tribes join the trading tribes], The rams of Nebaioth will serve you; They will go up with acceptance [as sacrifices] on My altar, And I will glorify the house of My honor and splendor.  
Is6008 “Who are these who fly like a cloud And like doves to their windows?  
Is6009 “The islands and coastlands will confidently wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from far away, Their silver and gold with them, For the name of the LORD your God, For the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.  
Is6010 “Foreigners will build up your walls, And their kings will serve you; For in My [righteous] wrath I struck you, But in My favor and grace I have had compassion on you.  
Is6011 “Your gates will be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, So that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations— With their kings led in procession.  
Is6012 “For the nation or the kingdom which will not serve you [Jerusalem] shall perish, And the nations [that refuse to serve] shall be utterly ruined.  
Is6013 “The glory of Lebanon will come to you, The cypress, the juniper, and the cedar together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will honor and make the place of My feet glorious.  
Is6014 “The sons of those who oppressed you will come bowing down to you [in submission], And all those who despised you and treated you disrespectfully will bow down at the soles of your feet, And they will call you the City of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.  
Is6015 “Whereas you [Jerusalem] have been abandoned and hated With no one passing through, I will make you an object of pride forever, A joy from generation to generation.  
Is6016 “You will suck the milk of the [Gentile] nations And suck the breast (abundance) of kings; Then you will recognize and know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.  
Is6017 “Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And [instead of the tyranny of the present] I will appoint peace as your officers, And righteousness your rulers.  
Is6018 “Violence will not be heard again in your land, Nor devastation or destruction within your borders; But you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise [to God].  
Is6019 “The sun will no longer be your light by day, Nor shall the bright glow of the moon give light to you, But the LORD will be an everlasting light for you; And your God will be your glory and splendor.  
Is6020 “Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.  
Is6021 “Then all your people will be [uncompromisingly and consistently] righteous; They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.  
Is6022 “The smallest one will become a thousand (a clan), And the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD, will quicken it in its [appointed] time.”  
Is6101 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed and commissioned me To bring good news to the humble and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted, To proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives And freedom to prisoners,  
Is6102 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance and retribution of our God, To comfort all who mourn,  
Is6103 To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning], The oil of joy instead of mourning, The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.  
Is6104 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up and restore the former desolations; And they will renew the ruined cities, The desolations (deserted settlements) of many generations.  
Is6105 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.  
Is6106 But you shall be called the priests of the LORD; People will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And you will boast of their riches.  
Is6107 Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion; And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited]; Everlasting joy will be theirs.  
Is6108 For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery with a burnt offering. And I will faithfully reward them, And make an everlasting covenant with them.  
Is6109 Then their offspring will be known among the nations, And their descendants among the peoples. All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge them That they are the people whom the LORD has blessed.  
Is6110 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom puts on a turban, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  
Is6111 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will [most certainly] cause righteousness and justice and praise To spring up before all the nations [through the power of His word].  
Is6201 For Zion’s sake I (Isaiah) will not be silent, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, And her salvation goes forth like a burning torch.  
Is6202 The nations will see your righteousness and vindication [by God], And all kings [will see] your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.  
Is6203 You will also be [considered] a crown of glory and splendor in the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.  
Is6204 It will no longer be said of you [Judah], “Azubah (Abandoned),” Nor will it any longer be said of your land, “Shemamah (Desolate)”; But you will be called, “Hephzibah (My Delight is in Her),” And your land, “Married”; For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married [owned and protected by the LORD].  
Is6205 For as a young man marries a virgin [O Jerusalem], So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.  
Is6206 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed and stationed watchmen (prophets), Who will never keep silent day or night; You who profess the LORD, take no rest for yourselves,  
Is6207 And give Him no rest [from your prayers] until He establishes Jerusalem And makes her a praise on the earth.  
Is6208 The LORD has sworn [an oath] by His right hand and by His mighty arm, “I will never again give your grain as food for your enemies, Nor will [the invading] foreigners drink your new wine for which you have labored.”  
Is6209 But they who have harvested it will eat it and praise the LORD, And they who have gathered it will drink it [at the feasts celebrated] in the courtyards of My sanctuary.  
Is6210 Go through, go through the gates, Clear the way for the people; Build up, build up the highway, Remove the stones, lift up a banner over the peoples.  
Is6211 Listen carefully, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the Daughter of Zion, “Look now, your salvation is coming [in the LORD]; Indeed, His reward is with Him, and His restitution accompanies Him.”  
Is6212 And they will call them “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD”; And you will be called “Sought Out, A City Not Deserted.”  
Is6301 Who is this who comes from Edom, With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom], This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His might? “It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.”  
Is6302 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?  
Is6303 “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And of the peoples there was no one with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My clothes.  
Is6304 “For the day of vengeance [against ungodliness] was in My heart, And My year of redemption [of those who put their trust in Me—the year of My redeemed] has come.  
Is6305 “I looked, but there was no one to help, And I was amazed and appalled that there was no one to uphold [truth and right]. So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath sustained Me.  
Is6306 “I trampled the peoples in My anger And made them drunk with [the cup of] My wrath, And I spilled their lifeblood on the earth.”  
Is6307 I will tell of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has done for us, And His great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has shown them according to His compassion And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.  
Is6308 For He said, “Be assured, they are My people, Sons who will not be faithless.” So He became their Savior [in all their distresses].  
Is6309 In all their distress He was distressed, And the angel of His presence saved them, In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them; And He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.  
Is6310 But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He changed into their enemy, And He fought against them.  
Is6311 Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses [and they said], Where is He who brought our fathers up out of the [Red] Sea, with the shepherds of His flock [Moses and Aaron]? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in their midst,  
Is6312 Who caused His glorious arm and infinite power to go at the right hand of Moses, Dividing the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,  
Is6313 Who led them through the depths [of the Red Sea], Like a horse in the wilderness, [so that] they did not stumble?  
Is6314 Like the cattle that go down into the valley [to find better pasture and rest], The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people [O LORD] To make for Yourself a beautiful and glorious name [preparing the way for the acknowledgment of Your name by all nations].  
Is6315 Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty dwelling place, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty acts [Your miracles which you did for Your people]? The stirring of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained and withheld from me.  
Is6316 For [most certainly] You are our Father, even though Abraham [our ancestor] does not know us And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are [still] our Father, Our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name.  
Is6317 O LORD, why do You cause us to stray from Your ways And harden our heart from fearing You [with reverence and awe]? Return for Your servants’ sake, the tribes of Your heritage.  
Is6318 Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for [only] a little while; Our adversaries have trampled it down.  
Is6319 We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, Like those who were not called by Your name.  
Is6401 Oh, that You would tear open the heavens and come down, That the mountains might quake at Your presence—  
Is6402 As [sure as] fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil— To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence!  
Is6403 When You did awesome and amazing things which we did not expect, You came down [at Sinai]; the mountains quaked at Your presence.  
Is6404 For from days of old no one has heard, nor has ear perceived, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and acts in behalf of the one who [gladly] waits for Him.  
Is6405 You meet him who rejoices in doing that which is morally right, Who remembers You in Your ways. Indeed, You were angry, for we sinned; We have long continued in our sins [prolonging Your anger]. And shall we be saved [under such circumstances]?  
Is6406 For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction].  
Is6407 There is no one who calls on Your name, Who awakens and causes himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have handed us over to the [consuming and destructive] power of our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing].  
Is6408 Yet, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our Potter, And we all are the work of Your hand.  
Is6409 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD, Do not remember our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] forever. Now look, consider, for we are all Your people.  
Is6410 Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.  
Is6411 Our holy and beautiful house [the temple built by Solomon], Where our fathers praised You, Has been burned by fire; And all our precious objects are in ruins.  
Is6412 Considering these [tragedies], will You restrain Yourself, O LORD [and not help us]? Will You keep silent and humiliate and oppress us beyond measure?  
Is6501 “I let Myself be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I let Myself be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ To the nation [Israel] which did not call on My Name.  
Is6502 “I have spread out My hands all the day long to a rebellious and stubborn people, Who walk in the way that is not good, [following] after their own thoughts and intentions,  
Is6503 The people who continually provoke Me to My face, Sacrificing [to idols] in gardens and making offerings with incense on bricks [instead of at the designated altar];  
Is6504 Who sit among the graves [trying to conjure up evil spirits] and spend the night in the secret places [where spirits are thought to dwell]; Who eat swine’s flesh, And their pots hold the broth of unclean meat;  
Is6505 Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am too holy for you [and you might defile me]!’ These [people] are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.  
Is6506 “Indeed, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay it [directly] into their arms,  
Is6507 Both your own wickedness and the wickedness of your fathers,” says the LORD. “Since they too have made offerings with incense on the mountains And scorned and taunted Me on the hills, I therefore will measure [punishment for] their former work [directly] into their arms.”  
Is6508 This is what the LORD says, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing and benefit in it,’ So I will do for the sake of My servants In order not to destroy all of them.  
Is6509 “I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will live there.  
Is6510 “And [the plain of] Sharon will be a place for flocks to graze, And the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, For My people who seek Me [who long for Me and require My presence in their lives].  
Is6511 “But you who abandon (turn away from) the LORD, Who forget and ignore My holy mountain (Zion), Who set a table for Gad [the Babylonian god of fortune], And who fill a jug of mixed wine for Meni [the god of fate],  
Is6512 I will destine you for the sword, [says the LORD], And all of you will bow down to the slaughter, Because when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not listen or obey. But you did [what was] evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”  
Is6513 Therefore, the Lord GOD says this, “Listen carefully, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; Indeed, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; Indeed, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.  
Is6514 “Indeed, My servants will shout for joy from a happy heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you shall wail and howl from a broken spirit.  
Is6515 “And you will leave your name behind to My chosen ones [who will use it] as a curse, And the Lord GOD will put you to death, But He will call His servants by another name [a much greater name, just as the name Israel was greater than the name Jacob].  
Is6516 “Because he who blesses himself on the earth Will bless himself by the God of truth and faithfulness; And he who swears [an oath] on the earth Will swear by the God of truth and faithfulness; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight.  
Is6517 “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things [of life] will not be remembered or come to mind.  
Is6518 “But be glad and rejoice forever over what I create; Behold, I am creating Jerusalem to be a source of rejoicing And her people a joy.  
Is6519 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.  
Is6520 “No longer shall there be in it an infant who lives only a few days, Or an old man who does not finish his days; For the youth who dies at the age of a hundred, And the one who does not reach the age of a hundred Will be thought of as accursed.  
Is6521 “They will build houses and live in them; They will plant vineyards and eat the fruit.  
Is6522 “They will not build and another occupy; They will not plant and another eat [the fruit]. For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen [people] will fully enjoy [and long make use of] the work of their hands.  
Is6523 “They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for disaster; For they are the descendants of those blessed by the LORD, And their offspring with them.  
Is6524 It shall also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.  
Is6525 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox [there will no longer be predator and prey]; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain (Zion),” says the LORD.  
Is6601 This is what the LORD says, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where, then, is a house that you could build for Me? And where will My resting place be?  
Is6602 “For all these things My hand has made, So all these things came into being [by and for Me],” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look [graciously], To him who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word and honors My commands.  
Is6603 “He who kills an ox [for pagan sacrifice] is [as guilty] as one who kills a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as one who offers swine’s blood; He who offers incense, as one who blesses an idol. Such people have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their repulsive acts;  
Is6604 So I will choose their punishments, And will bring the things they dread upon them Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen or obey. But they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”  
Is6605 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble [with awe-filled reverence] at His word: “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My Name’s sake, Have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy.’ But they will be put to shame.  
Is6606 “The sound of an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, providing retribution to His enemies.  
Is6607 “Before she (Zion) was in labor, she gave birth; Before her labor pain came, she gave birth to a boy.  
Is6608 “Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Or can a nation be brought forth in a moment? As soon as Zion was in labor, she also brought forth her sons.  
Is6609 “Shall I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.  
Is6610 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; Rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her,  
Is6611 That you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may drink deeply and be delighted with her bountiful bosom.”  
Is6612 For the LORD says this, “Behold, I extend peace to her (Jerusalem) like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on her hip and [playfully] rocked on her knees.  
Is6613 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”  
Is6614 When you see this, your heart will rejoice; Your bones will flourish like new grass. And the [powerful] hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, But His indignation will be toward His enemies.  
Is6615 For indeed, the LORD will come in fire And His chariots will be like the stormy wind, To render His anger with rage, And His rebuke with flames of fire.  
Is6616 For the LORD will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all mankind, And those slain by the LORD will be many.  
Is6617 “Those who [vainly attempt to] sanctify and cleanse themselves to go to the gardens [to sacrifice to idols], Following after one in the center, Who eat swine’s flesh, detestable things and mice, Will come to an end together,” says the LORD.  
Is6618 “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory.  
Is6619 I will set up a [miraculous] sign among them, and from them I will send survivors to the nations: Tarshish, Pul (Put), Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant islands and coastlands that have not heard of My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare and proclaim My glory among the nations.  
Is6620 Then they shall bring all your countrymen (children of Israel) from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels—to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.  
Is6621 I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.  
Is6622 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will remain and endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “So your offspring and your name will remain and endure.  
Is6623 “And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon And from Sabbath to Sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down and worship before Me,” says the LORD.  
Is6624 “Then they will go forth and look Upon the dead bodies of the [rebellious] men Who have transgressed against Me; For their worm (maggot) will not die, And their fire will not go out; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”  
Jr0101 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, [one] of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,  
Jr0102 to whom the word of the LORD came during the thirteenth year (627 B.C.) of the reign of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.  
Jr0103 It came [to Jeremiah] also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, [continuing] until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, [and continuing] until the exile of [the people of] Jerusalem in the fifth month (July-August, 586 B.C.).  
Jr0104 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Jr0105 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  
Jr0106 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, For I am [only] a young man.”  
Jr0107 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am [only] a young man,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.  
Jr0108 “Do not be afraid of them [or their hostile faces], For I am with you [always] to protect you and deliver you,” says the LORD.  
Jr0109 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold (hear Me), I have put My words in your mouth.  
Jr0110 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”  
Jr0111 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see the branch of an almond tree.”  
Jr0112 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it.”  
Jr0113 The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north [its mouth about to pour out on the south, on Judea].”  
Jr0114 Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil [which the prophets foretold as the result of national sin] will reveal itself and spill out on all the people of the land.  
Jr0115 For, behold, I will call all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD; “and they will come and each one will set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its surrounding walls, and against all the cities of Judah [as My judicial act, the consequence of Judah’s deliberate disobedience].  
Jr0116 I will speak My judgments against them for all the wickedness of those who have abandoned (rejected) Me, offered sacrifices or burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the [idolatrous] works of their own hands.  
Jr0117 But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins [in preparation]! Get up and tell them all which I command you. Do not be distraught and break down at the sight of their [hostile] faces, or I will bewilder you before them and allow you to be overcome.  
Jr0118 Now behold, I have made you today like a fortified city and like an iron pillar and like bronze walls against the whole land—against the [successive] kings of Judah, against its leaders, against its priests, and against the people of the land [giving you divine strength which no hostile power can overcome].  
Jr0119 They will fight against you, but they will not [ultimately] prevail over you, for I am with you [always] to protect you and deliver you,” says the LORD.  
Jr0201 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,  
Jr0202 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I remember [earnestly] the lovingkindness and devotion of your youth, Your time of betrothal [like that of a bride during the early years in Egypt and again at Sinai], When you followed Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown.  
Jr0203 “Israel was holy [something set apart from ordinary purposes, consecrated] to the LORD, The first fruits of His harvest [in which no outsider was allowed to share]. All who ate of it [injuring Israel] became guilty; Evil came on them,” says the LORD.’”  
Jr0204 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.  
Jr0205 Thus says the LORD, “What injustice or unrighteousness did your fathers find in Me, That they have wandered far from Me And [habitually] walked after emptiness and futility and became empty?  
Jr0206 “They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, Through a land of deserts and of pits, Through a land of drought and of the deep darkness [of the shadow of death], Through a land that no man passed through And where no man lived?’  
Jr0207 “I brought you into a plentiful land To eat its fruit and [enjoy] its good things. But you came and defiled My land And you made My inheritance repulsive.  
Jr0208 “[Even] the priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ And those who deal with the law [given to Moses] did not know Me. The rulers and shepherds also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] Baal And walked after [idolatrous] things that did not benefit [them].  
Jr0209 “Therefore I will still contend (struggle) with you [by bringing judgment on you],” says the LORD, “And I will contend with your children’s children.”  
Jr0210 “For cross over to the coasts of Kittim (Cyprus) [to the west] and see, Send also to Kedar (Arabia) [to the east] and carefully observe and consider And see whether there has been such [a thing] as this!  
Jr0211 “Has a nation [ever] changed gods Even though they were not gods [but merely man- made objects]? But My people have exchanged their Glory (the true God) For that [man-made idol] which does not benefit [them].  
Jr0212 “Be appalled, O heavens, at this; Be shocked and shudder with horror [at the behavior of the people],” says the LORD.  
Jr0213 “For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned (rejected) Me, The fountain of living water, And they have carved out their own cisterns, Broken cisterns That cannot hold water.  
Jr0214 “Is Israel a servant? Is he a slave by birth? Why has he become a captive and a prey?  
Jr0215 “The young lions have roared at him, They have made their voices heard and roared loudly. And they have made his land a waste; His cities have been destroyed and are burned ruins, without inhabitant.  
Jr0216 “Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes [as powerful enemies] Have shaved the crown of your head [to degrade you].  
Jr0217 “Have you not brought this on yourself By abandoning (rejecting) the LORD your God When He led you in the way?  
Jr0218 “Now what are you doing by going to Egypt [in search of an ally], To drink the [muddy] waters of the Nile? Or what are you doing by going to Assyria [in search of an ally], To drink the [muddy] waters of the Euphrates?  
Jr0219 “Your own wickedness will discipline you, And your desertion of the faith will punish you. Know therefore that it is an evil and bitter thing For you to abandon (reject) the LORD your God, And for you to be indifferent to Me and dismiss the [reverent] fear of Me,” says the Lord GOD of hosts.  
Jr0220 “For long ago you broke your yoke [in deliberate disobedience] And tore off your bonds [of the law that I gave you]; You said, ‘I will not serve and obey You!’ For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down [in idolatrous worship] like a [compliant] prostitute.  
Jr0221 “Yet I had planted you [O house of Israel as] a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned against Me Into degenerate shoots of a foreign and wild vine [alien to Me]?  
Jr0222 “For though you wash yourself with lye And use much soap, The stain of your guilt is [still] before Me [and you are soiled and dirty],” says the Lord GOD.  
Jr0223 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled, I have not gone after [man-made gods like] the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; Know [without any doubt] what you have done! You are a swift and restless young [female] camel [in the heat of her passion] running here and there,  
Jr0224 Or [you have the untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion [for the scent of a mate]. In her mating season who can restrain her? No males seeking her need to weary themselves; In her month they will find her [looking for them].  
Jr0225 “[Cease your mad running after idols to] Keep your feet from becoming bare And your throat from becoming dry; But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I have loved strangers and foreign gods, And I will walk after them.’  
Jr0226 “As the thief is shamed when he is caught, So the house of Israel is shamed— They, their kings, their leaders, Their priests, and their prophets—  
Jr0227 Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me, And not their faces; But in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise [O LORD] and save us.’  
Jr0228 “But where are your gods Which you made for yourself? Let them get up, if they can save you In the time of your trouble! For [as many as] the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah. [Why do not your many man-made idols run to help you?]  
Jr0229 “Why do you complain and contend with Me? You have all rebelled (transgressed) against Me,” says the LORD.  
Jr0230 “In vain I have punished your people [with the consequences of their disobedience]; They received no insight from correction [and refused to change]. Your [own] sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.  
Jr0231 “O generation [that you are], consider and regard carefully the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel [like a land without food], A land of thick and deep darkness [like a path without light]? Why do My people say, ‘We [have broken loose and we] are free to roam [at will]; We will no longer come to You’?  
Jr0232 “Can a virgin forget [to wear] her ornaments, Or a bride her attire [that identifies her as a married woman]? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.  
Jr0233 “How well you prepare your path To seek and obtain [adulterous] love! Even the most wicked of women Have learned [indecent] ways from you.  
Jr0234 “Also on your skirts is found The lifeblood of the innocent poor; You did not find them breaking in [a house]. But in spite of all these things [your disobedience, your love of idolatry, your lack of compassion]—  
Jr0235 Yet you keep saying, ‘I am innocent; Surely His anger has turned away from me.’ Behold (listen very carefully), I will bring you to judgment and will plead my case against you Because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’  
Jr0236 “Why do you go around and wander so much Changing your way? Also, you will be shamed by Egypt As you were shamed by Assyria.  
Jr0237 “From Egypt also you will come away [as captives] With your hands on your head; For the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust (confide), And you will not be successful with them.”  
Jr0301 That is to say, “If a man divorces his wife And she goes [away] from him And becomes another man’s [wife], Will he return to her again? [Of course not!] Will not that land [where such a thing happened] be completely desecrated? But you [rebelled against Me and you] are a prostitute with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me.” says the LORD.  
Jr0302 “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see; Where have you not been violated? You sat by the road waiting [eagerly] for them [those man-made gods] Like an Arab [tribesman who waits to attack] in the desert, And you have desecrated the land With your [vile] prostitution and your wickedness (disobedience to God).  
Jr0303 “Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you have the forehead (appearance) of a prostitute; You refuse to be ashamed.  
Jr0304 “Will you not just now call out to Me, ‘My Father, you were the guide and companion of my youth?  
Jr0305 ‘Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, And you have done all the evil things [you could], And you have had your way and have carried out your wickedness.”  
Jr0306 Moreover, the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king [of Judah], “Have you seen what that faithless Israel has done—how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there she was a prostitute?  
Jr0307 I thought, ‘After she has done all these things she will return to Me’; but she did not return, and her treacherous (faithless) sister Judah saw it.  
Jr0308 And I saw [that even though Judah knew] that for all the acts of adultery (idolatry) of faithless Israel, I [the LORD] had sent her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid; but she went and was a prostitute also [following after idols].  
Jr0309 Because of the thoughtlessness of Israel’s prostitution [her immorality mattered little to her], she desecrated the land and committed adultery with [idols of] stones and trees.  
Jr0310 Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but rather in [blatant] deception [she merely pretended obedience to King Josiah’s reforms],” declares the LORD.  
Jr0311 And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself less guilty than treacherous Judah [a land of renegades].  
Jr0312 Go and proclaim these words toward the north [where the ten tribes have been taken as captives] and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not look on you in anger. For I am gracious and merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not be angry forever.  
Jr0313 ‘Only understand fully and acknowledge your wickedness and guilt, That you have rebelled (transgressed) against the LORD your God And have scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the LORD.  
Jr0314 ‘Return, O faithless children [of the twelve tribes],’ says the LORD, ‘For I am a master and husband to you, And I will take you [not as a nation, but individually]—one from a city and two from a [tribal] family— And I will bring you to Zion.’  
Jr0315 “Then [in the final time] I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and [true] understanding.  
Jr0316 It will be in those days when you have [repented and] multiplied and increased in the land,” says the LORD, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ It will not come to mind, nor will they [seriously] remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again [for instead of the ark, which symbolized My presence, I will be present].  
Jr0317 At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name (renown) of the LORD; and they will not walk anymore after the stubbornness of their [own] evil heart.  
Jr0318 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.  
Jr0319 “Then I said, ‘How [gloriously and honorably] I would set you among My children And give you a pleasant land—a wonderful heritage, The most beautiful inheritance of the nations!’ And I said, ‘You shall call Me, My Father And not turn away from following Me.’  
Jr0320 “Surely, as a wife treacherously (unfaithfully) leaves her husband, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the LORD.  
Jr0321 A voice is heard on the barren heights, The weeping and pleading of the children of Israel, Because they have lost their way, They have [deliberately] forgotten the LORD their God.  
Jr0322 “Return, O faithless sons,” [says the LORD], “I will heal your unfaithfulness.” [They answer] “Behold, we come to You, For You are the LORD our God.  
Jr0323 “Truly, [the hope of salvation from] the hill [where idols are worshiped] is a deception, A tumult and noisy multitude on the mountains; Truly in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.  
Jr0324 “But the shameful act [of idolatry] has consumed the labor of our fathers since our youth—their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.  
Jr0325 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor and humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”  
Jr0401 “If you will return, O Israel,” says the LORD, “If you will return to Me, And if you will put away your detestable things and remove your man-made gods from My sight, And not stray or waver,  
Jr0402 And if you swear [your oaths], ‘As the LORD lives,’ In truth, in justice, and in righteousness, Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.”  
Jr0403 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Plow your uncultivated ground [for a season], And do not sow among thorns.  
Jr0404 “Circumcise (dedicate, sanctify) yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskin [sins] of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire [consuming all that gets in its way] And burn and there will be no one to quench it, Because of the evil of your acts.”  
Jr0405 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say, “Blow the trumpet in the land; Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves, and let us go Into the fortified cities.’  
Jr0406 “Raise a banner toward Zion [to mark the way for those seeking safety inside Jerusalem’s walls]! Seek refuge, do not stand [immobile], For I am bringing evil from the north (the army of Babylon), And great destruction.  
Jr0407 “A lion has left his lair, And a destroyer of nations is on his way. He has gone out from his place To desolate your land; Your cities will be in ruins Without an inhabitant.  
Jr0408 “For this reason, put on sackcloth [for mourning], Lament (mourn with expressions of grief for the dead) and wail, For the fierce anger of the LORD Has not turned back from us.”  
Jr0409 “It shall come about in that day,” says the LORD, “that the heart and courage of the king will fail (be paralyzed), and also the heart of the princes; the priests will be appalled and the prophets will be astounded and horrified.”  
Jr0410 Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Surely You have completely deceived and misled this people and Jerusalem, [for the prophets represented You as] saying [to Your people], ‘You will have peace,’ but [in fact] a sword reaches to their throat.”  
Jr0411 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the wilderness [comes at My command] against the daughter of My people—not [a wind] to winnow and not to cleanse [from chaff, as when threshing, but]  
Jr0412 a wind too strong and full for this comes at My word. Now I will also speak judgment against My people.”  
Jr0413 “Behold, the enemy comes up like clouds, His chariots like the whirlwind; His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe (judgment is coming) to us, for we are ruined!”  
Jr0414 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, That you may be saved. How long will your wicked and immoral thoughts Lodge within you?  
Jr0415 For a voice declares from Dan [far in the north], And proclaims evil from Mount Ephraim.  
Jr0416 “Warn the [neighboring] nations now [that our enemy is coming]! Announce to Jerusalem, ‘Besiegers are coming from a far country, And they lift their voices and shout against the cities of Judah.  
Jr0417 ‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her on all sides, Because she has rebelled against Me,’ says the LORD.  
Jr0418 “Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things on you. This is your tragedy and doom; how bitter, How it has touched your heart!”  
Jr0419 My soul, my soul! I writhe in anguish and pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is pounding and throbbing within me; I cannot be silent, For you have heard, O my soul, The sound of the trumpet, The alarm of war.  
Jr0420 News of one [terrible] disaster comes close after another, For the whole land is devastated; Suddenly my tents are spoiled and destroyed, My [tent] curtains [ruined] in a moment.  
Jr0421 How long [O LORD] must I see the banner [marking the way for flight] And hear the sound of the trumpet [urging the people to run for safety]?  
Jr0422 “For My people are stupid and foolish,” [says the LORD to Jeremiah]; “They do not know Me; They are foolish children And have no understanding. They are shrewd [enough] to do evil, But they do not know [how] to do good.”  
Jr0423 I looked at the earth [in my vision], and behold, it was [as at the time of creation] formless and void; And to the heavens, and they had no light.  
Jr0424 I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were trembling, And all the hills moved back and forth.  
Jr0425 I looked, and behold, there was no man, And all the birds of the air had fled.  
Jr0426 I looked, and behold, the fertile land was a wilderness, And all its cities were pulled down Before the [presence of the] LORD, before His fierce anger.  
Jr0427 Therefore says the LORD, “The whole land shall be a desolation, Yet I will not cause total destruction.  
Jr0428 “For this reason the earth shall mourn And the heavens above shall become dark, Because I have spoken, I have decided, And I will not change my mind (relent), nor will I turn back from it.”  
Jr0429 Every city runs away at the sound of the horsemen and archers. They go into the thickets and climb among the rocks; Every city is deserted, And no man lives in them.  
Jr0430 And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself in scarlet, Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, Though you enlarge your eyes with paint, You make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers (allies) despise you; They seek your life.  
Jr0431 For I heard a cry like a woman in labor, The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child, The cry of the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem), who gasps for breath, Who stretches out her hands, saying, “Woe is me [my judgment comes]! I faint [in fear] before the murderers.”  
Jr0501 “Roam back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now and take note. And look in her open squares To see if you can find a man [as Abraham sought in Sodom], One who is just, who [has integrity and moral courage and] seeks truth (faithfulness); Then I will pardon Jerusalem—[for the sake of one uncompromisingly righteous person].  
Jr0502 “And though they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’ Surely they swear [their oaths] falsely.”  
Jr0503 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You [have seen their faithless heart and] have stricken them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction or instruction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent and return to You.  
Jr0504 Then I said, “[Surely] these are only the poor (uneducated); They are [sinfully] foolish and have no [spiritual] understanding, For they do not know the way of the LORD Or the ordinance of their God [and the requirements of His just and righteous law].  
Jr0505 “I will go to the great [men] And speak to them, For they [must] know the way of the LORD, The ordinance of their God.” But [I found the reverse to be true, that] they too had all alike broken the yoke [of God’s law] And had burst the bonds [of obedience to Him].  
Jr0506 Therefore a lion from the forest will kill them, A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many, Their desertions of faith are countless.  
Jr0507 “Why should I [overlook these offenses and] forgive you? Your children have abandoned (rejected) Me And sworn [their oaths] by those who are not gods. When I had fed them until they were full [and bound them to Me by a promise], They committed [spiritual] adultery, Assembling in troops at the houses of prostitutes (idols).  
Jr0508 “They were like well-fed, lusty stallions, Each one neighing after his neighbor’s wife.  
Jr0509 “Shall I not punish them [for these things]?” says the LORD; “Shall I not avenge Myself On a nation such as this?”  
Jr0510 “Go up through the rows of Jerusalem’s vineyards and destroy [them], But do not completely destroy everything. Strip away her branches and the tendrils [of her vines], For they are not the LORD’S.  
Jr0511 “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah Have dealt very treacherously (faithlessly) with Me,” declares the LORD.  
Jr0512 They have lied about and denied the LORD By saying, “It is not He [who speaks through His prophets]; Misfortune and evil shall not come on us, Nor will we see war or famine.  
Jr0513 “The prophets are like the wind [their prophecy will not come to pass], And the word [of God] is not in them. In this manner it will be done to them [as they prophesied, not to us].”  
Jr0514 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of hosts, “Because you [people] have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words a fire in your mouth [Jeremiah] And this people wood, and My words will consume them.  
Jr0515 “Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from far away, O house of Israel,” says the LORD. “It is a mighty and enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Whose words you do not comprehend.  
Jr0516 “Their quiver is [filled with the dead] like an open grave; They are all mighty men [heroes of their nation].  
Jr0517 “They will consume your harvest and [eat up] your bread; They will consume your sons and your daughters; They will consume your flocks and your herds; They will consume your vines and your fig trees. With the sword they will break down and demolish your fortified cities in which you trust.  
Jr0518 “But even in those days,” says the LORD, “I will not totally destroy you.  
Jr0519 It will come about when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘As you have abandoned (rejected) Me,’ [says the LORD,] ‘and have served strange and foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’  
Jr0520 “Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying:  
Jr0521 ‘Now hear this, O foolish people without heart, Who have eyes but do not see, Who have ears but do not hear.  
Jr0522 ‘Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Do you not tremble [in awe] in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree and a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass. Though the waves [of the sea] toss and break, yet they cannot prevail [against the sand ordained to hold them back]; Though the waves and the billows roar, yet they cannot cross over [the barrier]. [Is not such a God to be feared?]  
Jr0523 ‘But this people has a stubborn heart and a rebellious will [that draws them away from Me]; They have turned away and have gone [into idolatry].  
Jr0524 ‘They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear and worship the LORD our God [with profound awe and reverence], Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest.”  
Jr0525 ‘Your wickedness has turned these [blessings] away, And your sins have withheld good [harvests] from you.  
Jr0526 ‘For wicked men are found among My people, They watch like fowlers who lie in wait; They set a trap, They catch men.  
Jr0527 ‘As a cage is full of birds, So are their houses full of deceit and treachery; Therefore they have become influential and rich.  
Jr0528 ‘They are fat and they are sleek (prosperous), They excel in acts of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, so that they [the wicked] may prosper, And they do not defend the rights of the poor.  
Jr0529 ‘Shall I not punish them [for these things]?’ says the LORD. ‘Shall I not avenge Myself On such a nation as this?’  
Jr0530 “An appalling and horrible thing [bringing desolation and destruction] Has come to pass in the land:  
Jr0531 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love [to have] it so! But what will you do when the end comes?  
Jr0601 “Run for safety, you children of Benjamin, Out of the midst of Jerusalem! And blow a trumpet in Tekoa [in Judah] And raise a signal-fire in Beth-haccherem [near Jerusalem]; For evil is looking down [with eager anticipation] from the north, And great destruction.  
Jr0602 “I will destroy the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem), the lovely and delicate one [so like a luxurious pasture].  
Jr0603 “Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; They will pitch their tents all around her; They will pasture, each one in his place [eating up all her rich grasses].  
Jr0604 “[They shout], ‘Prepare for war against her; Arise, let us [take her by surprise and] attack her at noon. But alas, the daylight pales, The evening shadows grow long.  
Jr0605 ‘Arise, let us [awaken to] attack her at night And destroy her [fortified] palaces!’”  
Jr0606 For the LORD of hosts has said, “Cut down her trees And build a siege [mound] against Jerusalem. This is the city which must be punished; There is nothing but oppression inside her [walls].  
Jr0607 “As a fountain springs up and pours out its fresh waters, So she [continually] pours out her fresh wickedness. Violence and destruction are heard inside her [walls]; Sickness and wounds are always before Me.  
Jr0608 “Be wise and be warned, O Jerusalem, Or I will be alienated from you, And make you a desolation, An uninhabited land.”  
Jr0609 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “They will thoroughly gather like [fruit on] a vine what is left of Israel; Pass your hand [over the vine] again and again [Babylon, tool of destruction] like a grape gatherer, Over the branches [stripping the tendrils off the vine].”  
Jr0610 To whom shall I (Jeremiah) speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed [absolutely deaf to God] And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reprimand and an object of scorn to them; They have no delight in it.  
Jr0611 But I am full of the wrath (judgment) of the LORD; I am tired of restraining it. “[I will] pour it out on the children in the street And on the young men gathered together; For both the husband and wife shall be taken, The aged and the very old [though full of days they are not exempt from judgment].  
Jr0612 “Their houses shall be turned over to others, Their fields and their wives together; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD.  
Jr0613 “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for [unfair] gain; And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals deceitfully.  
Jr0614 “They have treated superficially the [bloody] broken wound of My people, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ When there is no peace.  
Jr0615 “Were they ashamed because they had committed disgusting and vile things? No, they were not at all ashamed; They did not even know how to blush [at their idolatry]. Therefore they will fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them They will be overthrown,” says the LORD.  
Jr0616 Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’  
Jr0617 “I have set watchmen (prophets) over you, Saying, ‘Listen and pay attention to the [warning] sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’  
Jr0618 “Therefore hear, O [Gentile] nations, And see, O congregation, what [vengeful act] is to be done to them.  
Jr0619 “Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their schemes, Because they have not listened and paid attention to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.  
Jr0620 “For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not sweet and pleasing to Me.”  
Jr0621 Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am laying stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together Will stumble against them; The neighbor and his friend will perish.”  
Jr0622 Thus says the LORD, “Behold, a people is coming from the north country, And a great nation shall be stirred up and put into action from the remote parts of the earth.  
Jr0623 “They seize bow and spear; They are cruel and inhuman and have no mercy. Their voice sounds like the roaring sea; They ride [in formation] on horses, Arrayed as a man for battle Against you, O Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem)!”  
Jr0624 We have heard the report of it; Our hands become limp and helpless. Anguish has gripped us, Pain like that of a woman in childbirth.  
Jr0625 Do not go out into the field Nor walk on the road, For the enemy is armed with the sword; Terror is on every side.  
Jr0626 O daughter of my people [says Jeremiah], Clothe yourself in sackcloth and wallow in ashes; Mourn [aloud] as for an only son, A most bitter cry [of sorrow and regret], For suddenly the destroyer will come upon us [on both prophet and people].  
Jr0627 “I [the LORD] have set you as an assayer [O Jeremiah] and as a tester [of the ore] of My people, That you may know and analyze their acts.”  
Jr0628 They are all the worst [kind] of [stiff-necked, godless] rebels, Going around spreading slander. They are [not gold and silver ore, but] bronze and iron; They are all corrupt.  
Jr0629 The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; In vain they continue refining, But the wicked are not separated and removed.  
Jr0630 They call them rejected silver [only dross, without value], Because the LORD has rejected them.  
Jr0701 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  
Jr0702 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter by these gates to worship the LORD.’”  
Jr0703 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Change your ways and your behavior, and I will let you live in this place.  
Jr0704 Do not trust in the deceptive and lying words [of the false prophets who claim that Jerusalem will be protected by God because of the temple], saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’  
Jr0705 For if you thoroughly change your ways and your behavior, if you thoroughly and honestly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,  
Jr0706 if you do not oppress the transient and the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood [by oppression and by unjust judicial murders] in Jerusalem, nor follow after other gods to your own ruin,  
Jr0707 then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers [to live in] forever and ever.  
Jr0708 “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive and useless words that bring no benefit.  
Jr0709 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear [oaths] falsely, offer sacrifices or burn incense to Baal, and follow after other gods that you have not known,  
Jr0710 and [then dare to] come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, ‘We are protected and set free [by this act of religious ritual]!’—only to go on with this wickedness and these disgusting and loathsome things?  
Jr0711 Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it,” says the LORD.  
Jr0712 “But go now to My place which was in Shiloh [in Ephraim], where I first set My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.  
Jr0713 And now, because you have done all these things,” says the LORD, “and I spoke [persistently] to you, even rising up early and speaking, but you did not listen, and I called you but you did not answer,  
Jr0714 therefore, I will do to this house (the temple) which is called by My Name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, just as I did to Shiloh.  
Jr0715 I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers (relatives through Jacob), all the descendants of Ephraim.  
Jr0716 “Therefore, do not pray for this people [of Judah] or lift up a cry or entreaty for them or make intercession to Me, for I do not hear you.  
Jr0717 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?  
Jr0718 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods that they may offend and provoke Me to anger.  
Jr0719 Do they offend and provoke Me to anger?” says the LORD. “Is it not themselves [they offend], to their own shame?”  
Jr0720 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, My anger and My wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; and it will burn and [the fire will] not be quenched.”  
Jr0721 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat the meat.  
Jr0722 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices.  
Jr0723 But this thing I did command them: ‘Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, so that it may be well with you.’  
Jr0724 But they did not obey Me or bend their ear [to hear Me], but followed the counsels and the stubbornness of their [own] evil heart (mind), and [they turned and] went backward instead of forward.  
Jr0725 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have [persistently] sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them daily, early [and late].  
Jr0726 Yet they did not listen to Me and obey Me or bend their ear [to hear Me], but stiffened their neck; they did more evil and behaved worse than their fathers.  
Jr0727 “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall [also] call to them, but they will not answer you.  
Jr0728 You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction and warning; truth and faithfulness have perished and have completely vanished from their mouths.  
Jr0729 ‘Cut off your hair [your crown, O Jerusalem] and throw it away, And take up a mournful cry on the barren heights, For the LORD has rejected and abandoned The generation of His wrath.’  
Jr0730 For the children of Judah have done evil in My sight,” says the LORD; “they have set their disgusting and shamefully vile things in the house which is called by My Name, to defile it.  
Jr0731 They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom), to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire [to honor Molech, the fire god]—which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart (mind).  
Jr0732 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of the Slaughter, for [in bloody warfare] they will bury [the dead] in Topheth until there is no more room.  
Jr0733 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth and no one will frighten them away.  
Jr0734 Then I will cause the voices of joy and gladness, and the voices of the bridegroom and the bride to vanish from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem; for the land will become a ruin—a wasteland.  
Jr0801 “At that time,” says the LORD, “they [the Babylonian army] will bring out from their graves the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
Jr0802 They will [carelessly scatter and] spread them out before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which the dead have loved and which they have served, and which they have walked after and which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or be buried; they will be like dung on the face of the earth.  
Jr0803 And death will be chosen rather than life by all the remnant of those who remain of this evil family (nation), who remain in all the places to which I have driven them,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Jr0804 “Moreover [Jeremiah], you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do men fall and not rise up again? Does one turn away [from God] and not repent and return [to Him]?  
Jr0805 “Why then has this people of Jerusalem Turned away with a perpetual turning away [from Me]? They hold tightly to deceit (idolatry); They refuse to repent and return [to God].  
Jr0806 “I have listened and heard, But they have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his [individual] course, As the horse rushes like a torrent into battle.  
Jr0807 “Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons [of migration], And the turtledove, the swallow and the crane Observe the time of their return. But My people do not know The law of the LORD.  
Jr0808 “How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us [and we are learned in its language and teachings]’? Behold, [the truth is that] the lying pen of the scribes Has made the law into a lie [a mere code of ceremonial observances].  
Jr0809 “The wise men are shamed, They are dismayed and caught. Behold, they have [manipulated and] rejected the [truth in the] word of the LORD, And what kind of wisdom and insight do they have?  
Jr0810 “Therefore I will give their wives to others And their fields to new owners; Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is greedy for [unjust] gain; From the prophet even to the priest Everyone practices deceit and deals in corruption.  
Jr0811 “For they have treated the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ When there is no peace.  
Jr0812 “Were they ashamed because of the extremely disgusting and shamefully vile things they had done? They were not at all ashamed, And they did not know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; At the time of their punishment they shall be overthrown,” Says the LORD.  
Jr0813 “I will gather and snatch them away [utterly consuming them],” says the LORD. “There will be no grapes on the vine, Nor figs on the fig tree, And even the leaf will wither; And the things that I have given them will pass away [by the hand of those whom I have appointed].”’”  
Jr0814 Why are we sitting still [the people wonder]? Assemble yourselves, and let us enter the fortified cities And let us die there, For the LORD our God has decreed our ruin And given us bitter and poisonous water to drink, Because we have sinned against the LORD.  
Jr0815 We waited for peace and salvation, but no good came, And for a time of healing, but behold, terror!  
Jr0816 The snorting of [Nebuchadnezzar’s] horses is heard from Dan [on Palestine’s northern border]. At the sound of the neighing of his strong stallions The whole land quakes; For they come and devour the land and all that is in it, The city and those who live in it.  
Jr0817 “For behold, I am sending serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they will bite you,” says the LORD.  
Jr0818 Oh, that I (Jeremiah) could find comfort from my sorrow [for my grief is beyond healing], My heart is sick and faint within me!  
Jr0819 Behold, [hear the sound of] the cry of the daughter of my people from the distant land [of Babylon]: “Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King within her?” [But the LORD answers] “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images and with foreign idols?”  
Jr0820 “The harvest is past, the summer has ended and the gathering of fruit is over, But we are not saved,” [comes the voice of the people again].  
Jr0821 For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I (Jeremiah) am broken; I mourn, anxiety has gripped me.  
Jr0822 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the [spiritual] health of the daughter of my people been restored?  
Jr0901 Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!  
Jr0902 Oh that I had in the wilderness A lodging place (a mere shelter) for wayfaring men, That I might leave my people And go away from them! For they are all adulterers [worshiping idols instead of the LORD], [They are] an assembly of treacherous men [of weak character, men without integrity].  
Jr0903 “They bend their tongue like their bow; [Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the LORD.  
Jr0904 “Let everyone beware of his neighbor And do not trust any brother. For every brother is a supplanter [like Jacob, a deceiver, ready to grab his brother’s heel], And every neighbor goes around as a slanderer.  
Jr0905 “Everyone deceives and mocks his neighbor And does not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They exhaust themselves with sin and cruelty.  
Jr0906 “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit [oppression upon oppression and deceit upon deceit]; Through deceit they refuse to know (understand) Me,” says the LORD.  
Jr0907 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, I will refine them [through suffering] and test them; For how else should I deal with the daughter of My people?  
Jr0908 “Their tongue is a murderous arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But in his heart he lays traps and waits in ambush for him.  
Jr0909 “Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the LORD. “Shall I not avenge Myself On such a nation as this?  
Jr0910 “I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, And a [funeral] dirge for the pastures of the wilderness, Because they are burned up and desolated so that no one passes through [them]; Nor can anyone hear the lowing of cattle. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they are gone.  
Jr0911 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt and dwelling place of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”  
Jr0912 Who is the wise man who may understand this [without any doubt]? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, so that he may declare it? Why is the land ruined, laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?  
Jr0913 The LORD said, “Because they have turned away from My law which I set before them, and have not listened to and obeyed My voice nor walked in accordance with it,  
Jr0914 but have walked stubbornly after their [own] heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,”  
Jr0915 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them bitter and poisonous water to drink.  
Jr0916 I will [also] scatter them among nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them until I have annihilated them.”  
Jr0917 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider and call for the mourning women to come; Send for the wailing women to come.  
Jr0918 “Let them hurry and take up a wailing for us, That our eyes may shed tears And our eyelids flow with water.  
Jr0919 “For a sound of wailing is heard [coming] from Zion: ‘How we are ruined! We are greatly perplexed and utterly shamed, Because we have left the land, Because they have torn down our dwellings.’”  
Jr0920 Now hear the word of the LORD, O you women, And let your ear hear the word of His mouth; Teach your daughters a song of mourning, And each one [teach] her neighbor a dirge.  
Jr0921 For death has come up through our windows; It has entered our palaces, Cutting off the children from the streets And the young men from the town squares.  
Jr0922 Speak, “Thus says the LORD, ‘The dead bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, And like sheaves [of grain] behind the reaper, And no one will gather them.’”  
Jr0923 Thus says the LORD, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance;  
Jr0924 but let the one who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me [and acknowledges Me and honors Me as God and recognizes without any doubt], that I am the LORD who practices lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” says the LORD.  
Jr0925 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all who are circumcised [physically] and yet uncircumcised [spiritually]—  
Jr0926 Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those who live in the desert who clip off the hair on their temples; for all these nations are uncircumcised (sinful, impure), and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”  
Jr1001 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.  
Jr1002 Thus says the LORD, “Do not learn the way of the [pagan] nations, And do not be terrified and distressed by the signs of the heavens Although the pagans are terrified by them;  
Jr1003 For the customs and decrees of the peoples are [mere] delusion [exercises in futility]; It is only wood which one cuts from the forest [to make a god], The work of the hands of the craftsman with the axe or cutting tool.  
Jr1004 “They adorn the idol with silver and with gold; They fasten it with hammers and nails So that it will not fall apart.  
Jr1005 “They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; They cannot speak; They have to be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not be afraid of them, For they can do no harm or evil, Nor can they do any good.”  
Jr1006 There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your mighty and powerful name.  
Jr1007 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For it is appropriate and it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.  
Jr1008 But they are altogether irrational and stupid and foolish In their discipline of delusion—their idol is [only] wood [it is ridiculous, empty and worthless]!  
Jr1009 Silver that has been beaten [into plates] is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman and of the hand of the goldsmith; Violet and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skilled men.  
Jr1010 But the LORD is the true God and the God who is Truth; He is the living God and the everlasting King. The earth quakes and shudders at His wrath, And the nations are not able to endure His indignation.  
Jr1011 In this manner you shall say to them, “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”  
Jr1012 God made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom And by His understanding and skill He has stretched out the heavens.  
Jr1013 When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds and the mist to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, And brings out the wind from His treasuries and from His storehouses.  
Jr1014 Every man has become [like a brute] irrational and stupid, without knowledge [of God]; Every goldsmith is shamed by his carved idols; For his molten images are frauds and lies, And there is no breath in them.  
Jr1015 They are worthless and devoid of promise, a work of delusion and mockery; In their time of [trial and] punishment they will perish [without hope].  
Jr1016 The Portion of Jacob [the true God on whom Israel has a claim] is not like these; For He is the Designer and Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance [and He will not fail them]— The LORD of hosts is His name.  
Jr1017 Gather up your bundle [of goods] from the ground, You who live under siege.  
Jr1018 For thus says the LORD; “Behold, I am slinging out at this time the people of this land, And will cause them [great] distress, That they may find it [to be as I have said].”  
Jr1019 “Woe to me because of my [spiritual] brokenness!” [says Jeremiah, speaking for the nation.] “My wound is incurable.” But I said, “Surely this sickness and suffering and grief are mine, And I must bear it.”  
Jr1020 My tent is destroyed, And all my [tent] cords are broken; My children have been taken from me [as captives] and are no more. There is no one to stretch out my tent again And to set up my [tent] curtains.  
Jr1021 For the shepherds [of the people] have become [like brutes,] irrational and stupid, And have not searched for the LORD or asked about Him or realized their need for Him; Therefore they have not been wise and have not prospered, And all their flocks are scattered.  
Jr1022 The sound of a report! Behold, [the invader] comes— A great commotion from the country of the north (Babylonia)— To make the cities of Judah A desolation, a haunt and dwelling place of jackals.  
Jr1023 O LORD, I know that the path of [life of] a man is not in himself; It is not within [the limited ability of] man [even one at his best] to choose and direct his steps [in life].  
Jr1024 O LORD, correct me [along with Your people], but with mercy and in just measure— Not in Your anger, or You will crush me and bring me to nothing.  
Jr1025 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know nor recognize You And on the families that do not call Your name. For they have devoured Jacob; They have devoured him and consumed him And made his land a desolate waste.  
Jr1101 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD,  
Jr1102 “Hear the words of this [solemn] covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the people of Jerusalem.  
Jr1103 Say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant  
Jr1104 which I commanded your fathers at the time that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Listen to My voice and do according to all that I command you. So you shall be My people, and I will be your God,’  
Jr1105 that I may complete the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I answered, “Amen (so be it), O LORD.”  
Jr1106 And the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Hear the words of this [solemn] covenant and do them.  
Jr1107 For I solemnly warned your fathers at the time that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, warning them persistently, saying, “Obey My voice.”  
Jr1108 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear [to listen to Me], but everyone walked in the stubborn way of his [own] evil heart. Therefore I brought on them all [the suffering threatened in] the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”  
Jr1109 Then the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the people of Jerusalem.  
Jr1110 They have returned to the wickedness of their ancestors who refused to hear My words; they have followed other gods [in order] to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My [solemn] covenant which I made with their fathers.”  
Jr1111 Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold I am bringing disaster and suffering on them which they will not be able to escape; though they cry to Me, I will not listen to them.  
Jr1112 Then the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry to the [man-made] gods to whom they burn incense, but they cannot save them in the time of their disaster.  
Jr1113 For [as many as] the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah; and [as many as] the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal.  
Jr1114 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I shall not listen when they cry to Me in the time of their disaster.  
Jr1115 “What right has My beloved [to be] in My house When she has done many vile things and acted treacherously [over and over again]? Can vows and the meat of your sacrifices remove your wickedness from you and cancel the consequences of your sin, So that you can [escape your judgment and] rejoice?”  
Jr1116 The LORD [acknowledged you once as worthy and] called your name, “A green olive tree, fair and beautiful in fruit and form”; But with the roar of a great tempest He has set fire to it, And its branches are worthless.  
Jr1117 For the LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil and horror against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me [to anger] by offering sacrifices and burning incense to Baal.  
Jr1118 Then the LORD gave me knowledge [of their plot], and I knew it; So You [O LORD] revealed their deeds to me.  
Jr1119 But I was like a gentle and tame lamb brought to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots and schemes against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; Let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name be remembered no longer.”  
Jr1120 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tests the feelings and the heart (mind), Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have committed my cause.  
Jr1121 Therefore thus says the LORD regarding the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you will not die by our hand.”  
Jr1122 Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, I am about to punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and their daughters will die by famine;  
Jr1123 and there will be no remnant [of the conspirators] left, for I will bring disaster and horror on the men of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”  
Jr1201 You, O LORD are [uncompromisingly] righteous and consistently just when I plead my case with You; Yet let me discuss issues of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are those who deal in treachery (deceit) at ease and thriving?  
Jr1202 You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are honored by their [hypocritical] lips But [You are] far from their heart and mind.  
Jr1203 But You, O LORD, know me [and understand my devotion to You]; You see me; And You examine the attitude of my heart toward You. Drag out the faithless like sheep for the slaughter [O LORD] And set them apart for the day of slaughter.  
Jr1204 How long must the land mourn And the grass of the countryside wither? Because of the wickedness and hypocrisy of those who live in it, The beasts and the birds are consumed and are swept away [by the drought], Because men [mocking me] have said, “He will not [live long enough to] see [what happens at] our final end.”  
Jr1205 [The LORD rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying] “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure], Then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan?  
Jr1206 “For even your [tribal] brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously (unfaithfully) with you; Indeed they are [like a pack of hounds] howling after you. Do not believe them, although they may say kind words and promise you good things.”  
Jr1207 “I have abandoned My house, I have given up My [precious] inheritance (Judah); I have given the [dearly] beloved of My life Into the hands of her enemies.  
Jr1208 “My inheritance has become to Me Like a lion in the forest; She has raised her voice and roared against Me; So I have come to [treat her as if I] hate her.  
Jr1209 “Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me [unlike the others]? Are the birds of prey (enemies) surrounding her on every side? Go, gather all the [wild] beasts of the field; Bring them to devour [her]!  
Jr1210 “Many shepherds (invaders) have destroyed My vineyard (Judah), They have trampled My field underfoot; They have made My pleasant field A desolate wilderness.  
Jr1211 “They have made it a wasteland, Desolate, it mourns before Me; The whole land has been made a wasteland, Because no man takes it to heart.  
Jr1212 “Destroyers have come On all the caravan roads in the desert, For the sword of the LORD (Babylon) is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; No one has peace or a way of escape.  
Jr1213 “They have planted wheat but have reaped thorns; They have exhausted themselves but without profit. So be ashamed of your harvest Because of the fierce and raging anger of the LORD.”  
Jr1214 Thus says the LORD regarding all My evil neighbors (Gentile nations) who strike at the inheritance which I have granted to My people Israel, “Behold, I will uproot them from their land and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.  
Jr1215 And it shall come about that after I have uprooted them, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them back again, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.  
Jr1216 And if these [neighboring nations] will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My Name, saying, ‘As the LORD lives’—even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up among My people.  
Jr1217 But if [any nation] will not listen and obey, I will [completely] uproot and destroy that nation, says the LORD.”  
Jr1301 Thus the LORD said to me, “Go and buy yourself a linen waistband and put it on your loins, but do not put it in water.”  
Jr1302 So I bought the waistband according to the word of the LORD and put it on my loins.  
Jr1303 Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying,  
Jr1304 “Get up and take the waistband that you have bought, which is [wrapped] around your loins, and go to the [river] Euphrates and hide it there in a crevice of the rock.”  
Jr1305 So I went and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD had commanded me.  
Jr1306 And after many days the LORD said to me, “Get up, go to the Euphrates and get the waistband which I commanded you to hide there.”  
Jr1307 Then I went to the Euphrates and dug, and I took the waistband from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistband was decayed and ruined; it was completely worthless.  
Jr1308 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Jr1309 “Thus says the LORD, ‘In this same way I shall destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.  
Jr1310 These wicked and malevolent people, who refuse to listen to My words, who walk in the stubborn way of their heart and have followed other gods [which are nothing—just man-made carvings] to serve them and to worship them, let them be just like this waistband which is completely worthless.  
Jr1311 For as the waistband clings to the body of a man, so I caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,’ says the LORD, ‘that they might be for Me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory; but they did not listen and obey.’  
Jr1312 “Therefore you are to speak this word to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Every jar should be filled with wine.”’ The people will say to you, ‘Do we not already know that every jar should be filled with wine?’  
Jr1313 Then say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to fill with drunkenness all the people of this land, even the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets and all the people of Jerusalem.  
Jr1314 I will smash them one against another, both the fathers and the sons together,” says the LORD. “I shall destroy them [nothing will restrain Me]; I will not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion.”’”  
Jr1315 Listen and pay close attention, do not be haughty and overconfident, For the LORD has spoken [says Jeremiah].  
Jr1316 Give glory to the LORD your God, Before He brings darkness And before your feet stumble On the dark and shadowy mountains, And while you are longing for light He turns it into the shadow of death, And makes it into thick darkness.  
Jr1317 But if you will not listen and obey, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And flow with tears, Because the LORD’S flock has been taken captive.  
Jr1318 Say to the king and the queen mother, “Humble yourselves and take a lowly seat, For your beautiful crown [the crown of your glory] Has come down from your head.”  
Jr1319 The cities of the South (the Negev) have been closed up, And there is no one to open them; All Judah has been carried into exile, Completely carried away into exile.  
Jr1320 “Lift up your eyes and see Those coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you [to shepherd], Your beautiful flock?  
Jr1321 “What will you say [O Jerusalem] when the LORD appoints [foreign nations to rule] over you— Those former friends and allies whom you have encouraged [to be your companions]— Will not pain seize you Like [that of] a woman in childbirth?  
Jr1322 “And if you [wonder and] say in your heart, ‘Why have these things happened to me?’ It is because of the greatness and nature of your sin That your skirts have been pulled away [subjecting you to public disgrace] And [like a barefoot slave] your heels have been wounded.  
Jr1323 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to evil and even trained to do it.  
Jr1324 “Therefore I will scatter you like drifting straw [Driven away] by the desert wind.  
Jr1325 “This is your destiny, the portion [of judgment] measured to you From Me,” says the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in [pagan] lies [the counterfeit gods, and the pretense of alliance].”  
Jr1326 “So I Myself will throw your skirts up over your face, That your shame may be exposed [publicly].  
Jr1327 “I have seen your vile and detestable acts, Even your adulteries and your lustful neighings [after idols], And the lewdness of your prostitution On the hills in the fields. Woe (judgment is coming) to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean [by ignoring My precepts]?”  
Jr1401 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:  
Jr1402 “Judah mourns And her gates languish; Her people sit on the ground in mourning clothes And the cry of Jerusalem has gone up.  
Jr1403 “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with empty vessels; They have been shamed and humiliated, And they cover their heads.  
Jr1404 “The ground is cracked Because there has been no rain on the land; The farmers are distressed, And they have covered their heads [in shame].  
Jr1405 “The doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young Because there is no grass.  
Jr1406 “And the wild donkeys stand on the barren heights; They pant for air like jackals, Their eyesight fails Because there is no grass.  
Jr1407 “O LORD, though our many sins testify against us” [prays Jeremiah], “Act now [for us and] for Your name’s sake [so that the faithless may witness Your faithfulness]! For our backslidings are countless; We have sinned against You.  
Jr1408 “O Hope of Israel, Her Savior in time of distress and trouble, Why should You be like a sojourner (temporary resident) in the land Or like a traveler who turns aside and spreads his tent to linger [only] for a night?  
Jr1409 “Why should You be [hesitant and inactive] like a man astounded and perplexed, Like a mighty man unable to save? Yet You, O LORD, are among us, And we are called by Your name; Do not leave us!”  
Jr1410 Thus says the LORD to this people [Judah], “In the manner and to the degree [already pointed out] they have loved to wander; they have not restrained their feet. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember [in detail] their wickedness and punish them for their sins.”  
Jr1411 So the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for good things for this people.  
Jr1412 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry; and though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them [because they are done as obligations, and not as acts of loving obedience]. Instead I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”  
Jr1413 But I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, the [false] prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine, but I [the LORD] will give you lasting peace in this place.’”  
Jr1414 Then the LORD said to me, “The [counterfeit] prophets are prophesying lies in My Name. I have neither sent them nor authorized them nor spoken to them. They are prophesying to you made-up visions [pretending to call forth responses from handmade gods], a worthless divination and the deceit of their own mind.  
Jr1415 Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the [false] prophets who are prophesying in My Name, although I did not send them—yet they keep saying, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’: by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end and be consumed.  
Jr1416 And the people to whom they are prophesying will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword; and they will have no one to bury them—neither them, nor their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters. For I will pour out their [own] wickedness on them [and not only on the imposters posing as prophets, for the people could not have been deceived without their own consent].  
Jr1417 “Therefore [Jeremiah] you will say this word to them, ‘Let my eyes flow with tears night and day, And let them never cease; For the virgin daughter of my people has been crushed with a great blow, With a very serious and severely infected wound.  
Jr1418 ‘If I go out into the field, Then I gaze on those slaughtered with the sword! And if I enter the city, Then I gaze on [those tormented with] the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest [who should have guided the people] Go about [bewildered and exiled] in a land (Babylon) that they do not know or understand.’”  
Jr1419 Have You [O LORD] completely rejected Judah? Do You loathe Zion? Why have You stricken us so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace and completeness, but nothing good came; And [we hoped] for a time of healing, but behold, terror!  
Jr1420 We know and acknowledge, O LORD, Our wickedness and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against You.  
Jr1421 Do not treat us with contempt and condemn us, for Your own name’s sake; Do not disgrace Your glorious throne; Remember [with consideration] and do not break Your [solemn] covenant with us.  
Jr1422 Are there any among the idols of the nations who can send rain? Or can the heavens [of their own will] give showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait and hope [confidently] in You, For You are the one who has made all these things [the heavens and the rain].  
Jr1501 Then the LORD said to me, “Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me [interceding for them], My heart would still not be [turned with favor] toward this people [Judah]. Send them away from My presence and out of My sight and let them go!  
Jr1502 And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those [destined] for death, to death; Those for the sword, to the sword; Those for famine, to famine; Those for captivity, to captivity.”’  
Jr1503 I will appoint four kinds of destroyers over them,” says the LORD, “the sword to slay, the dogs to tear and drag away, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and to destroy.  
Jr1504 I will make them an object of horror to all nations of the earth because of Manasseh [the despicable] son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for the [evil and detestable] things which he did in Jerusalem.  
Jr1505 “For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, Or who will mourn for you, Or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?  
Jr1506 “You have abandoned (rejected) Me,” says the LORD. “You keep going backward. Therefore I shall stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of delaying [your punishment]!  
Jr1507 “I will winnow (sort, separate) them with a winnowing fork At the gates of the land; I will deprive them of children, I will destroy My people; They did not repent and turn from their [evil] ways.  
Jr1508 “I will make their widows more numerous before Me Than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, against the mother of the young men, A destroyer at noonday; I will suddenly cause anguish and terror To fall on her.  
Jr1509 “She who has borne seven [sons] languishes; She has breathed out her soul. Her sun has set while it was still day; She has been shamed and humiliated. So I will hand over [the rest of] the survivors to the sword Before their enemies,” says the LORD.  
Jr1510 Woe to me, my mother, that you have given birth to me To be a man of strife and a man of contention to all the earth! I have not loaned, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.  
Jr1511 The LORD said, “Surely [it will go well for Judah’s obedient remnant for] I will set you free for good purposes; Surely [Jeremiah] I will [intercede for you with the enemy and I will] cause the enemy to plead with you [for help] In a time of disaster and a time of distress.  
Jr1512 “Can anyone crush iron, The iron from the north, or bronze?  
Jr1513 “Your [nation’s] riches and your treasures I will give as plunder without price [to the Babylonians], Because of all your sins And within all your territories.  
Jr1514 “Then I will make your enemies bring [you along with] your possessions Into a land which you do not know [for there you will serve your conquerors]; For a fire has been kindled in My anger, Which will burn upon you.”  
Jr1515 O LORD, You know and understand; Remember me [thoughtfully], take notice of me, take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure [continual] rebuke and dishonor.  
Jr1516 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.  
Jr1517 I did not sit with the group of those who celebrate, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because Your [powerful] hand was upon me, For You had filled me with indignation [at their sin].  
Jr1518 Why has my pain been perpetual And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me like a deceptive brook With water that is unreliable?  
Jr1519 Therefore, thus says the LORD [to Jeremiah], “If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], You will become My spokesman. Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]— But you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].  
Jr1520 “And I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; They will fight against you, But they will not prevail over you, For I am with you [always] to save you And protect you,” says the LORD.  
Jr1521 “So I will rescue you out of the hand of the wicked, And I will redeem you from the [grasping] palm of the terrible and ruthless [tyrant].”  
Jr1601 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,  
Jr1602 “You shall not take a wife or have sons and daughters in this place (Jerusalem).”  
Jr1603 For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning the mothers who give birth to them, and the fathers who father them in this land:  
Jr1604 “They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried; they will be like dung on the surface of the ground and come to an end by sword and famine, and their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.”  
Jr1605 For thus says the LORD, “Do not enter a house of mourning, nor go to lament (express grief) or bemoan [the dead], for I have taken My peace away from this people,” says the LORD, “even My lovingkindness and compassion.  
Jr1606 Both great men and small will die in this land; they will not be buried, nor will they be lamented (mourned over with expressions of grief in death), nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them [in mourning].  
Jr1607 People will not offer food to the mourners, to comfort anyone [as they grieve] for the dead, nor give them a cup of consolation to drink for anyone’s father or mother.  
Jr1608 And you [Jeremiah] shall not go into a house of feasting to sit with them to eat and drink.”  
Jr1609 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I will remove from this place, before your very eyes and in your time, the sound of joy and the shout of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.  
Jr1610 “Now when you tell these people all these words and they ask you, ‘Why has the LORD decreed all this great tragedy against us? And what is our iniquity, what is the sin which we have committed against the LORD our God?’  
Jr1611 Then you are to say to them, ‘It is because your fathers have abandoned (rejected) Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and have walked after other gods and have served them and bowed down to the handmade idols and have abandoned (rejected) Me and have not kept My law,  
Jr1612 and because you have done worse [things] than your fathers. Just look, every one of you walks in the stubbornness of his own evil heart, so that you do not listen [obediently] to Me.  
Jr1613 Therefore I will hurl you out of this land [of Judah] into the land [of the Babylonians] which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no compassion.’  
Jr1614 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’  
Jr1615 but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries to which He had driven them.’ And I will bring them back to their land which I gave to their fathers.  
Jr1616 “Behold (listen carefully), I will send for many fishermen,” says the LORD, “and they will fish for them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill and out of the clefts of the rocks.  
Jr1617 For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their wickedness concealed from My eyes.  
Jr1618 I will first doubly repay and punish them for their wickedness and their sin [before I return them to their land], because they have profaned My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable idols and with their abominations.”  
Jr1619 [Then said Jeremiah] “O LORD, my Strength and my Stronghold, And my Refuge in the day of distress and need, The nations will come to You From the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies and illusion, [Worthless] things in which there is no benefit!’  
Jr1620 “Can a man make gods for himself? Such [things] are not gods!  
Jr1621 “Therefore,” [says the LORD] “behold, I will make them know— This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they will know and recognize [without any doubt] that My Name is the LORD.”  
Jr1701 The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars.  
Jr1702 As they remember their children, So they remember [in detail] their [pagan] altars and their Asherim Beside green trees on the high hills.  
Jr1703 O [Jerusalem] My mountain in the countryside, I will give [to the Babylonians, as the cost of your sin] your wealth and all your treasures as plunder, And throughout your territory, your high places of sin.  
Jr1704 And you will, through your own fault, let go of your [grip on your] inheritance That I gave you; And I will make you serve your enemies In a land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger Which will burn forever.  
Jr1705 Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in and relies on mankind, Making [weak, faulty human] flesh his strength, And whose mind and heart turn away from the LORD.  
Jr1706 “For he will be like a shrub in the [parched] desert; And shall not see prosperity when it comes, But shall live in the rocky places of the wilderness, In an uninhabited salt land.  
Jr1707 “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the LORD And whose hope and confident expectation is the LORD.  
Jr1708 “For he will be [nourished] like a tree planted by the waters, That spreads out its roots by the river; And will not fear the heat when it comes; But its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought Nor stop bearing fruit.  
Jr1709 “The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?  
Jr1710 “I, the LORD, search and examine the mind, I test the heart, To give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.  
Jr1711 “Like the partridge that hatches eggs which she has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune in ways that are unjust. It will be lost to him before his days are over, And in the end he will be [nothing but] a fool.”  
Jr1712 A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, Is the place of our sanctuary (the temple).  
Jr1713 O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who abandon You will be shamed. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living waters.  
Jr1714 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.  
Jr1715 Behold, they keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the LORD [that is, the disaster that you prophesied]? Let it come now!”  
Jr1716 But as for me, I have not tried to escape from being a shepherd [walking] after You, Nor have I longed for the woeful day [of judgment]; You know that, whatever I said Was [spoken] in Your presence and was from You.  
Jr1717 Do not be a terror to me; You are my refuge and my hope in the day of disaster.  
Jr1718 Let those who persecute me be shamed, but as for me, protect me from shame; Let them lose courage, but let me be undaunted. Bring on them a day of tragedy, And destroy them with double destruction!  
Jr1719 Thus the LORD said to me, “Go and stand in the public gate, through which the kings of Judah come in and go out, and [stand] also in all the gates of Jerusalem;  
Jr1720 and say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the LORD, kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the people of Jerusalem who enter through these gates.  
Jr1721 Thus says the LORD, “Pay attention for your own good, [and for the sake of your future] do not carry any load on the Sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.  
Jr1722 You shall not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day nor do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy [by setting it apart as a day of worship], as I commanded your fathers.  
Jr1723 Yet they would not listen and obey and control their behavior; but they were stiff-necked in order not to hear and take instruction.  
Jr1724 But it will come about, if you listen diligently to Me,” says the LORD, “to bring no load in through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy by doing no work on it,  
Jr1725 then kings and princes who will sit on the throne of David will enter through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses—the kings and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will be inhabited and endure throughout the ages.  
Jr1726 People will come from the cities of Judah and the places all around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country and from the South (the Negev), bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to the house of the LORD.  
Jr1727 But if you will not listen to Me and keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load as you come in the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in her gates that cannot be extinguished, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem.”’”  
Jr1801 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD:  
Jr1802 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will make you hear My words.”  
Jr1803 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and saw that he was working at the wheel.  
Jr1804 But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him.  
Jr1805 Then the word of the LORD came to me:  
Jr1806 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the LORD. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.  
Jr1807 At one moment I might [suddenly] speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will uproot and break down and destroy;  
Jr1808 if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent and reverse My decision concerning the devastation that I intended to do.  
Jr1809 Or at another time I might [suddenly] speak about a nation or kingdom that I will build up or establish;  
Jr1810 and if they do evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will reverse My decision concerning the good with which I had promised to bless them.  
Jr1811 Now then, say to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”’  
Jr1812 But they will say, ‘That is hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act in accordance with the stubbornness of his evil heart.’  
Jr1813 “Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Ask now among the nations, Who has heard of such things? The virgin Israel Has done a very vile and horrible thing.  
Jr1814 ‘Will the snow of [Mount] Lebanon melt and vanish from its rocks [which tower above Israel]? Will the cold, rushing waters of foreign lands [that flow down from the distant land] be dried up?  
Jr1815 ‘Yet My people have forgotten Me; They burn incense to worthless gods, They have stumbled from their ways From the ancient roads, To walk in pathways, Not on a highway,  
Jr1816 Making their land a desolation and a horror, A thing to be hissed at perpetually; Everyone who passes by will be astounded And shake his head [in scorn].  
Jr1817 ‘I will scatter them like an east wind Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their disaster [says the LORD].’”  
Jr1818 Then [my enemies] said, “Come and let us work out schemes against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest [as Jeremiah predicts], nor the counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us strike him with our tongue [by making charges against him before the king], and let us ignore anything he says.”  
Jr1819 Pay attention to me, O LORD [and intercede]; Listen to what my adversaries are saying [and are plotting against me]—  
Jr1820 Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember [with compassion] that I stood before You To speak good on their behalf, To turn Your anger away from them.  
Jr1821 Therefore, give their children over to the famine; Give them over to the power of the sword. And let their wives become childless and widowed; Let their men meet death [by virulent disease], Their young men be struck down by the sword in battle.  
Jr1822 Let an outcry be heard from their houses When You suddenly bring [a troop of] raiders upon them, For they have dug a pit to capture me And have hidden snares for my feet.  
Jr1823 Yet You, O LORD, know All their deadly plotting against me; Do not forgive their wickedness Or blot out their sin from Your sight. But let them be overthrown before You; Deal with them in the time of Your anger.  
Jr1901 Thus says the LORD, “Go and buy a potter’s earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests  
Jr1902 and go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom), which is near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I tell you,  
Jr1903 and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold (listen carefully), I am going to bring such disaster on this place that the ears of everyone who hears about it will tingle [in shock].  
Jr1904 Because the people [of Jerusalem] have abandoned (rejected) Me and have made this an alien and profaned place by burning sacrifices and incense in it to other gods, that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and because they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent  
Jr1905 and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I never commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter My mind (heart);  
Jr1906 therefore, listen very closely, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when this place shall no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.  
Jr1907 I will pour out and nullify the counsel (plans) of [the men of] Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and I will make their people fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hand of those who seek their lives; and I will give their dead bodies as food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.  
Jr1908 I will make this city a desolation and an object of hissing; everyone who passes by it will be amazed and will hiss [in scorn] because of all its plagues and disasters.  
Jr1909 And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and each one will eat one another’s flesh during the siege and distress brought by their enemies and those who seek their lives.”’  
Jr1910 “Then you are to break the jar in the sight of the men who accompany you,  
Jr1911 and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “This is the way I will break this people and this city as one breaks a potter’s vessel, so that it cannot be mended. They will bury [corpses] in Topheth until there is no more room left [in that place] to bury [the dead].  
Jr1912 This I will do to this place,” says the LORD, “and to its inhabitants; and I will even make this city like Topheth.  
Jr1913 The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like this place, Topheth, all the houses on whose rooftops incense has been burned to all the host of heaven (sun, moon, stars), and where drink offerings have been poured out to other gods.”’”  
Jr1914 Then Jeremiah came from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD’S house and said to all the people:  
Jr1915 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to bring on this city and on all its towns, all the devastation that I have declared against it, because they have become stiff-necked and refused to hear and obey My words.’”  
Jr2001 Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest, who was [also] chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.  
Jr2002 Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate by the house of the LORD.  
Jr2003 And the next day Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call your name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib (terror on every side).  
Jr2004 For thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; they will fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon; he will carry them away to Babylon as captives and will slaughter them with the sword.  
Jr2005 Moreover, I will hand over all the riches of this city, all the result of its labor, all its precious things; even all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will hand over to their enemies, and they will plunder them, and take them away and carry them to Babylon.  
Jr2006 And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into captivity; you will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have falsely prophesied.’”  
Jr2007 [Jeremiah said,] O LORD, You have persuaded me and I was deceived; You are stronger than I and You have prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me.  
Jr2008 For whenever I speak, I must shout out; I shout violence and destruction, Because the word of the LORD has become to me A reprimand and a mockery and has brought me insult all day long.  
Jr2009 If I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak His name anymore,” Then my heart becomes a burning fire Shut up in my bones. And I am weary of enduring and holding it in; I cannot endure it [nor contain it any longer].  
Jr2010 For I have heard the whispering and defaming words of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” All my familiar and trusted friends, [Those who are] watching for my fall, say, “Perhaps he will be persuaded and deceived; then we will overcome him, And take our revenge on him.”  
Jr2011 But the LORD is with me as a dread champion [one to be greatly feared]; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not overcome [me]. They will be completely shamed, for they have not acted wisely and have failed [in their schemes]; Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.  
Jr2012 But, O LORD of hosts, You who examine the righteous, Who see the heart and the mind, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have committed my cause.  
Jr2013 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He has rescued the life of the needy one From the hand of evildoers.  
Jr2014 Cursed be the day on which I was born; Do not bless the day on which my mother gave birth to me!  
Jr2015 Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father, saying, “A son has been born to you!” Making him very glad.  
Jr2016 And let that man be like the cities Which the LORD overthrew without regret. Let him hear an outcry in the morning And a shout of alarm at noon;  
Jr2017 Because he did not kill me before my birth, So that my mother might have been my grave, And her womb always pregnant.  
Jr2018 Why did I come out of the womb To see trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been filled with shame?  
Jr2101 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the priest the son of Maaseiah, saying,  
Jr2102 “Please inquire of the LORD for us, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal [favorably] with us according to all His wonderful works and force him to withdraw from us.”  
Jr2103 Then Jeremiah said to them, “Say this to Zedekiah:  
Jr2104 ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Behold, I will turn back and dull the edge of the weapons of war that are in your hands, [those] with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them into the center of this city (Jerusalem).  
Jr2105 I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm in anger, in fury, and in great indignation and wrath.  
Jr2106 I will also strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they will die of a great virulent disease.  
Jr2107 Then afterward,” says the LORD, “I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the virulent disease, the sword, and the famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemy, into the hand of those who seek their lives. And he will strike them with the edge of the sword; he will not spare them nor have mercy and compassion on them.”’  
Jr2108 “And to this people you (Jeremiah) shall also say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.  
Jr2109 He who remains in this city [of Jerusalem] will die by the sword and by famine and by virulent disease. But he who goes outside and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and his life will be like a prize of war to him.  
Jr2110 For I have set My face against this city to do harm and not good,” says the LORD. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.”’  
Jr2111 “And concerning the royal house of the king of Judah [you shall say], ‘Hear the word of the LORD,  
Jr2112 O house of David, thus says the LORD: “Administer justice in the morning, And rescue the one who has been robbed from the hand of his oppressor, That My wrath will not roar up like fire And burn so [hotly] that none can extinguish it, Because of the evil of their deeds.  
Jr2113 “Understand this, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain,” says the LORD— “You who say, ‘Who will come down against us? Or who will enter into our dwelling places?’  
Jr2114 “But I will punish you in accordance with the [appropriate] consequences of your decisions and your actions,” says the LORD. “I will kindle a fire in your forest, And it will devour all that is around you.”’”  
Jr2201 Thus says the LORD, “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak this word there:  
Jr2202 ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David—you and your servants and your people who enter by these gates.  
Jr2203 Thus says the LORD, “Execute justice and righteousness, and rescue the one who has been robbed from the hand of his oppressor. And do no wrong; do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.  
Jr2204 For if you will indeed obey this word, then kings will enter through the gates of this palace, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people.  
Jr2205 But if you will not hear and obey these words, I swear [an oath] by Myself,” says the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”  
Jr2206 For thus says the LORD in regard to the house of the king of Judah: “You are [as valuable] to Me as [the green pastures of] Gilead [east of the Jordan] Or as the [plentiful] summit of Lebanon [west of the Jordan], Yet most certainly [if you will not listen to Me] I will make you a wilderness, And uninhabited cities.  
Jr2207 “For I will prepare and appoint destroyers [to execute My judgments] against you, Each with his weapons; And they will cut down your [palaces built of] choicest cedars And throw them in the fire.  
Jr2208 “Many nations will pass by this city; and each man will say to another, ‘Why has the LORD done this to this great city?’  
Jr2209 Then they will answer, ‘Because the people ignored and abandoned the [solemn] covenant with the LORD their God and worshiped other gods and served them.’”  
Jr2210 Do not weep for the dead or mourn for him; But weep bitterly for the one who goes away [into exile], For he will never return And see his native country [again].  
Jr2211 For thus says the LORD in regard to Shallum (Jehoahaz) the [third] son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father and who went from this place, “Shallum will not return here anymore;  
Jr2212 he will die in the place where they led him captive and not see this land again.  
Jr2213 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who builds his house by [acts of] unrighteousness And his upper chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without pay And does not give him wages [for his work],  
Jr2214 Who says, ‘I will build myself a spacious house With large upper rooms, And cut out its [wide] windows, And panel it with cedar and paint it vermilion.’  
Jr2215 “Do you think that you become a king because you have much more cedar [in your palace than Solomon]? Did not your father [Josiah], as he ate and drank, Do just and righteous acts [being upright and in right standing with God]? Then all was well with him.  
Jr2216 “He defended the cause of the afflicted and needy; Then all was well. Is that not what it means to know Me?” Says the LORD.  
Jr2217 “But your eyes and your heart Are only intent on your own dishonest gain, On shedding innocent blood, On oppression and extortion and violence.”  
Jr2218 Therefore thus says the LORD in regard to Jehoiakim the [second] son of Josiah, king of Judah, “The relatives will not lament (mourn over with expressions of grief) for him: ‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister,’ [how great our loss]! The subjects will not lament for him: ‘Alas, master!’ or ‘Alas, majesty [how great was his glory]!’  
Jr2219 “He shall be buried with the burial of a donkey— Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.  
Jr2220 “Go up [north] to Lebanon and cry out, And raise your voice in [the hills of] Bashan [across the Jordan]; Cry out also from Abarim, For all your lovers (allies) have been destroyed.  
Jr2221 “I spoke to you in your [times of] prosperity, But you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your attitude and practice from your youth; You have not obeyed My voice.  
Jr2222 “The wind [of adversity] will carry away all your shepherds (rulers, statesmen), And your lovers (allies) will go into exile. Surely then you will be ashamed and humiliated and disgraced Because of all your wickedness.  
Jr2223 “O inhabitant of [Jerusalem, whose palaces are made from the cedars of] Lebanon, You who nest in the cedars, How you will groan and how miserable you will be when pains come on you, Pain like a woman in childbirth!  
Jr2224 “As I live,” says the LORD, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet [ring] on My right hand, yet would I pull you (Coniah) off.  
Jr2225 And I will place you in the hand of those who seek your life and in the hand of those whom you fear, even into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans.  
Jr2226 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country where you were not born, and there you will die.  
Jr2227 But as for the land to which they long to return, they will not return to it.  
Jr2228 “Is this man [King] Coniah a despised, broken jar? Is he a vessel in which no one takes pleasure? Why are he and his [royal] descendants hurled out And cast into a land which they do not know or understand?  
Jr2229 “O land, land, land, Hear the word of the LORD!  
Jr2230 Thus says the LORD, ‘Write this man [Coniah] down as childless, A man who will not prosper (succeed) in his lifetime; For not one of his descendants will succeed In sitting on the throne of David Or ruling again in Judah.’”  
Jr2301 “Woe to the shepherds (civil leaders, rulers) who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” says the LORD.  
Jr2302 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, in regard to the shepherds who care for and feed My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; hear this, I am about to visit and attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” says the LORD.  
Jr2303 “Then I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries to which I have driven them and bring them back to their folds and pastures; and they will be fruitful and multiply.  
Jr2304 I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them. And they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” says the LORD.  
Jr2305 “Behold (listen closely), the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as King and act wisely And will do [those things that accomplish] justice and righteousness in the land.  
Jr2306 “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called; ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’  
Jr2307 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when they will no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’  
Jr2308 but [they will say], ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries to which I had driven them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”  
Jr2309 Concerning the prophets: My heart [says Jeremiah] is broken within me, All my bones shake; I have become like a drunken man, A man whom wine has overcome, Because of the LORD And because of His holy words [declared against unfaithful leaders].  
Jr2310 For the land is full of adulterers (unfaithful to God); The land mourns because of the curse [of God upon it]. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. The course of action [of the false prophets] is evil and they rush into wickedness; And their power is not right.  
Jr2311 “For both [false] prophet and priest are ungodly (profane, polluted); Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the LORD.  
Jr2312 “Therefore their way will be to them like slippery paths In the dark; they will be pushed and fall into them; For I will bring disaster on them, In the year of their punishment,” says the LORD.  
Jr2313 “And I have seen a foolish and an offensive thing in the prophets of Samaria: They prophesied by Baal and caused My people Israel to go astray.  
Jr2314 “Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They encourage and strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.  
Jr2315 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts in regard to the prophets, ‘Behold, I am going to feed them [the bitterness of] wormwood And make them drink the poisonous water [of gall], For from the [counterfeit] prophets of Jerusalem Profaneness and ungodliness have spread into all the land.’”  
Jr2316 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the [false] prophets who prophesy to you. They are teaching you worthless things and are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own mind and imagination And not [truth] from the mouth of the LORD.  
Jr2317 “They are continually saying to those who despise Me [and My word], ‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace”’; And they say to everyone who walks after the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No evil will come on you.’  
Jr2318 “But who [among them] has stood in the council of the LORD, That he would perceive and hear His word? Who has marked His word [noticing and observing and paying attention to it] and has [actually] heard it?  
Jr2319 “Behold, the tempest of the LORD has gone forth in wrath, A whirling tempest; It will whirl and burst on the heads of the wicked.  
Jr2320 “The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has set in motion and accomplished the thoughts and intentions of His heart; In the last days you will clearly understand it.  
Jr2321 “I did not send [these counterfeit] prophets, Yet they ran; I did not speak to them, Yet they prophesied.  
Jr2322 “But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned My people from their evil way And from the evil of their decisions and deeds.  
Jr2323 “Am I a God who is at hand,” says the LORD, “And not a God far away?”  
Jr2324 “Can anyone hide himself in secret places So that I cannot see him?” says the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.  
Jr2325 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My Name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed [visions when on my bed at night].’  
Jr2326 How long [shall this state of affairs continue]? Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy falsehood, even these prophets of the deception of their own heart,  
Jr2327 who think that they can make My people forget My Name by their [contrived] dreams which each one tells another, just as their fathers forgot My Name because of Baal?  
Jr2328 The prophet who has a dream may tell his dream; but he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat [for nourishment]?” says the LORD.  
Jr2329 “Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]?” says the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks the [most stubborn] rock [in pieces]?  
Jr2330 Therefore behold (hear this), I am against the [counterfeit] prophets,” says the LORD, “[I am descending on them with punishment, these prophets] who steal My words from one another [imitating the words of the true prophets].  
Jr2331 Hear this, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who use their [own deceitful] tongues and say, ‘Thus says the Lord.’  
Jr2332 Hear this, I am against those who have prophesied false and made-up dreams,” says the LORD, “and have told them and have made My people err and go astray by their lies and by their reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them nor do they benefit and enhance [the life of] these people in the slightest way,” says the LORD.  
Jr2333 “Now when this people or a prophet or a priest asks you [in jest], ‘What is the oracle of the LORD [the burden to be lifted up and carried]?’ Then you shall say to them, ‘What oracle [besides the one that declares you people to be the burden]!’ The LORD says, ‘I will unburden Myself and I will abandon you.’  
Jr2334 And as for the prophet, the priest, or [any of] the people, whoever says, ‘The oracle of the LORD,’ [as if he knows God’s will], I will punish that man and his household.  
Jr2335 [For the future, in speaking of the words of the LORD] thus each of you shall say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘What has the LORD answered?’ or, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’  
Jr2336 For you will no longer remember the oracle of the LORD, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, [for as they mockingly call all prophecies oracles, whether good or bad, so will it prove to be to them; God will take them at their own word]; and you have perverted the words [not of a lifeless idol, but] of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.  
Jr2337 Thus you will [reverently] say to the prophet, ‘What has the LORD answered you?’ and, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’  
Jr2338 For if you say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’ surely thus says the LORD, ‘Because you said this word, “The oracle of the LORD!” when I have also sent to you, saying, “You shall not say, ‘The oracle of the LORD!’”’  
Jr2339 Therefore behold, I, even I, will assuredly forget you and send you away from My presence, you and the city (Jerusalem) which I gave to you and to your fathers.  
Jr2340 And I will bring an everlasting disgrace on you and a perpetual humiliation (shame) which will not be forgotten.”  
Jr2401 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken Jeconiah [who was also called Coniah and Jehoiachin] the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah [along] with the craftsmen and smiths into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, the LORD showed me [in a vision] two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD.  
Jr2402 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are the first to ripen; but the other basket had very bad figs, so rotten that they could not be eaten.  
Jr2403 Then the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad figs, very bad, so rotten that they cannot be eaten.”  
Jr2404 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Jr2405 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent from this place into the land of the Chaldeans.  
Jr2406 For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overwhelm them, and I will plant them and not uproot them.  
Jr2407 I will give them a heart to know Me, [understanding fully] that I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.  
Jr2408 ‘And as for the bad figs, which are so rotten that they cannot be eaten,’ surely thus says the LORD, ‘so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and those who live in the land of Egypt.  
Jr2409 I will make them a focus of ridicule and disappointment [tossed back and forth] among all the kingdoms of the earth, a [notorious] disgrace, a byword, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them.  
Jr2410 I will send the sword, famine and virulent disease among them until they are consumed from the land which I gave to them and to their fathers.’”  
Jr2501 The word that came to Jeremiah in regard to all the people of Judah in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),  
Jr2502 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,  
Jr2503 “For these twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you over and over again, but you have not listened.  
Jr2504 Although the LORD has persistently sent to you all His servants the prophets, you have not listened nor [even] inclined your ear to hear [His message],  
Jr2505 saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way and the evil of your actions [that you may not forfeit the right to] live in the land that the LORD has given to you and your forefathers forever and ever;  
Jr2506 and do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I will do you no harm.’  
Jr2507 Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the LORD, “so that you have provoked Me to anger with the work (idols) of your hands to your own harm.  
Jr2508 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Because you have not obeyed My words,  
Jr2509 behold (hear this), I will send for all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant [to enact My plan], and I will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these surrounding nations; and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror and a hissing [that is, an object of warning and ridicule] and an everlasting desolation.  
Jr2510 Moreover, I will take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones [grinding meal] and the light of the lamp [to light the night].  
Jr2511 This whole land will be a waste and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.  
Jr2512 ‘Then when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans (Babylonia),’ says the LORD, ‘for their wickedness, and will make the land [of the Chaldeans] a perpetual waste.  
Jr2513 I will bring on that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.  
Jr2514 (For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them, even the Chaldeans [who enslaved other nations]; and I will repay [all of] them according to their deeds and according to the work of their [own] hands.)’”  
Jr2515 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to me, “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.  
Jr2516 They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them.”  
Jr2517 Then I (Jeremiah) took the cup from the LORD’S hand and made all the nations to whom the LORD had sent me drink it:  
Jr2518 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah [being most guilty because their privileges were greatest], its kings and princes, to make them a horror, a ruin, a hissing and a curse, as it is to this day;  
Jr2519 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes, all his people,  
Jr2520 and all the foreign (mixed) population, all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines (and [their cities of] Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod);  
Jr2521 Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon;  
Jr2522 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the islands and the coastlands across the [Mediterranean] Sea;  
Jr2523 Dedan, Tema, Buz [the neighboring tribes north of Arabia], and all who clip off the side-growth of their hair;  
Jr2524 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign population who live in the desert;  
Jr2525 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam (Persia), and all the kings of Media;  
Jr2526 all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another—and all the kingdoms of the world which are on the face of the earth. And the king of Sheshach (Babylon) shall drink after them.  
Jr2527 “Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Drink, be drunk, vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you.”’  
Jr2528 And if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “You shall surely drink!  
Jr2529 For behold, I am beginning to work disaster in the city which is called by My Name, and shall you go unpunished? You will not be exempt from punishment, for I am calling for a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’  
Jr2530 “Therefore prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high And utter His voice from His holy dwelling; He will roar mightily against His fold and pasture. He will jubilantly shout like those who tread the grapes [in the wine press], Against all the inhabitants of the earth.  
Jr2531 ‘A noise has come to the end of the earth, For the LORD has a controversy with and an indictment against the nations. He is entering into judgment with all mankind; As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,’ says the LORD.”  
Jr2532 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, evil is going forth From nation to nation, And a great whirling tempest is rising From the remotest part of the earth.  
Jr2533 “And those slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth. They will not be lamented (mourned over with expressions of grief) or gathered or buried; they will be like dung on the ground.  
Jr2534 “Wail, you shepherds, and cry; And roll in ashes, you masters of the flock. For the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have come in full, And you will fall and be broken into pieces like a choice vessel.  
Jr2535 “The shepherds will have no way to flee, Nor the masters of the flock any [way of] escape.  
Jr2536 “A voice! The cry of the shepherds And the wailing of the masters of the flock! For the LORD is destroying their pasture,  
Jr2537 And the peaceful folds are devastated and made silent Because of the fierce anger of the LORD.  
Jr2538 “He has left His lair like the lion; For their land has become a horror Because of the fierceness of the oppressor And because of the LORD’S fierce anger.”  
Jr2601 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,  
Jr2602 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’S house [Jeremiah], and speak to all [the people of] the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the LORD’S house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!  
Jr2603 It may be that they will listen and everyone will turn from his wickedness, so that I may relent and reverse [My decision concerning] the disaster which I am planning to do to them because of their malevolent deeds.’  
Jr2604 And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “If you will not listen to Me and obey My law which I have set before you,  
Jr2605 and listen and follow [carefully] the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you repeatedly—though you have not listened—  
Jr2606 then I will make this house [the temple] like Shiloh, and I will make this city [subject to] the curse of all nations of the earth [because it will be so vile in their sight].”’”  
Jr2607 The priests and the [false] prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.  
Jr2608 Now when Jeremiah finished proclaiming everything that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the [false] prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die!  
Jr2609 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh [after the ark of the LORD had been taken by our enemies] and this city [Jerusalem] will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered around Jeremiah in the [outer area of the] house of the LORD.  
Jr2610 When the princes (court officials) of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the house of the LORD.  
Jr2611 Then the priests and the [false] prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man is deserving of death, for he has prophesied against this city as you have heard with your own ears.”  
Jr2612 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.  
Jr2613 Therefore, now change your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent and reverse His decision concerning the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.  
Jr2614 As for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and suitable to you.  
Jr2615 But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”  
Jr2616 Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the [false] prophets, “This man is not deserving of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”  
Jr2617 Then some of the elders of the land stood up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,  
Jr2618 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Zion will be plowed like a field, And Jerusalem will become [heaps of] ruins, And the mountain of the house [of the LORD—Mount Moriah, on which stands the temple, shall become covered not with buildings, but] like a densely wooded height.”’  
Jr2619 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put Micah to death? Did he not [reverently] fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD? And did not the LORD relent and reverse His decision concerning the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But [here] we are [thinking of] committing a great evil against ourselves.”  
Jr2620 And there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land in words similar to all those of Jeremiah.  
Jr2621 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put Uriah to death; but when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt.  
Jr2622 Then Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain [other] men with him [went] to Egypt.  
Jr2623 And they brought Uriah [God’s spokesman] from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who executed him with a sword and threw his dead body among the graves of the common people.  
Jr2624 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death.  
Jr2701 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:  
Jr2702 Thus says the LORD to me, “Make for yourself bonds and yokes and put them on your neck,  
Jr2703 and send word to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the sons of Ammon, to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon by the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.  
Jr2704 Command them to go to their masters, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, you shall say this to your masters:  
Jr2705 “I have made the earth, the men and the animals that are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to whomever pleases Me.  
Jr2706 Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant and instrument, and I have also given the wild animals of the field to serve him.  
Jr2707 All nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the [appointed] time [of punishment] for his own land comes; then many nations and great kings shall make him their servant.  
Jr2708 “But any nation or kingdom that will not serve this same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,” says the LORD, “with the sword, with famine and with pestilence (virulent disease), until I have destroyed it by Nebuchadnezzar’s hand.  
Jr2709 And as for you, do not listen to your [counterfeit] prophets, your diviners, your dreams and dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers, who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’  
Jr2710 For they prophesy a lie to you which will cause you to be removed far from your land; and I will drive you out and you will perish.  
Jr2711 But the nation which will bow its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, that nation I will let remain on its own land,” says the LORD, “to cultivate it and live in it.”’”  
Jr2712 I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah in the same way, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live!  
Jr2713 Why will you die, you and your people, by the sword, by famine and by virulent disease, as the LORD has spoken to any nation which will not serve the king of Babylon?  
Jr2714 Do not listen to and believe the words of the [false] prophets who are saying to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they prophesy a lie to you;  
Jr2715 for I have not sent them,” says the LORD, “but they are prophesying falsely in My Name, in order that I may drive you out and that you may perish, you [together] with the [false] prophets who prophesy to you.”  
Jr2716 Then I said to the priests and to all these people, saying, “Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your [false] prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, ‘Behold, the articles of the LORD’S house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon’; for they are prophesying a lie to you.  
Jr2717 Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city become a ruin?  
Jr2718 But if they are [true] prophets, and if the word of the LORD is [really spoken] by them, let them now entreat the LORD of hosts that the articles which are [still] left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon.  
Jr2719 For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the [bronze] pillars, the [bronze] Sea, the [bronze] bases [of the ten basins in Solomon’s temple used for washing sacrificial animals], and the rest of the articles that are left in this city (Jerusalem),  
Jr2720 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.  
Jr2721 Yes, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the articles which remain in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem,  
Jr2722 ‘They will be carried to Babylon and they will be there until the day that I visit them [with My favor],’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’”  
Jr2801 In the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, the [false] prophet Hananiah the son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon [one of the priests’ cities], spoke [without godly authority] to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying:  
Jr2802 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.  
Jr2803 Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’S house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.  
Jr2804 And I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, along with all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”  
Jr2805 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who stood in the house of the LORD,  
Jr2806 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD confirm and fulfill your words which you have prophesied to bring back the articles of the LORD’S house and all the captives, from Babylon to this place.  
Jr2807 Nevertheless, listen now to this word which I am about to speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people!  
Jr2808 The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms, of war and of disaster and of virulent disease.  
Jr2809 But as for the prophet who [on the contrary] prophesies of peace, when that prophet’s word comes to pass, [only] then will it be known that the LORD has truly sent him.”  
Jr2810 Then Hananiah the [false] prophet took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and smashed it.  
Jr2811 Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Even so within two full years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way.  
Jr2812 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah [some time] after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr2813 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘The LORD says this, “You have broken yokes of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron.”  
Jr2814 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put the iron yoke [of servitude] on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have even given him the beasts of the field.”’”  
Jr2815 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie.  
Jr2816 Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I am about to send you away from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken and counseled rebellion against the LORD.’”  
Jr2817 So Hananiah the [false] prophet died [two months later], the same year, in the seventh month.  
Jr2901 Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders in exile and to the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.  
Jr2902 (This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes (court officials) of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.)  
Jr2903 The letter was hand-carried by Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,  
Jr2904 “So says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon,  
Jr2905 ‘Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  
Jr2906 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not decrease [in number].  
Jr2907 Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.’  
Jr2908 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your [false] prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you; pay no attention and attach no significance to the dreams which they dream or to yours,  
Jr2909 for they prophesy falsely to you in My Name. I have not sent them,’ says the LORD.  
Jr2910 “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place.  
Jr2911 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well- being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  
Jr2912 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.  
Jr2913 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  
Jr2914 I will be found by you,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’  
Jr2915 “Because you [who have remained in Jerusalem] have said, ‘The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’  
Jr2916 thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, your brothers (fellow people of Judah) who did not go with you into captivity—  
Jr2917 thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold (listen very carefully), I am sending the sword, famine, and virulent disease (pestilence) on them, and I will make them like rotten figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.  
Jr2918 I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with virulent disease; and I will make them a terror (warning) to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a horror, a hissing, and a disgrace among all the nations to which I have driven them,  
Jr2919 because they have not listened to and honored My words,’ says the LORD, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets. Moreover, you [exiles] did not listen [either],’ says the LORD.  
Jr2920 Hear, therefore, the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.  
Jr2921 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you in My Name, ‘Behold, I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will slaughter them before your eyes [yes, all the false prophets in Babylon whom you follow shall die]!  
Jr2922 Because of them, this curse shall be taken up and used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,  
Jr2923 because they have acted foolishly in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and in My Name have spoken false and concocted words, which I did not command them. I am He who knows and I am a witness,” says the LORD.’”  
Jr2924 Also you shall speak to Shemaiah of Nehelam [among the exiles in Babylon], saying,  
Jr2925 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,  
Jr2926 “The LORD has made you [Zephaniah] priest instead of Jehoiada the [deputy] priest, to be the overseer in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar,  
Jr2927 now therefore [continued the letter from Shemaiah in Babylon to Zephaniah in Jerusalem], why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who prophesies to you?  
Jr2928 For he has sent word to us in Babylon, saying, ‘This captivity [of yours] will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their fruit.’”’”  
Jr2929 Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.  
Jr2930 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr2931 “Send [this message] to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah of Nehelam, “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, although I did not send him, and he has made you trust in a lie,”  
Jr2932 therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He will not have anyone [born] to live among this people, nor will he see the good that I am about to do to My people,” says the LORD, “because he has spoken and preached rebellion against the LORD.”’”  
Jr3001 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD:  
Jr3002 “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Write in a book all the words which I have spoken to you.  
Jr3003 For behold (hear this), the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will return them to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they will take possession of it.’”  
Jr3004 Now these are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah:  
Jr3005 “Thus says the LORD, ‘We have heard a terrified voice Of panic and dread, and there is no peace.  
Jr3006 ‘Ask now, and see Whether a man can give birth [to a child]. Why then do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in labor? Why have all faces turned pale?  
Jr3007 ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; It is the time of Jacob’s [unequaled] trouble, But he will be saved from it.  
Jr3008 ‘It shall come about on that day,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break the yoke off your neck and I will tear off your bonds and force apart your shackles; and strangers will no longer make slaves of the people [of Israel].  
Jr3009 But they shall serve the LORD their God and [the descendant of] David their King, whom I will raise up for them.  
Jr3010 ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ says the LORD, ‘Nor be dismayed or downcast, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from a distant land [of exile] And your descendants from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid.  
Jr3011 ‘For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, But I will not destroy you completely. But I will judge and discipline you fairly And will by no means regard you as guiltless and leave you unpunished.’  
Jr3012 “For thus says the LORD, ‘Your wound is incurable And your injury is beyond healing.  
Jr3013 ‘There is no one to plead your cause; No [device to close and allow the] healing of your wound, No recovery for you.  
Jr3014 ‘All your lovers (allies) have forgotten you; They do not seek and long for you. For I have injured you with the wound of an enemy, With the punishment of a cruel and merciless foe, Because your guilt is great And your sins are glaring and innumerable.  
Jr3015 ‘Why do you cry out over your injury [since it is the natural result of your sin]? Your pain is incurable (deadly). Because your guilt is great And your sins are glaring and innumerable, I have done these things to you.  
Jr3016 ‘Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity. And they who plunder you will become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey.  
Jr3017 ‘For I will restore health to you And I will heal your wounds,’ says the LORD, ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying: “This is Zion; no one seeks her and no one cares for her.”’  
Jr3018 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold (hear this), I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city will be rebuilt on its [old, mound-like] ruin, And the palace will stand on its rightful place.  
Jr3019 ‘From them (city, palace) will come [songs of] thanksgiving And the voices of those who dance and celebrate. And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished [in number]; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant.  
Jr3020 ‘Their children too will be as in former times, And their congregation will be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors.  
Jr3021 ‘Their prince will be one of them, And their ruler will come forward from among them. I will bring him near and he shall approach Me, For who is he who would have the boldness and would dare [on his own initiative] to risk his life to approach Me?’ says the LORD.  
Jr3022 ‘Then you shall be My people, And I will be your God.’”  
Jr3023 Behold, the tempest of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, A sweeping and gathering tempest; It will burst on the head of the wicked.  
Jr3024 The fierce (righteous) anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has fulfilled and until He has accomplished The intent of His heart (mind); In the latter days you will understand this.  
Jr3101 “At that time,” says the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”  
Jr3102 Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness [of exile]— Israel (the Northern Kingdom), when it went to find its rest.”  
Jr3103 The LORD appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.  
Jr3104 “Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel! You will again be adorned with your tambourines and timbrels And go out to the dances of those who celebrate.  
Jr3105 “Again you will plant vineyards On the mountains of Samaria; The planters will plant And enjoy the [abundant] fruit [in peace].  
Jr3106 “For there will be a day when the watchmen On the hills of Ephraim cry out, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.’”  
Jr3107 For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout for the first and foremost of the nations [the chosen people, Israel]; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’  
Jr3108 “Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them [will be] the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who labors in childbirth, together; A great company, they will return here [to Jerusalem].  
Jr3109 “They will come with weeping [in repentance and for joy], And by [their] prayer [for the future] I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble, For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim (Israel) is My firstborn.”  
Jr3110 Hear the word of the LORD, O you nations, And declare it in the isles and coastlands far away, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”  
Jr3111 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob And has redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.  
Jr3112 “They will come and sing aloud and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And will be radiant [with joy] over the goodness of the LORD— For the grain, for the new wine, for the oil, And for the young of the flock and the herd. And their life will be like a watered garden, And they shall never sorrow or languish again.  
Jr3113 “Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and make them rejoice after their sorrow.  
Jr3114 “I will fully satisfy the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” says the LORD.  
Jr3115 Thus says the LORD, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation (songs of mourning) and bitter weeping. Rachel (Israel) is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are gone.”  
Jr3116 Thus says the LORD, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears, For your work will be rewarded,” says the LORD; “And your children will return from the enemy’s land.  
Jr3117 “There is [confident] hope for your future,” says the LORD; “Your children will come back to their own country.  
Jr3118 “I have surely heard Ephraim (Israel) moaning and grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like a bull unaccustomed to the yoke or an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God.  
Jr3119 ‘After I turned away [from You], I repented; After I was instructed, I struck my thigh [in remorse]; I was ashamed and even humiliated Because I carried the disgrace of my youth [as a nation].’  
Jr3120 “Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a darling and beloved child? For as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him. Therefore My affection is renewed and My heart longs for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” says the LORD.  
Jr3121 “Place for yourself road signs [toward Canaan], Make for yourself guideposts; Turn your thought and attention to the highway, To the way by which you went [into exile]. Retrace your steps, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.  
Jr3122 “How long will you hesitate [to return], O you faithless and renegade daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land [of Israel]: A woman will encompass (tenderly love) a man.”  
Jr3123 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once more they will speak these words in the land of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and in her cities when I restore their fortunes and release them from exile, ‘The LORD bless you, O habitation of justice and righteousness, O holy mountain!’  
Jr3124 And [the people of] Judah and all its cities will live there together—the farmer and they who wander about with flocks.  
Jr3125 For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.”  
Jr3126 At this I (Jeremiah) awoke and looked, and my [trancelike] sleep was sweet [in the assurance it gave] to me.  
Jr3127 “Behold (listen carefully), the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast.  
Jr3128 It will be that as I have watched over them to uproot and to break down, to overthrow, destroy, and afflict with disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant [with good],” says the LORD.  
Jr3129 “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’  
Jr3130 But everyone will die [only] for his own wickedness; every man who eats sour grapes—his [own] teeth shall be set on edge.  
Jr3131 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and with the house of Judah (the Southern Kingdom),  
Jr3132 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says the LORD.  
Jr3133 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  
Jr3134 And each man will no longer teach his neighbor and his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me [through personal experience], from the least of them to the greatest,” says the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness, and I will no longer remember their sin.”  
Jr3135 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea’s roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:  
Jr3136 “If this fixed order departs From before Me,” says the LORD, “Then the descendants of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever.”  
Jr3137 Thus says the LORD, “If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off and abandon all the descendants of Israel For all that they have done,” says the LORD.  
Jr3138 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when the city [of Jerusalem] will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.  
Jr3139 The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah.  
Jr3140 And the whole valley (Hinnom) of the dead bodies and [the hill] of the ashes [long dumped there from the temple sacrifices], and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It (the city) will not be uprooted or overthrown anymore to the end of the age.”  
Jr3201 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.  
Jr3202 Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah.  
Jr3203 For Zedekiah [the last] king of Judah had locked him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy [disaster] and say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;  
Jr3204 and Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye;  
Jr3205 and he will lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him [for evaluation and judgment],” says the LORD. “If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed”’?”  
Jr3206 And Jeremiah [answered King Zedekiah and] said, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Jr3207 ‘Behold (listen carefully), Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it [in accordance with the law].”’  
Jr3208 Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard in accordance with the word of the LORD, and he said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin, for you have the right of inheritance and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.  
Jr3209 “I bought the field that was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed out the money for him, seventeen shekels of silver.  
Jr3210 I signed the deed and sealed it, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the money on the scales.  
Jr3211 So I took the deeds of the purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, and the unsealed copy;  
Jr3212 and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in sight of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed, in the presence of all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard.  
Jr3213 And I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying,  
Jr3214 ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this unsealed deed, and put them in an earthen jar, that they may last a long time.”  
Jr3215 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be purchased in this land.”’  
Jr3216 “Now when I had delivered the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying,  
Jr3217 ‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult or too wonderful for You—  
Jr3218 You who show lovingkindness to thousands, but repay the wickedness (sin, guilt) of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], O great and mighty God; the LORD of hosts is His name;  
Jr3219 great [are You] in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to reward or repay each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;  
Jr3220 who set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day [continues to do so] both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day.  
Jr3221 You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror;  
Jr3222 and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land [of plenty] flowing with milk and honey.  
Jr3223 They entered and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do. Therefore You have caused all this disaster and suffering to come upon them.  
Jr3224 See the siege ramps [of mounded earth that the enemy has built against the walls]; they have come up to the city to capture it. And the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans [of Babylon] who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the virulent disease [that have overcome the people]. What You have spoken has come to pass, and behold, You see it.  
Jr3225 Yet, O Lord GOD, You said to me, “Buy the field with money and get witnesses,” even though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”  
Jr3226 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr3227 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is there anything too difficult for Me?”  
Jr3228 Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will take it.  
Jr3229 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come in and set this city on fire and burn it, along with the houses on whose roofs incense has been offered to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods to provoke Me to anger.  
Jr3230 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only evil in My sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have been provoking Me to anger by the [idols that are the] work of their hands,” says the LORD.  
Jr3231 “From the day that they built it [during the reign of Solomon], even to this day, this city has been such a provocation of My anger and My wrath, that I must remove it from My sight,  
Jr3232 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  
Jr3233 They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them repeatedly, yet they would not listen and receive instruction.  
Jr3234 But they put their detestable things (idols) in the house which is called by My Name, to defile it.  
Jr3235 They built the high places [for worship] of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (son of Hinnom) to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire to [worship and honor] Molech—which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this repulsive thing, to cause Judah to sin.  
Jr3236 “Now therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword and by famine and by virulent disease.’  
Jr3237 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them live in safety.  
Jr3238 They will be My people, and I will be their God;  
Jr3239 and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may [reverently] fear Me forever, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.  
Jr3240 I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will do them good and not turn away from them; and I will put in their heart a fear and reverential awe of Me, so that they will not turn away from Me.  
Jr3241 I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.  
Jr3242 For thus says the LORD, ‘Just as I have brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them.  
Jr3243 Fields will be bought in this land of which you say, “It is desolate, without man or animal; it is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.”  
Jr3244 People will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South (the Negev); for I will restore their fortunes and release them from exile,’ says the LORD.”  
Jr3301 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard, saying,  
Jr3302 “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is His name,  
Jr3303 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’  
Jr3304 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah which are torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and against the sword,  
Jr3305 ‘While they (the besieged Jews) are coming to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill the houses with the dead bodies of men whom I have slain in My anger and in My wrath, for I have hidden My face [in disgust] from this city because of all their wickedness.  
Jr3306 Behold, [in the restored Jerusalem] I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth.  
Jr3307 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and will rebuild them as they were at first.  
Jr3308 I will cleanse them from all their wickedness (guilt) by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon (forgive) all their sins by which they rebelled against Me.  
Jr3309 Jerusalem will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace (prosperity, security, stability) that I provide for it.’  
Jr3310 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place of which you say, “It is a [desolate] waste, without man and without animal”—even in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal—  
Jr3311 the [sound of the] voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the [song-filled] voice of those who say, “Give praise and thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good; For His [steadfast] lovingkindness (mercy) endures forever”; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the LORD.  
Jr3312 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘There will again be in this desolate place—[a place] without man or animal—and in all its cities, pastures for shepherds who rest their flocks.  
Jr3313 In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South (the Negev), in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hand of the one who counts them,’ says the LORD.  
Jr3314 ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word and promise which I have made regarding the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  
Jr3315 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He (the Messiah) shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.  
Jr3316 In those days Judah will be saved and [the people of] Jerusalem will live in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD Our Righteousness (Justice).’  
Jr3317 For thus says the LORD, ‘David shall never lack a man (descendant) to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;  
Jr3318 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man (descendant) to offer burnt offerings before Me and to burn grain offerings and to prepare sacrifices all day long.’”  
Jr3319 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr3320 “Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night do not take place at their appointed times,  
Jr3321 then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and [My covenant may also be broken] with the Levitical priests, My ministers.  
Jr3322 As the host of [the stars of] heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’”  
Jr3323 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr3324 “Have you not noticed what this people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families [Israel the northern kingdom, and Judah the southern kingdom] which the LORD chose, He has rejected’? Thus they despise My [chosen] people, no longer are they [considered] as a nation in their sight.  
Jr3325 Thus says the LORD, ‘If My covenant with day and night does not stand, and if I have not established the fixed patterns of heaven and earth, [the whole order of nature,]  
Jr3326 then I would [also] reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes, and will have mercy on them.’”  
Jr3401 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army, with all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his sovereignty and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem and against all of its cities:  
Jr3402 “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire and burn it down.  
Jr3403 You will not escape from his hand, for you will definitely be captured and handed over to him; you will see the king of Babylon eye to eye, and he will speak with you face to face; and you will go to Babylon.’”’  
Jr3404 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you, ‘You will not die by the sword.  
Jr3405 You will die in peace; and as spices were burned for [the memory and honor of] your fathers, the former kings who reigned before you, so shall a [ceremonial] burning be made for you; and people will lament (grieve) for you, saying, “Alas, lord (master)!”’ For I have spoken the word,” says the LORD.  
Jr3406 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem  
Jr3407 when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, against Lachish and Azekah, for these were the [only] fortified cities among the cities of Judah.  
Jr3408 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah had made a covenant (solemn pledge) with all the [Hebrew] people who were [slaves] in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them:  
Jr3409 that every man should let his Hebrew slaves, male and female, go free, so that no one should make a slave of a Jew, his brother.  
Jr3410 So all the princes and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed that everyone would let his male servant and his female servant go free, and that no one would keep them in bondage any longer; they obeyed, and set them free.  
Jr3411 But afterward they backed out [of the covenant] and made the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free return [to them], and brought the male servants and the female servants again into servitude.  
Jr3412 Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  
Jr3413 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I made a covenant (solemn pledge) with your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,  
Jr3414 “At the end of seven years each of you shall set free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself [into servitude] or who has been sold to you and has served you six years, you shall release him from [serving] you; but your forefathers did not listen [submissively] to Me or obey Me.  
Jr3415 So then you recently turned and repented, doing what was right in My sight, each man proclaiming release [from servitude] to his countryman [who was his bond servant]; and you had made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My Name.  
Jr3416 Yet you backed out [of the covenant] and profaned My Name, and each man took back his servants, male and female, whom had been set free in accordance with their desire, and you brought them into servitude [again] to be your male servants and your female servants.”’  
Jr3417 “Therefore says the LORD, ‘You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed liberty to your brother and your countryman. Behold (listen very carefully), I am proclaiming liberty to you— [liberty to be put] to the sword, [liberty] to [be ravaged by] the virulent disease, and [liberty] to [be decimated by] famine,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will make you a horror and a warning to all the kingdoms of the earth.  
Jr3418 The men who have violated My covenant, who have not kept the terms of the solemn pledge which they made before Me when they split the [sacrificial] calf in half, and then afterwards walked between its separated pieces [sealing their pledge to Me by placing a curse on themselves should they violate the covenant—those men I will make like the calf]!  
Jr3419 The princes of Judah, the princes of Jerusalem, the high officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf,  
Jr3420 I will give into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives. And [like the body of the calf] their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the earth.  
Jr3421 Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes I will place into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you.  
Jr3422 Behold, I am going to command [the Chaldeans who rule Babylon],’ says the LORD, ‘and I will bring them back to this city; and they will fight against it and take it and set it on fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant.’”  
Jr3501 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:  
Jr3502 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak to them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the [side] chambers; then give them [who are pledged not to drink wine] some wine to drink.”  
Jr3503 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites,  
Jr3504 and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum the doorkeeper.  
Jr3505 Then I set before the men of the house of the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.”  
Jr3506 But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us: ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons, forever.  
Jr3507 Nor shall you build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard or own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners (temporary residents).’  
Jr3508 We have obeyed the words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, in all our days we have never drunk wine, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters,  
Jr3509 nor have we built ourselves houses to live in; nor do we have vineyards or fields or seed.  
Jr3510 We have lived only in tents, and have obeyed and done [everything] according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.  
Jr3511 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans [who rule Babylon] and for fear of the army of the Arameans.’ So we have lived in Jerusalem.”  
Jr3512 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr3513 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words and honoring them?” says the LORD.  
Jr3514 “The command which Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons not to drink wine has been observed [as a custom for more than two hundred years]. To this day they do not drink wine, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have repeatedly spoken to you, yet you have not listened to Me.  
Jr3515 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them repeatedly, saying, ‘Let every one of you turn now from his evil way and alter your behavior, and do not follow other gods to worship and serve them; and then you will live in the land which I have given to you and to your forefathers. But you have not submitted or listened to Me.  
Jr3516 Indeed, the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he gave them, but this people has not listened to Me.’”’  
Jr3517 Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold (hear this), I am bringing on Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them, but they have not listened, and I have called to them, but they have not answered.’”  
Jr3518 Then Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and have kept all his commands and have done according to all that he commanded you,  
Jr3519 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never fail to have a man (descendant) to stand before Me always.”’”  
Jr3601 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  
Jr3602 “Take a scroll [of parchment] and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning Israel and Judah, and all the nations, from the day I [first] spoke to you in the days of [King] Josiah until this day.  
Jr3603 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster which I plan to bring on them, so that each one will turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their wickedness and their sin.”  
Jr3604 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on the scroll of the book all the words which Jeremiah dictated, [words] which the LORD had spoken to him.  
Jr3605 Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am [in hiding, virtually] restrained; I cannot go into the house of the LORD.  
Jr3606 So you go to the LORD’S house on a day of fasting and read from the scroll the words of the LORD to the people which you have written as I dictated. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities.  
Jr3607 It may be that their supplication [for mercy] will come before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and the wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”  
Jr3608 Baruch the son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from [Jeremiah’s scroll] the words of the LORD in the LORD’S house.  
Jr3609 Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, a fast was proclaimed before the LORD for all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came to Jerusalem from the cities of Judah.  
Jr3610 Then Baruch read to all the people the words of Jeremiah from the scroll of the book in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD’S house.  
Jr3611 When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll,  
Jr3612 he went down to the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber; and behold, all the princes were sitting there: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the [other] princes.  
Jr3613 Then Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll to all the people.  
Jr3614 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, “Take in your hand the scroll from which you have read to the people and come [to us].” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to them.  
Jr3615 And they said to him, “Sit down now and read it to us.” So Baruch read it to them.  
Jr3616 Now when they had heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear and said to Baruch, “We must surely report all these words to the king.”  
Jr3617 And they asked Baruch, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words? At his (Jeremiah’s) dictation?”  
Jr3618 Then Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink on the scroll.”  
Jr3619 Then the princes said to Baruch, “Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and do not let anyone know where you are.”  
Jr3620 Then they went into the court to the king, but they [first] put the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; then they reported all the words to the king.  
Jr3621 So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the princes who stood beside the king.  
Jr3622 Now it was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, with a fire burning there in the brazier before him.  
Jr3623 And after Jehudi had read three or four columns [of the scroll], King Jehoiakim would cut off that portion with a scribe’s knife and throw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until the [entire] scroll was consumed by the fire.  
Jr3624 Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they tear their clothes.  
Jr3625 Even though Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah pleaded with the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.  
Jr3626 And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.  
Jr3627 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll containing the words which Baruch had written at the dictation of Jeremiah:  
Jr3628 “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were on the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah burned.  
Jr3629 And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You have burned this scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off man and beast from it?’”  
Jr3630 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah, “He shall have no heir to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be thrown out to the heat of the day and to the frost of the night.  
Jr3631 I will also punish him and his descendants and his servants for their wickedness, and I will bring on them and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah all the destruction that I have declared against them—but they would not listen.”’”  
Jr3632 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.  
Jr3701 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah the son of Josiah king in the land of Judah so he reigned as king instead of Coniah (also called Jeconiah and Jehoiachin) the son of Jehoiakim.  
Jr3702 But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD which He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.  
Jr3703 Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah [along] with Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Please pray [now] to the LORD our God for us.”  
Jr3704 Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for they had not [yet] put him in prison.  
Jr3705 Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s army had set out from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.  
Jr3706 Then the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah:  
Jr3707 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘This is what you are to say to the king of Judah, who sent you to Me to inquire of Me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt, to their own land.  
Jr3708 And the Chaldeans [of Babylon] will come again and fight against this city, and they will capture it and set it on fire.”’  
Jr3709 Thus says the LORD, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will certainly stay away from us,” for they will not stay away.  
Jr3710 For even if you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only the wounded men among them, yet they would rise up, every man confined in his tent, and burn down this city with fire.’”  
Jr3711 Now it happened when the army of the Chaldeans departed from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s [approaching] army,  
Jr3712 that Jeremiah left Jerusalem [during the withdrawal of the Chaldean invaders] to go to [Anathoth, his hometown, in] the land of Benjamin to take possession of [the title to] the land [which he had purchased] there among the people.  
Jr3713 When he was at the Gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah the son of Hananiah was there; and he seized and arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to join the Chaldeans [of Babylon]!”  
Jr3714 But Jeremiah said, “That is a lie! I am not deserting to join the Chaldeans.” But the guard would not listen to him. So Irijah took Jeremiah and brought him to the princes (court officials).  
Jr3715 The princes were enraged with Jeremiah and beat him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe—for they had made that the prison.  
Jr3716 When Jeremiah had come into the vaulted cell in the dungeon and had remained there many days,  
Jr3717 Zedekiah the king sent and brought him out; and in his palace the king secretly asked him, “Is there any word from the LORD?” And Jeremiah said, “There is!” Then he said, “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”  
Jr3718 Moreover, Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “In what way have I sinned against you, or against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?  
Jr3719 Where then are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land?’  
Jr3720 Therefore now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and be acceptable and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.”  
Jr3721 Then King Zedekiah commanded, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse, and a [round] loaf of bread from the bakers’ street was given to him daily, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained [imprisoned] in the court of the guardhouse.  
Jr3801 Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal (also called Jehucal) the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying,  
Jr3802 “So says the LORD, ‘He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by famine, and by virulent disease (pestilence), but he who goes out to the Chaldeans [of Babylon] will live and have his [own] life as a reward and stay alive.’  
Jr3803 Thus says the LORD, ‘This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and he will take it.’”  
Jr3804 Therefore the princes (court officials) said to the king, “Please [we implore you] let this man [Jeremiah] be put to death; for [speaking] in this way he discourages and weakens [the will of] the soldiers who remain in this city and he discourages and weakens [the will of] all the people by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but rather their harm.”  
Jr3805 Then King Zedekiah [fearing the princes] said, “Listen, he is in your hand; for the king is in no position to do anything against you.”  
Jr3806 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down [into the cistern] with ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.  
Jr3807 Now Ebed-melech the Ethiopian (Cushite), one of the eunuchs who was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern, and while the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin,  
Jr3808 Ebed-melech went out of the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying,  
Jr3809 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have thrown into the cistern; and he will die [of hunger] where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”  
Jr3810 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”  
Jr3811 So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went into the palace of the king to a place under the storeroom and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.  
Jr3812 Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your armpits, then place the ropes under the padding”; and Jeremiah did so.  
Jr3813 So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and took him up out of the cistern; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse.  
Jr3814 Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the LORD. And the king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; hide nothing from me.”  
Jr3815 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not certainly put me to death? Even if I do give you advice, you will not listen to me.”  
Jr3816 But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As the LORD lives, who made our lives, be assured that I will not put you to death or put you into the hand of these men who are seeking your life.”  
Jr3817 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘If you will go out and surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live and this city will not be burned with fire; and you and your household will live.  
Jr3818 But if you will not go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans [of Babylon] and they will set it on fire; and you yourself will not escape from their hand.’”  
Jr3819 Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews [my former subjects] who have deserted to join the Chaldeans, for the enemy may put me into their hand and they will mock me and abuse me.”  
Jr3820 But Jeremiah said, “They will not hand you over [to them]. Please obey [the voice of] the LORD [who speaks to you through me] in what I am saying to you. Then it will go well with you and you will live.  
Jr3821 But if you keep refusing to go out and surrender to them, this is the word [and the vision] which the LORD has shown me:  
Jr3822 ‘Then behold, all the women who are left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon and those women will say [to you, King Zedekiah], “Your close friends Have prevailed against your better judgment and have overpowered and deceived you; While your feet were sunk in the mire [of trouble], They turned back.”  
Jr3823 Also, all your wives and your children will be brought out to the Chaldeans; and you yourself will not escape from their hand, but you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city [Jerusalem] will be burned down with fire.’”  
Jr3824 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know about this conversation and you will not die.  
Jr3825 But if the princes (court officials) hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you and say, ‘Tell us now what you said to the king and what he said to you; do not hide it from us and we will not execute you,’  
Jr3826 then you are to say to them, ‘I was presenting my [humble] petition and plea to the king so that he would not send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’”  
Jr3827 Then all the princes (court officials) came to Jeremiah and asked him [just what King Zedekiah had anticipated they would ask], and he reported to them in accordance with all that the king had commanded. So they stopped questioning him, since the conversation [with the king] had not been overheard.  
Jr3828 So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse until the day that Jerusalem was captured [by the Chaldeans of Babylon].  
Jr3901 Now regarding the capture of Jerusalem: In the ninth year of [the reign of] Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it;  
Jr3902 and in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, they breached the wall and broke into the city.  
Jr3903 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate [establishing both military control of the city and their authority to judge the captives]: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris (chief of the eunuchs), and Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag (chief of the magicians), with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.  
Jr3904 When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and escaped from the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls; and the king went out toward the Arabah (Jordan Valley).  
Jr3905 But the Chaldean (Babylonian) army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. When they had seized him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the [Aramean] land of Hamath, where he passed sentence on him.  
Jr3906 Then at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.  
Jr3907 Moreover, he blinded Zedekiah and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.  
Jr3908 The Chaldeans also burned down the king’s palace and the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.  
Jr3909 Then Nebuzaradan the [chief executioner and] captain of the bodyguard took the rest of the people who remained in the city, along with those who had deserted and surrendered to him, and the rest of the [so-called better class of] people who were left and carried them into exile in Babylon.  
Jr3910 But Nebuzaradan the [Babylonian] captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.  
Jr3911 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying,  
Jr3912 “Take him and look after him; do nothing to harm him, but rather deal with him just as he asks of you.”  
Jr3913 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris (chief of the high officials), and Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag (chief of the magicians), and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon;  
Jr3914 they even sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guardhouse and entrusted him to Gedaliah [a prominent citizen], the son of Ahikam [who had once saved Jeremiah’s life], the son of Shaphan, to take him home [with him to Mizpah]. So Jeremiah [was released and] lived among the people.  
Jr3915 Now the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was [still] confined in the court of the guardhouse, saying,  
Jr3916 “Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am about to bring My words [of judgment] against this city through disaster and not for good; and they will take place before you on that day.  
Jr3917 But I will protect you [Ebed-melech] on that day,” says the LORD, “and you will not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid.  
Jr3918 For I will certainly rescue you; and you will not fall by the sword, but you will have your [own] life as a reward of battle, because you have placed your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’”  
Jr4001 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken as exiles to Babylon.  
Jr4002 And the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God promised this disaster on this place.  
Jr4003 Now the LORD has brought it about and has done just as He promised. Because you [people of Judah] have sinned against the LORD and did not listen to and honor His voice, therefore this thing has happened to you.  
Jr4004 But now, listen carefully, [because of your innocence] I am freeing you today from the chains which are on your hands. If you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you [carefully]; but if you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, then do not do so. Look, all the land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right (convenient) for you to go.”  
Jr4005 While Jeremiah was still hesitating, the captain of the bodyguard said, “Go on back then to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed [governor] over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go wherever it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him an allowance of food and a gift and let him go.  
Jr4006 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.  
Jr4007 Now when all the commanders of the forces that were [scattered] in the open country [of Judah] and their men heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land [of Judah] and had put him in charge of the men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon,  
Jr4008 they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.  
Jr4009 Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans; stay in this land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.  
Jr4010 As for me, I am going to stay at Mizpah to stand [for you] before the Chaldeans who come to us [ministering to them and looking after the king’s interests]; but as for you, gather in wine, summer fruit and oil and store them in your utensils [designed for such purposes], and live in your cities that you have taken over.”  
Jr4011 Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab and among the people of Ammon and in Edom and who were in all the [other] countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant [of the people] in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them [as governor],  
Jr4012 then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered a great abundance of wine and summer fruits.  
Jr4013 Moreover, Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were [scattered] in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah  
Jr4014 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.  
Jr4015 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know [who is responsible]. Why should he kill you and cause all the Jews who are gathered near you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?”  
Jr4016 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are lying about Ishmael.”  
Jr4101 Now in the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family [of David] and one of the princes of the king, came [at the instigation of the Ammonites] with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam in Mizpah. As they were eating a meal together there in Mizpah,  
Jr4102 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword and killed the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed [governor] over the land.  
Jr4103 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were [at the banquet] with Gedaliah at Mizpah, in addition to the Chaldean soldiers who were there.  
Jr4104 Now it happened on the second day after the killing of Gedaliah, before anyone knew about it,  
Jr4105 that eighty men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria with their beards shaved off and their clothes torn and their bodies cut, carrying in their hands grain offerings and incense to present at the [site of the] house of the LORD [in Jerusalem].  
Jr4106 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping [false tears] as he went. As he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam!”  
Jr4107 Yet when they came into the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into the cistern (underground water reservoir).  
Jr4108 But ten men who were among them said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us! We have stores of wheat and barley and oil and honey hidden in the field.” So he stopped and did not kill them along with their companions.  
Jr4109 Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the corpses of the men whom he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one which King Asa [of Judah] had made [about three hundred years earlier] on account of King Baasha of Israel [believing that Baasha would lay siege to Mizpah]. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with [the bodies of] those who were killed.  
Jr4110 Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—even the king’s daughters (ladies of the court) and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had put under the charge of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and crossed over [the Jordan] to [meet his allies] the Ammonites.  
Jr4111 But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him heard of the murderous behavior of Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,  
Jr4112 they took all their men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and found him by the great pool in Gibeon.  
Jr4113 Now when all the [captive] people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him, they were glad.  
Jr4114 So all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and joined Johanan the son of Kareah.  
Jr4115 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to join the Ammonites.  
Jr4116 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him took from Mizpah all the people whom he had rescued from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: the soldiers, the women, the children, and the high officials whom Johanan had brought back from Gibeon.  
Jr4117 And they went and stayed in Geruth [the lodging place of] Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt  
Jr4118 because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed [governor] over the land [and whose death the king might avenge].  
Jr4201 Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah (Azariah) the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached  
Jr4202 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please let our petition be presented before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, that is, for all this remnant [of the people of Judah]; for we were once many, but now [only] a few of us are left, as you see with your own eyes, [so please pray]  
Jr4203 that the LORD your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do.”  
Jr4204 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Now hear me, I will pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and I will declare to you whatever message the LORD answers; I will keep nothing back from you.”  
Jr4205 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we fail to act in accordance with all the things that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.  
Jr4206 Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to and honor the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.”  
Jr4207 Now after ten days [of prayer] had passed the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.  
Jr4208 Then he called for Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest,  
Jr4209 and said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him:  
Jr4210 ‘If you will indeed remain in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down, and I will plant you and not uproot you; for I will relent and be satisfied concerning the disaster that I have inflicted on you [as discipline, and I will replace judgment with compassion].  
Jr4211 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear [as if he were deity]; do not be afraid of him,’ says the LORD, ‘for [he is a mere man, but I am the living, omniscient God and] I am with you [always] to protect you and to deliver you from his hand.  
Jr4212 And I will show you compassion, so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own land.  
Jr4213 But if you are going to say, “We will not stay in this land,” and [in so doing] do not listen to the voice of the LORD your God,  
Jr4214 saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the [warrior’s] trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there,”  
Jr4215 then in that case listen to the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “If you are really determined to go to Egypt and to reside there [temporarily],  
Jr4216 then the sword, of which you are afraid, will overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine of which you are afraid will follow closely after you in Egypt, and you will die there.  
Jr4217 So all the men who set their mind to go to Egypt to reside there [temporarily] will die by the sword, by famine and by virulent disease; none of them will remain or survive the disaster that I am going to bring on them.”’”  
Jr4218 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “As My anger and My wrath have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so My wrath will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will become detested, an object of horror, a curse and a people scorned; and you will no longer see this place.”  
Jr4219 The LORD has spoken to you, O remnant of Judah, “Do not go into Egypt!” Know with certainty that I [Jeremiah] have warned you and testified to you this day  
Jr4220 that you have deceived yourselves; for you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, “Pray for us to the LORD our God; and whatever the LORD our God says, declare it to us and we will do it.”  
Jr4221 And so I have told you today, but you have not listened to the voice of the LORD your God, in anything that He has sent me to tell you.  
Jr4222 Now therefore know for certain that you will die by the sword, by famine, and by virulent disease in the land [of Egypt] where you wish to reside [temporarily].  
Jr4301 Now it happened when Jeremiah, whom the LORD their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—that is, all these words—  
Jr4302 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the proud and insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are not telling the truth! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go into Egypt to live there.’  
Jr4303 But Baruch the son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Chaldeans, so they may [either] put us to death or exile us to Babylon.”  
Jr4304 So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people disobeyed the voice of the LORD [which told them] to stay in the land of Judah.  
Jr4305 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to live in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven—  
Jr4306 the men, women, and children, the king’s daughters (ladies of the court), and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; he also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah.  
Jr4307 So they entered the land of Egypt (for they did not obey the voice of the LORD) and they went in as far as Tahpanhes.  
Jr4308 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,  
Jr4309 “Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brickwork [of the terrace] which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the men of Judah;  
Jr4310 and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and I am going to set his throne over these stones that I have hidden; and his [majestic, royal] canopy will be spread over them.  
Jr4311 He will also come and strike the land of Egypt, giving those who are [destined] for death, to death, and those who are [destined] for captivity, to captivity, and those who are [destined] for the sword, to the sword.  
Jr4312 And [through him] I will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he will burn them and take them (Egyptian idols) captive. He will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself with his garment, and he will go away from there safely.  
Jr4313 Nebuchadnezzar will also break the images and shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis in the land of Egypt; and he will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.”’”  
Jr4401 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who were living in the land of Egypt—at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros, saying,  
Jr4402 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘You have seen all the disaster that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and see, this day they are desolated and no one lives in them  
Jr4403 because of the wickedness which they committed, provoking Me to anger by continuing to burn sacrifices and incense to serve other gods that they had not known, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers.  
Jr4404 Yet I sent to you all My servants the prophets, again and again, saying, “Oh, do not do this shamefully vile thing which I hate.”  
Jr4405 But they did not listen or turn [obediently] from their wickedness, and stop burning sacrifices and incense to other gods.  
Jr4406 Therefore My wrath and My anger were poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; so they have become a ruin and a desolation, as it is this day.  
Jr4407 Therefore now thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, “Why did you commit this great evil against yourselves [bringing disaster] that will cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving yourselves without a remnant?  
Jr4408 Why do you [deliberately] provoke Me to anger with the works (idols) of your hands, burning sacrifices and incense to [make-believe] gods in the land of Egypt, where you [of your own accord] have come to live [as temporary residents], that you might be cut off and become a curse and a disgrace [an object of taunts] among all the nations of the earth?  
Jr4409 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives [who served their foreign gods], your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives [who imitated the sin of the queens], which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?  
Jr4410 They have not become apologetic [for their guilt and sin] even to this day; they have not feared [Me with reverence] nor walked in My law or My statutes, which I have set before you and before your fathers.”’  
Jr4411 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to set My face against you for woe—even to cut off (destroy) all Judah [from the land].  
Jr4412 And I will take the remnant of Judah who have decided to go into the land of Egypt to live there [instead of surrendering to the Chaldeans as directed], and they will all fall and die in the land of Egypt; they will fall by the sword or perish by famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by the sword or by famine; and they will become detestable, an object of horror, a curse, and a disgrace.  
Jr4413 For I will punish all the inhabitants of the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with virulent disease;  
Jr4414 so none of the survivors from the remnant of Judah who have entered the land of Egypt to live there will survive, even though they lift up their souls in longing to return to the land of Judah, [the place] to which they long to return to live; none will return except a few refugees.’”  
Jr4415 Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning sacrifices to other gods, and all the women who were standing by, a large group, including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah, saying,  
Jr4416 “As for the word (message) that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you.  
Jr4417 But rather we will certainly perform every word of the vows we have made: to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven (Ishtar) and to pour out drink offerings to her, just as we ourselves and our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for [then] we had plenty of food and were prosperous and saw no misfortune.  
Jr4418 But since we stopped burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.”  
Jr4419 And said the wives, “When we were burning sacrifices to the queen of heaven and were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it without [the knowledge and approval of] our husbands that we made cakes [in the shape of a star] to represent her and pour out drink offerings to her?”  
Jr4420 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and to the women and to all the people who had given him that answer,  
Jr4421 “The smoking sacrifices (incense) that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land—did not the LORD remember [in detail your idolatry] and did it not all come into His mind?  
Jr4422 The LORD could no longer endure it, because of the evil of your acts and the repulsive acts which you have committed; because of them your land has become a ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.  
Jr4423 Because you have burned sacrifices [to idols] and because you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD or walked in His law and in His statutes and in His testimonies, therefore this tragedy has fallen on you, as it has this day.”  
Jr4424 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all [you of] Judah who are in the land of Egypt,  
Jr4425 thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: ‘You and your wives have both declared with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand, saying, “We will certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn sacrifices to the queen of heaven (Ishtar) and to pour out drink offerings to her.” Surely then confirm your vows and go ahead and perform your vows! [If you intend to defy all My warnings, proceed!]’  
Jr4426 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all [you people of] Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, ‘Behold, I have sworn [an oath] by My great Name,’ says the LORD, ‘that My Name shall never again be invoked by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “As the Lord GOD lives.”  
Jr4427 Behold, I am watching over them for harm and not for good; and all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine until they are all destroyed.  
Jr4428 Yet a small number [of My choosing] who escape the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah; and all the remnant of Judah who have gone to the land of Egypt to reside there will know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs.  
Jr4429 And this will be the sign to you,’ says the LORD, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for harm.’  
Jr4430 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and was seeking his life.’”  
Jr4501 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,  
Jr4502 “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:  
Jr4503 ‘You said, “Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and sighing and I find no rest.”’  
Jr4504 Say this to him, ‘The LORD speaks in this way, “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and that which I have planted I will uproot, that is, the whole land.”  
Jr4505 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring disaster on all flesh,’ says the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you [as your only reward and] as a prize of war wherever you go.’”  
Jr4601 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the [Gentile] nations.  
Jr4602 Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated [decisively] in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:  
Jr4603 “Line up the buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, And advance for battle!  
Jr4604 “Harness the horses, And mount, you riders! Take your stand with your helmets! Polish the spears, Put on the coats of mail!  
Jr4605 “Why have I seen it? They are terrified And have turned back, And their warriors are beaten down. They take flight in haste Without looking back; Terror is on every side!” Says the LORD.  
Jr4606 Do not let the swift man run, Nor the mighty man escape; In the north by the river Euphrates They have stumbled and fallen.  
Jr4607 Who is this that rises up like the Nile [River], Like the rivers [in the delta of Egypt] whose waters surge about?  
Jr4608 Egypt rises like the Nile, Even like the rivers whose waters surge about. And He has said, “I will rise, I will cover that land; I will certainly destroy the city and its inhabitants.”  
Jr4609 Charge, you horses, And drive like madmen, you chariots! Let the warriors go forward: Ethiopia and Put (Libya) who handle the shield, And the Lydians who handle and bend the bow.  
Jr4610 For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of hosts, A day of vengeance, that He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. And the sword will devour and be satiated And drink its fill of their blood; For the Lord GOD of hosts has a sacrifice [like that of a great sin offering] In the north country by the river Euphrates.  
Jr4611 Go up to Gilead and obtain [healing] balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you use many medicines; For you there is no healing or remedy.  
Jr4612 The nations have heard of your disgrace and shame, And your cry [of distress] has filled the earth. For warrior has stumbled against warrior, And both of them have fallen together.  
Jr4613 The word that the LORD spoke to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:  
Jr4614 “Declare in Egypt and proclaim in Migdol, And proclaim in Memphis and in Tahpanhes; Say, ‘Take your stand and get yourself ready, For the sword has devoured those around you.’  
Jr4615 “Why have your strong ones been cut down? They do not stand because the LORD drove them away.  
Jr4616 “He will make many stumble and fall; Yes, they have fallen one on another. Then they said, ‘Arise, and let us go back To our own people and to the land of our birth, Away from the sword of the oppressor.’  
Jr4617 “They cried there, ‘Pharaoh king of Egypt is destroyed and is merely a loud noise; He has let the appointed time [of opportunity] pass by!’  
Jr4618 “As I live,” says the King, Whose name is the LORD of hosts, “Surely like Tabor among the mountains Or like Carmel by the sea, So shall he [the great king of Babylon] come.  
Jr4619 “O you daughter who dwells in Egypt and you who dwell with her, Prepare yourselves [with all you will need] to go into exile, For Memphis will become desolate; It will even be burned down and without inhabitant.  
Jr4620 “Egypt is a very pretty heifer, But a horsefly (Babylonia) is coming [against her] out of the north!  
Jr4621 “Also her mercenaries in her army Are like fattened calves, For they too have turned back and have fled together; They did not stand [their ground], Because the day of their disaster has come upon them, The time of their punishment.  
Jr4622 “The sound [of Egypt fleeing from the enemy] is like [the rustling of] an escaping serpent, For her foes advance with a mighty army And come against her like woodcutters with axes.  
Jr4623 “They have cut down her forest,” says the LORD; “Certainly it will no longer be found, Because they (the invaders) are more numerous than locusts And cannot be counted.  
Jr4624 “The Daughter of Egypt has been shamed, Given over to the power of the people of the north [the Chaldeans of Babylonia].”  
Jr4625 The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I am going to punish Amon [chief god of the sacred city] of Thebes [the capital of Upper Egypt], and Pharaoh, and Egypt along with her gods and her kings—even Pharaoh and those who put their trust in him [as a shield against Babylon].  
Jr4626 I will put them into the hand of those who seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of his servants. Afterward Egypt will be inhabited as in the days of old,” says the LORD.  
Jr4627 “But as for you, do not fear, O My servant Jacob, Nor be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from [your captivity in] a distant land, And your descendants from the land of their exile; And Jacob will return and be quiet and secure, And no one will make him afraid.  
Jr4628 “Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the LORD, “For I am with you. For I will make a full and complete end of all the nations To which I have driven you; Yet I will not make a full end of you. But I will discipline and correct you appropriately And by no means will I declare you guiltless or leave you unpunished.”  
Jr4701 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked and conquered [the Philistine city of] Gaza.  
Jr4702 Thus says the LORD: “Behold, waters are going to rise out of the north (Babylonia) And become an overflowing stream And overflow the land and all that is in it, The city and those who live in it. Then the people will cry out, And all the inhabitants of the land [of Philistia] will wail.  
Jr4703 “Because of the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of the war-horses [of the Babylonian king], The rattling of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels, The fathers have not looked and turned back for their children, So weak are their hands [with terror]  
Jr4704 Because of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines And to cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally who remains. For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant [still surviving] of the coastland of Caphtor.  
Jr4705 “Baldness [as a sign of mourning] will come on Gaza; Ashkelon will be cut off and ruined. O remnant of their valley, How long will you gash yourselves [as a sign of mourning]?  
Jr4706 “O you sword of the LORD, How long will it be before you are quiet? Put yourself into your sheath; Rest and be still.  
Jr4707 “How can His sword be quiet When the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the [whole Philistine] seashore There He has assigned it.”  
Jr4801 Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Woe (judgment is coming) to [the city of] Nebo, for it has been destroyed! Kiriathaim has been shamed, it has been captured; Misgab [the high fortress] has been shamed, broken down and crushed.  
Jr4802 “The glory of Moab is no more; In Heshbon they planned evil against her, Saying, ‘Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!’ You also, O [city of] Madmen, shall be silenced; The sword will pursue you.  
Jr4803 “The sound of an outcry from Horonaim, ‘Desolation and great destruction!’  
Jr4804 “Moab is destroyed; Her little ones have called out a cry of distress [to be heard as far as Zoar].  
Jr4805 “For the Ascent of Luhith Will be climbed by [successive groups of] fugitives with continual weeping; For on the descent of Horonaim They have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.  
Jr4806 “Run! Save your lives, That you may be like a juniper in the wilderness.  
Jr4807 “For because you have trusted in your works [your hand-made idols] and in your treasures [instead of in God], Even you yourself will be captured; And Chemosh [your disgusting god cannot rescue you, but] will go away into exile [along with the fugitives] Together with his priests and his princes.  
Jr4808 “And the destroyer will come upon every city; No city will escape. The [Jordan] valley also will be ruined And the plain will be devastated, As the LORD has said.  
Jr4809 “Give a gravestone to Moab, For she will fall into ruins; Her cities (pastures, farms) will be desolate, Without anyone to live in them.  
Jr4810 “Cursed is the one who does the work of the LORD negligently, And cursed is the one who restrains his sword from blood [in executing the judgment of the LORD].  
Jr4811 “Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has also been undisturbed, and settled like wine on his dregs, And he has not been emptied from one vessel to another, Nor has he gone into exile. Therefore his flavor remains in him, And his scent has not changed.  
Jr4812 Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will send to Moab those who will tip him over and who will empty his vessels and break his [earthenware] jars in pieces.  
Jr4813 And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh [his worthless, disgusting god], as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their [misplaced] confidence.  
Jr4814 “How can you say, ‘We are great warriors And valiant men in war?’  
Jr4815 “Moab has been made desolate and his cities have gone up [in smoke and flame]; And his chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter,” Says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.  
Jr4816 “The destruction of Moab will come soon, And his disaster hurries quickly.  
Jr4817 “Show sympathy for him, all you [nations] who are around him, And all you [distant nations] who know his name; Say, ‘How has the mighty scepter [of national power] been broken, And the splendid staff [of glory]!’  
Jr4818 “Come down from your glory, O Daughter living in Dibon, And sit on the parched ground [among the thirsty]! For the destroyer of Moab has advanced against you; He has destroyed your strongholds.  
Jr4819 “O inhabitant of Aroer, Stand by the road and keep watch! Ask [of] him who flees and [ask of] her who escapes, Saying, ‘What has happened?’  
Jr4820 “Moab is shamed, for she has been broken down and shattered. Wail and cry out! Tell by [the banks of] the Arnon That Moab has been destroyed.  
Jr4821 “Judgment has come on [the land of] the plain—upon Holon, Jahzah, and against Mephaath,  
Jr4822 against Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,  
Jr4823 against Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,  
Jr4824 against Kerioth, Bozrah and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.  
Jr4825 The horn (strength) of Moab has been cut off and his arm [of authority] is shattered,” says the LORD.  
Jr4826 “Make him drunk, for he has become arrogant and magnified himself against the LORD [by denying Reuben’s occupation of the land the LORD had assigned him]. Moab also will wallow in his vomit, and he too shall become a laughingstock.  
Jr4827 For was not Israel a laughingstock to you? Was he caught among thieves? For whenever you speak of him you shake your head in scorn.  
Jr4828 “You inhabitants of Moab, Leave the cities and live among the rocks, And be like the dove that makes her nest In the walls of the yawning ravine.  
Jr4829 “We have heard of the [giddy] pride of Moab, the extremely proud one— His haughtiness, his arrogance, his conceit, and his self-exaltation.  
Jr4830 “I know his [insolent] wrath,” says the LORD, “But it is futile; His idle boasts [in his deeds] have accomplished nothing.  
Jr4831 “Therefore I will wail over Moab, And I will cry out for all Moab. I will sigh and mourn over the men of Kir-heres (Kir-hareseth).  
Jr4832 “O vines of Sibmah, I will weep for you More than the weeping of Jazer [over its ruins and wasted vineyards]. Your tendrils [of influence] stretched across the sea, Reaching [even] to the sea of Jazer. The destroyer has fallen On your summer fruits and your [season’s] crop of grapes.  
Jr4833 “So joy and gladness are taken away From the fruitful field and from the land of Moab. And I have made the wine cease from the wine presses; No one treads the grapes with shouting. Their shouting is not joyful shouting [but is instead, a battle cry].  
Jr4834 From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have raised their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolations.  
Jr4835 Moreover, I will cause to cease in Moab,” says the LORD, “the one who ascends and offers sacrifice in the high place and the one who burns incense to his gods.  
Jr4836 “Therefore My heart moans and sighs for Moab like flutes, and My heart moans and sighs like flutes for the men of Kir-heres (Kir-hareseth); therefore [the remnant of] the abundant riches they gained has perished.  
Jr4837 For every head is [shaven] bald and every beard cut off; there are cuts (slashes) on all the hands and sackcloth on the loins [all expressions of mourning].  
Jr4838 On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation (expressions of grief for the dead) everywhere, for I have broken Moab like a vessel in which there is no pleasure,” says the LORD.  
Jr4839 “How it is broken down! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab will become a laughingstock and a [horrifying] terror to all who are around him.”  
Jr4840 For thus says the LORD: “Behold, one (Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) will fly swiftly like an eagle And spread out his wings against Moab.  
Jr4841 “Kerioth [and the cities] has been taken And the strongholds seized; And the hearts of the warriors of Moab in that day Shall be like the heart of a woman in childbirth.  
Jr4842 “Moab will be destroyed from being a nation (people) Because he has become arrogant and magnified himself against the LORD.  
Jr4843 “Terror and pit and snare are before you, O inhabitant of Moab,” says the LORD.  
Jr4844 “The one who flees from the terror Will fall into the pit, And the one who gets up out of the pit Will be taken and caught in the trap; For I shall bring upon it, even upon Moab, The year of their punishment,” says the LORD.  
Jr4845 “In the shadow of Heshbon The fugitives stand powerless [helpless and without strength], For a fire has gone out from Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon; It has destroyed the forehead of Moab And the crowns of the heads of [the arrogant Moabites] the ones in tumult.  
Jr4846 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you, O Moab! The people of [the pagan god called] Chemosh have perished; For your sons have been taken away captive And your daughters into captivity.  
Jr4847 “Yet I will return the captives and restore the fortunes of Moab In the latter days,” says the LORD. Thus far is the judgment on Moab.  
Jr4901 Concerning the sons (descendants) of Ammon. Thus says the LORD: “Does Israel have no sons [to reclaim Gad from the Ammonites]? Has he no heir? Why then has Malcam taken possession of Gad And [why do] his people live in the cities [of Gad]?  
Jr4902 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When I will cause an alarm of war to be heard Against Rabbah of the Ammonites; And it [along with the high ground on which it stands] will become a desolate heap, And its villages will be set on fire. Then will Israel take possession of his possessors,” Says the LORD.  
Jr4903 “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai [in Ammon] has been destroyed! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Wrap yourselves with sackcloth and lament (cry out in grief), And rush back and forth inside the enclosures; For Malcam [your powerless god] will go into exile Together with his priests and his princes.  
Jr4904 “Why do you boast of your valleys? Your valley is flowing away, [O Ammon] rebellious and faithless daughter Who trusts in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’  
Jr4905 “Behold, I am going to bring terror on you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts, “From all who are around you; And each of you will be driven out headlong, And there will be no one to gather the fugitives together.  
Jr4906 “But afterward I will reverse The captivity of the children of Ammon and restore their fortunes,” Says the LORD.  
Jr4907 Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has good counsel vanished from the intelligent and prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?  
Jr4908 “Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths [of the desert to escape the judgment of Edom], O inhabitants of Dedan, For I will bring the destruction of Esau (Edom) upon him When I inspect and punish him.  
Jr4909 “If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some ungleaned grapes [on the vines]? If thieves came by night, Would they not destroy [only] what is enough [for them]?  
Jr4910 “But I have stripped Esau (Edom) bare; I have uncovered his hiding places And he cannot hide himself. His descendants have been destroyed along with his brothers (relatives) and his neighbors; And he is no more.  
Jr4911 “Leave your orphans behind; I will [do what is needed to] keep them alive. And let [those who are] your widows trust and confide in Me.”  
Jr4912 For thus says the LORD, “Behold, those (Israel) who were not sentenced to drink the cup [of wrath] shall certainly drink it, and are you to remain unpunished? You will not be acquitted and go unpunished, but you will certainly drink [from the cup of wrath and judgment].  
Jr4913 For I have sworn [an oath] by Myself,” says the LORD, “that Bozrah will become an object of horror, a reproach, a ruin, and a curse; and all its cities will become perpetual ruins.”  
Jr4914 I have heard a report from the LORD, And a messenger has been sent to the nations, saying, “Gather together and come against her, And rise up for the battle.”  
Jr4915 “For behold, [Edom] I have made you small among the nations And despised among men.  
Jr4916 “As for Your terror, The pride and arrogance of your heart have deceived you, O you who live in the clefts of the rock (Sela also called Petra), Who hold and occupy the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there,” says the LORD.  
Jr4917 “Edom will become an object of horror; everyone who goes by it will be astonished and shall hiss [scornfully] at all its plagues and disasters.  
Jr4918 As [it was] in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah with their neighboring cities,” says the LORD, “no man will live there, nor will a son of man dwell in it.  
Jr4919 See, one will come like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan against the enduring habitation [of Edom] and its watered pastures; for in an instant I will make him (Edom) run from his land. I will appoint over him the one whom I choose. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me [into court] and prosecute Me [for this]? Who is the [earthly] shepherd who can stand [defiantly] before Me?”  
Jr4920 Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has devised against Edom, and [hear] what He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will be dragged away, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their dwelling place desolate because of them.  
Jr4921 The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The sound of its noise has been heard at the Red Sea.  
Jr4922 Behold, He will mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread His wings against [the city of] Bozrah; and in that day the heart of the mighty warriors of Edom will be like the heart of a woman in childbirth.  
Jr4923 Concerning Damascus [in Syria]. “Hamath and Arpad are perplexed and shamed, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened; Troubled and anxious like a [storm- tossed] sea Which cannot be calmed.  
Jr4924 “Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, Terror (panic) has seized her; Anguish and distress have gripped her Like a woman in childbirth.  
Jr4925 “Why has the renowned city not been deserted, The city of My joy!  
Jr4926 “Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, And all her men of war will be destroyed in that day,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Jr4927 “I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, And it will consume the palaces of Ben- hadad.”  
Jr4928 Concerning Kedar and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated. Thus says the LORD, “Arise, go up against Kedar And destroy the men of the east.  
Jr4929 “They (the Babylonians) will take away their tents and their flocks; They will carry off for themselves Their tent curtains, all their goods and their camels, And they will call out to one another, ‘Terror on every side!’  
Jr4930 “Flee, run far away! Dwell in the depths [of the desert], O inhabitants of Hazor,” says the LORD, “For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has planned a course of action against you And devised a scheme against you.  
Jr4931 “Arise [Nebuchadnezzar], go up against a nation which is at ease, Which lives securely,” says the LORD, “A nation which has neither gates nor bars; They dwell apart and alone.  
Jr4932 “Their camels will become plunder, And their herds of cattle a spoil; And I will scatter to all the [four] winds those who cut the corners of their hair [as evidence of their idolatry], And I will bring their disaster from every side,” says the LORD.  
Jr4933 “Hazor will become a haunt and dwelling place of jackals, A desolation forever; No one will live there, Nor will a son of man reside in it.”  
Jr4934 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying:  
Jr4935 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold (listen carefully), I am going to break the bow of Elam, The finest [weapon] of their strength.  
Jr4936 ‘And I will bring upon Elam the four winds From the four corners of heaven; And I will scatter them toward all those winds, And there will be no nation To which the outcasts of Elam will not go.  
Jr4937 ‘So I will cause Elam to be shattered (dismayed) before their enemies And before those who seek their lives; And I will bring disaster on them, Even My fierce anger,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will send the sword after them Until I have consumed them.  
Jr4938 ‘Then I will set My throne [of judgment] in Elam And I will destroy from there the king and princes,’ Says the LORD.  
Jr4939 ‘But it will be in the last days (the end of days) That I will reverse the captivity and restore the fortunes of Elam,’” Says the LORD.  
Jr5001 The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon and concerning the land of the Chaldeans through Jeremiah the prophet:  
Jr5002 “Declare among the nations. Lift up a signal [to spread the news]—publish and proclaim it, Do not conceal it; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel [the patron god] has been shamed, Marduk (Bel) has been shattered. Babylon’s images have been shamed, her [worthless] idols have been thrown down.’  
Jr5003 For out of the north a nation (Media) has come against her which will make her land desolate, and no one will live there. They have fled, they have gone away—both man and animal.  
Jr5004 “In those days and at that time,” says the LORD, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will come up weeping [in repentance] as they come and seek the LORD their God [inquiring for and of Him].  
Jr5005 They will ask the way to Zion, with their faces in that direction, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’  
Jr5006 “My people have become lost sheep; Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made them turn aside [to the seductive places of idolatry] on the mountains. They have gone along [from one sin to another] from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their [own] resting place.  
Jr5007 “All who found them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, ‘We are not guilty, Because they have sinned against the LORD [and are no longer holy to Him], their [true] habitation of righteousness and justice, Even the LORD, the [confident] hope of their fathers.’  
Jr5008 “Wander away from the midst of Babylon And go out of the land of the Chaldeans; Be like the male goats [who serve as leaders] at the head of the flocks.  
Jr5009 “For behold, I will stir up and bring up against Babylon An assembly of great nations from the north country. They will equip themselves and set up the battle lines against her; From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an expert warrior Who will not return empty-handed.  
Jr5010 “Chaldea will become plunder; All who plunder her will be satisfied,” says the LORD.  
Jr5011 “Though you are glad, though you rejoice, O you who plunder My heritage, Though you are wanton and skip about like a heifer in the grass And neigh like stallions,  
Jr5012 Your mother [Babylon] shall be greatly shamed; She who gave you birth will be ashamed. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, A wilderness, a parched land and a desert.  
Jr5013 “Because of the wrath of the LORD she will not be inhabited But she will be completely desolate; Everyone who goes by Babylon will be appalled And will hiss (mock) at all her wounds and plagues.  
Jr5014 “Set yourselves in battle formation against Babylon on every side, All you archers. Shoot at her! Do not spare the arrows, For she has sinned against the LORD.  
Jr5015 “Raise the battle cry against her on every side! She has given her hand [in agreement] and has surrendered; her pillars have fallen, Her walls have been torn down. For this is the vengeance of the LORD: Take vengeance on her; As she has done [to others], do to her.  
Jr5016 “Cut off the sower from Babylon And the one who handles the sickle at the time of harvest. For fear of the sword of the oppressor Everyone will return to his own people And everyone will flee to his own land.  
Jr5017 Israel is a hunted and scattered flock [driven here and there as prey]; the lions have chased them away. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken (gnawed) his bones.  
Jr5018 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will visit (inspect, examine) and punish the king of Babylon and his land, just as I visited and punished the king of Assyria.  
Jr5019 And I will bring Israel [home] again to his pasture and he will graze on [the most fertile lands of] Carmel [in the west] and Bashan [in the east], and his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.  
Jr5020 In those days and at that time,’ says the LORD, ‘a search will be made for the wickedness of Israel, but there will be none and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.’  
Jr5021 “Go against [Babylon] the land of Merathaim (Double Rebellion), Go up against it and against the people of Pekod (Punishment). Kill and utterly destroy them,” says the LORD, “And do everything that I have commanded you.”  
Jr5022 “The noise of battle is in the land, And [the noise of] great destruction.  
Jr5023 “How the hammer of the whole earth Is crushed and broken! How Babylon has become A horror [of desolation] among the nations!  
Jr5024 “I set a trap for you and you also were caught, O Babylon, And you did not know it; You have been found and also seized Because you have struggled against the LORD.”  
Jr5025 The LORD has opened His armory And has brought out [the nations who unknowingly are] the weapons of His indignation (wrath), For it is a work of the Lord GOD of hosts In the land of the Chaldeans.  
Jr5026 Come against her from the farthest border. Open her storehouses; Pile it up like heaps of rubbish. Burn and destroy her completely; Let nothing be left of her.  
Jr5027 Kill all her young bulls [her strength—her young men]; Let them go down to the slaughter! Woe (judgment is coming) to the Chaldeans, for their day has come, The time of their punishment.  
Jr5028 Listen to the voice of the refugees who flee and escape from the land of Babylon, Proclaiming in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, The vengeance [of the LORD against the Chaldeans] for [plundering and destroying] His temple.  
Jr5029 “Call together many [archers] against Babylon, All those who bend the bow. Encamp against her on every side; Let no one from there escape. Repay her according to her actions; Just as she has done, do to her. For she has been proudly defiant and presumptuous against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel.  
Jr5030 “Therefore her young men will fall in her streets, And all her soldiers will be destroyed on that day,” says the LORD.  
Jr5031 “Behold, I am against you, [O Babylon, you] arrogant one, [you who are pride and presumption personified],” Says the Lord GOD of hosts, “For your day has come, The time when I will punish you.  
Jr5032 “The arrogant (proud) one will stumble and fall With no one to raise him up; And I will set fire to his cities And it will devour all who are around him.”  
Jr5033 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “The children of Israel are oppressed, And the children of Judah as well; And all who took them captive have held them tightly, They have refused to let them go.  
Jr5034 “Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name. He will most certainly plead their case and defend their cause So that He may bring rest to their land, But turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.  
Jr5035 “A sword against the Chaldeans,” says the LORD, “And against the inhabitants of Babylon And against her princes (officials, civic rulers) and against her wise men (astrologers, religious rulers)!  
Jr5036 “A sword against the oracle priests (the babbling liars), and they will become fools! A sword against her mighty warriors, and they will be shattered and destroyed!  
Jr5037 “A sword against their horses and against their chariots And against all the foreign troops that are in her midst, And they will become [as weak and defenseless as] women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered!  
Jr5038 “A drought on her waters, and they will dry up! For it is a land of [worthless] idols, And they are mad over fearsome idols [those objects of terror in which they foolishly trust].  
Jr5039 “Therefore wild beasts of the desert will live there [in Babylon] with the jackals; The ostriches also will live there, And it will never again be inhabited [with people] Or lived in from generation to generation.  
Jr5040 “As when God overthrew Sodom And Gomorrah and their neighboring cities,” says the LORD, “So no man will live there; Nor shall any son of man live there.”  
Jr5041 “Behold, a people is coming from the north, And a great nation and many kings Will be stirring from the remote parts of the earth.  
Jr5042 “They seize their bow and spear; They are cruel and have no compassion. They sound like the roaring of the sea; They ride on horses, Every man equipped like a man [ready] for the battle Against you, O Daughter of Babylon.  
Jr5043 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, And his hands fall limp and helpless; Anguish has seized him, And agony like that of a woman in childbirth.  
Jr5044 “See, one will come up like a lion from the thicket of the Jordan against the enduring habitation [of Babylon] and its watered pastures; for in an instant I will make Babylon run from his land. I will appoint over Babylon the one whom I choose. For who is like Me, and who will summon Me [into court] and prosecute Me [for this]? Who is the [earthly] shepherd who can stand [defiantly] before Me?”  
Jr5045 Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has devised against Babylon, and hear what He has purposed against [the inhabitants of the land of] the Chaldeans: surely they will be dragged away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their habitation desolate because of them.  
Jr5046 At the shout, “Babylon has been seized!” the earth quakes, and an outcry is heard among the nations.  
Jr5101 Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am going to stir up and put into action [a fury] against Babylon And against the [rebellious] people of Leb-kamai (Chaldea) A destroying wind and hostile spirit;  
Jr5102 And I will send foreigners to Babylon that they may winnow her And may devastate and empty her land; For in the day of destruction They will be against her on every side.  
Jr5103 “Do not let him (the Chaldean defender) who bends his bow bend it, Nor let him rise up in his coat of armor. So do not spare her young men; Devote her entire army to destruction.  
Jr5104 “They shall fall down dead in the land of the Chaldeans, And wounded in her streets.”  
Jr5105 For neither Israel nor Judah has been abandoned By his God, the LORD of hosts, Though their land is full of sin and guilt Before the Holy One of Israel.  
Jr5106 Flee out of Babylon, Let every one of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, For this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; He is going to pay her what she has earned.  
Jr5107 Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, Intoxicating all the earth. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations have gone mad.  
Jr5108 Babylon has suddenly fallen and is shattered! Wail for her [if you care to]! Get balm for her [incurable] pain; Perhaps she may be healed.  
Jr5109 We would have healed Babylon, but she was not to be healed. Abandon her and let each [captive] return to his own country, For her guilt and judgment have reached to heaven And are lifted up to the very skies.  
Jr5110 The LORD has brought about our vindication and has revealed the righteousness of our cause; Come and let us proclaim in Zion The work of the LORD our God!  
Jr5111 Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields [and cover yourselves]! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it; For that is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance [on Babylon] for [plundering and destroying] His temple.  
Jr5112 Set up a signal on the walls of Babylon [to spread the news]; Post a strong blockade, Station the guards, Prepare the men for ambush! For the LORD has both purposed and done That which He spoke against the people of Babylon.  
Jr5113 [O Babylon] you who live by many waters, Rich in treasures, Your end has come, And the line measuring your life is cut.  
Jr5114 The LORD of hosts has sworn [an oath] by Himself, saying, “Surely I will fill you with men, as with [a swarm of] locusts [who strip the land clean], And they will lift up a song and shout of victory over you.”  
Jr5115 He made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom And stretched out the heavens by His understanding.  
Jr5116 When He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, And He causes the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain And brings out the wind from His storehouses.  
Jr5117 Every man has become stupid and brutelike, without knowledge [of God]; Every goldsmith is shamed by the cast images he has made; For his molten idols are a lie, And there is no breath [of life] or spirit in them.  
Jr5118 They are worthless (empty, false, futile), a work of delusion and worthy of derision; In the time of their inspection and punishment they will perish.  
Jr5119 The Portion of Jacob [the true God of Israel] is not like these [handmade gods]; For He is the Maker of all and the One who formed and fashioned all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance— The LORD of hosts is His name.  
Jr5120 “You [Cyrus of Persia, soon to conquer Babylon] are My battle-axe and weapon of war— For with you I shatter nations, With you I destroy kingdoms.  
Jr5121 “With you I shatter the horse and his rider, With you I shatter the chariot and its driver,  
Jr5122 With you I shatter man and woman, With you I shatter old man and youth, With you I shatter young man and virgin,  
Jr5123 With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock, With you I shatter the farmer and his yoke of oxen, And with you I shatter governors and commanders.  
Jr5124 “And I will [completely] repay Babylon and all the people of Chaldea for all the evil that they have done in Zion—before your very eyes [I will do it],” says the LORD.  
Jr5125 “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain [conqueror of nations], Who destroys the whole earth,” declares the LORD, “I will stretch out My hand against you, And roll you down from the [rugged] cliffs, And will make you a burnt mountain (extinct volcano).  
Jr5126 “They will not take from you [even] a stone for a cornerstone Nor any rock for a foundation, But you will be desolate forever,” says the LORD.  
Jr5127 Lift up a signal in the land [to spread the news]! Blow the trumpet among the nations! Dedicate the nations [for war] against her; Call against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a marshal against her; Cause the horses to come up like bristly locusts [with their wings not yet released from their cases].  
Jr5128 Prepare and dedicate the nations for war against her— The kings of Media, With their governors and commanders, And every land of their dominion.  
Jr5129 The land trembles and writhes [in pain and sorrow], For the purposes of the LORD against Babylon stand, To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants.  
Jr5130 The mighty warriors of Babylon have ceased to fight; They remain in their strongholds. Their strength and power have failed; They are becoming [weak and helpless] like women. Their dwelling places are set on fire; The bars on her gates are broken.  
Jr5131 One courier runs to meet another, And one messenger to meet another, To tell the king of Babylon That his city has been captured from end to end;  
Jr5132 And that the fords [across the Euphrates] have been blocked and [the ferries] seized, And they have set the [great] marshes on fire, And the men of war are terrified.  
Jr5133 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor At the time it is being trampled and prepared; Yet in a little while the time of harvest will come for her.”  
Jr5134 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me, He has set me down like an empty vessel. Like a monster he has swallowed me up, He has filled his belly with my delicacies; He has spit me out and washed me away.  
Jr5135 “May the violence done to me and to my flesh and blood be upon Babylon,” The inhabitant of Zion will say; And, “May my blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,” Jerusalem will say.  
Jr5136 Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I will plead your case And take full vengeance for you; I will dry up her sea and great reservoir And make her fountain dry.  
Jr5137 “Babylon will become a heap [of ruins], a haunt and dwelling place of jackals, An object of horror (an astonishing desolation) and a hissing [of scorn and amazement], without inhabitants.  
Jr5138 “They (the Chaldean lords) will be roaring together [before their sudden capture] like young lions [roaring over their prey], They (the princes) will be growling like lions’ cubs.  
Jr5139 “When they are inflamed [with wine and lust during their drinking bouts], I will prepare them a feast [of My wrath] And make them drunk, that they may rejoice And may sleep a perpetual sleep And not wake up,” declares the LORD.  
Jr5140 “I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, Like rams together with male goats.  
Jr5141 “How Sheshak (Babylon) has been captured, And the praise of the whole earth been seized! How Babylon has become an astonishing desolation and an object of horror among the nations!  
Jr5142 “The sea has come up over Babylon; She has been engulfed with its tumultuous waves.  
Jr5143 “Her cities have become an astonishing desolation and an object of horror, A parched land and a desert, A land in which no one lives, And through which no son of man passes.  
Jr5144 “I will punish and judge Bel [the handmade god] in Babylon And take out of his mouth what he has swallowed up [the stolen sacred articles and the captives of Judah and elsewhere]. The nations will no longer flow to him. Yes, the wall of Babylon has fallen down!  
Jr5145 “Come out of her midst, My people, And each of you [escape and] save yourself From the fierce anger of the LORD.  
Jr5146 “Now beware so that you do not lose heart, And so that you are not afraid at the rumor that will be heard in the land— For the rumor shall come one year, And after that another rumor in another year, And violence shall be in the land, Ruler against ruler—  
Jr5147 Therefore behold (listen carefully), the days are coming When I will judge and punish the idols of Babylon; Her whole land will be perplexed and shamed, And all her slain will fall in her midst.  
Jr5148 “Then heaven and earth and all that is in them Will shout and sing for joy over Babylon, For the destroyers will come against her from the north,” Says the LORD.  
Jr5149 Indeed Babylon is to fall for the slain of Israel, As also for Babylon the slain of all the earth have fallen.  
Jr5150 You who have escaped the sword, Go away! Do not stay! Remember the LORD from far away, And let [desolate] Jerusalem come into your mind.  
Jr5151 We are perplexed and ashamed, for we have heard reproach; Disgrace has covered our faces, For foreigners [from Babylon] have come Into the [most] sacred parts of the sanctuary of the LORD [even those places forbidden to all but the appointed priest].  
Jr5152 “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When I will judge and punish the idols [of Babylon], And throughout her land the mortally wounded will groan.”  
Jr5153 “Though Babylon should ascend to the heavens, And though she should fortify her lofty stronghold, Yet destroyers will come on her from Me,” says the LORD.  
Jr5154 The sound of an outcry [comes] from Babylon, And [the sound] of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!  
Jr5155 For the LORD is going to destroy Babylon and make her a ruin, And He will still her great voice [that hums with city life]. And the waves [of her conquerors] roar like great waters, The noise of their voices is raised up [like the marching of an army].  
Jr5156 For the destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon; And her mighty warriors will be captured, Their bows are shattered; For the LORD is a God of [just] restitution; He will fully repay.  
Jr5157 “I will make her princes and her wise men drunk, Her governors and her commanders and her mighty warriors; They will sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake up,” Says the King—the LORD of hosts is His name.  
Jr5158 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “The broad wall of Babylon will be completely overthrown and the foundations razed And her high gates will be set on fire; The peoples will labor in vain, And the nations become exhausted [only] for fire [that will destroy their work].”  
Jr5159 The message which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the grandson of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now this Seraiah was chief chamberlain or quartermaster [and brother of Baruch].  
Jr5160 So Jeremiah wrote in a single scroll all the disaster which would come on Babylon, [that is] all these words which have been written concerning Babylon.  
Jr5161 Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you come to Babylon, see to it that you read all these words aloud,  
Jr5162 and say, ‘You, O LORD, have promised concerning this place to cut it off and destroy it, so that there shall be nothing living in it, neither man nor animal, but it will be perpetually desolate.’  
Jr5163 And as soon as you finish reading this scroll, you shall tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates.  
Jr5164 Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink down and not rise because of the disaster that I will bring on her; and the Babylonians will become [hopelessly] exhausted.’” Thus the words of Jeremiah are completed.  
Jr5201 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.  
Jr5202 He did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD like all that Jehoiakim had done.  
Jr5203 For all this came about in Jerusalem and Judah because of the anger of the LORD, and [in the end] He cast them from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.  
Jr5204 Now it came about in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem; and they camped against it and built moveable towers and siege mounds all around it.  
Jr5205 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.  
Jr5206 In the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.  
Jr5207 Then the city was broken into, and all the soldiers fled. They left the city at night [as Ezekiel prophesied] passing through the gate between the two walls by the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They fled by way of the Arabah (the Jordan Valley).  
Jr5208 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and his entire army was scattered from him.  
Jr5209 Then they seized the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the [Syrian] land of Hamath [on the northern border of Israel], where he pronounced sentence on him.  
Jr5210 The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the princes of Judah at Riblah.  
Jr5211 Then the king of Babylon blinded Zedekiah, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon and there he put him in prison [in a mill] until the day of his death.  
Jr5212 Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.  
Jr5213 He burned down the house of the LORD and the king’s palace and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house or important structure he set on fire.  
Jr5214 So all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.  
Jr5215 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away into exile some of the poorest of the people, those who were left in the city [at the time it was captured], along with those who deserted to join the king of Babylon [during the siege] and the rest of the artisans.  
Jr5216 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers.  
Jr5217 Now the Chaldeans broke into pieces the pillars of bronze which belonged to the house of the LORD, and the bronze pedestals [which supported the ten basins] and the [enormous] bronze Sea, which were in the house of the LORD, and carried all the bronze to Babylon.  
Jr5218 They also took away the pots [for carrying away ashes] and the shovels and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.  
Jr5219 The captain of the guard also took away the [small] bowls and the firepans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the incense cups and the bowls for the drink offerings—whatever was made of fine gold and whatever was made of fine silver.  
Jr5220 The two pillars, the one [enormous] Sea (basin), and the twelve bronze bulls under the Sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD—the bronze of all these things was beyond weighing.  
Jr5221 Concerning the pillars, the height of each pillar was eighteen cubits (twenty-seven feet), and a line [an ornamental molding] of twelve cubits (eighteen feet) went around its circumference; it was four fingers thick, and [the pillar was] hollow.  
Jr5222 A capital of bronze was on [top of] it. The height of each capital was five cubits (seven and one-half feet), with a lattice-work and pomegranates around it, all of bronze. The second pillar also, with its pomegranates, was similar to these.  
Jr5223 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; and a hundred pomegranates were on the lattice-work all around.  
Jr5224 Then the captain of the guard took [as prisoners] Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three doorkeepers.  
Jr5225 He also took out of the city one official who was overseer of the soldiers, and seven of the king’s advisers who were found in the city, and the scribe of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men who were still in the city.  
Jr5226 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.  
Jr5227 Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was led away into exile from its own land.  
Jr5228 This is the number of people whom Nebuchadnezzar took captive and exiled: in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;  
Jr5229 in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, [he took captive] 832 persons from Jerusalem;  
Jr5230 in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the [Babylonian] guard took captive 745 Jewish people; there were 4,600 persons in all.  
Jr5231 Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin [also called Coniah and Jeconiah] king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty- fifth of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, showed favor to Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.  
Jr5232 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a throne above the thrones of the kings who were [captives] with him in Babylon.  
Jr5233 Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table all the days of his life.  
Jr5234 And his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king of Babylon, a daily portion [according to his needs] until the day of his death, all the days of his life.  
Lm0101 How solitary and lonely sits the city [Jerusalem] That was [once] full of people! How like a widow she has become. She who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces, Has become a forced laborer!  
Lm0102 She weeps bitterly in the night And her tears are [constantly] on her cheeks; Among all her lovers (political allies) She has no one to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies.  
Lm0103 Judah has gone into exile under affliction And under harsh servitude; She dwells among the [pagan] nations, But she has found no rest; All her pursuers have overtaken her In the midst of [her] distress.  
Lm0104 The roads to Zion are in mourning Because no one comes to the appointed feasts. All her gates are desolate; Her priests are groaning, Her virgins are grieved and suffering, And she suffers bitterly.  
Lm0105 Her adversaries have become her masters, Her enemies prosper; For the LORD has caused her grief Because of the multitude of her transgressions; Her young children have gone Into captivity before the enemy.  
Lm0106 All her beauty and majesty Have departed from the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem). Her princes have become like deer That have found no pasture; They have fled without strength Before the pursuer.  
Lm0107 In the days of her affliction and homelessness Jerusalem remembers all her precious things That she had from the days of old, When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, And no one helped her, The enemy saw her, They mocked at her downfall.  
Lm0108 Jerusalem sinned greatly; Therefore she has become an unclean thing [and has been removed]. All who honored her [now] despise her Because they have seen her nakedness; Even she herself groans and turns [her face] away.  
Lm0109 Her (ceremonial) uncleanness was on her skirts; She did not [seriously] consider her future. Therefore she has come down [from throne to slavery] in an astonishing manner; She has no comforter. “O LORD” [cries Jerusalem], “look at my affliction, For the enemy has magnified himself [in triumph]!”  
Lm0110 The adversary has spread out his hand Over all her precious and desirable things; For she has seen the [Gentile] nations enter her sanctuary (the Jerusalem temple)— The ones whom You commanded That they should not enter into Your congregation [not even in the outer courts].  
Lm0111 All her people groan, seeking bread; They have exchanged their desirable and precious things for food To restore their lives. “See, O LORD, and consider How despised and repulsive I have become!”  
Lm0112 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain Which was severely dealt out to me, Which the LORD has inflicted [on me] on the day of His fierce anger.  
Lm0113 “From on high He sent fire into my bones, And it prevailed over them. He has spread a net for my feet; He has turned me back. He has made me desolate and hopelessly miserable, Faint all the day long.  
Lm0114 “The yoke of my transgressions is bound; By His hand they are knit and woven together. They have come upon my neck. He has made my strength fail; The Lord has put me into the hand Of those against whom I cannot stand.  
Lm0115 “The Lord has rejected all the strong men In my midst; He has proclaimed an established time against me To crush my young men. The Lord has trampled down as in a wine press The Virgin Daughter of Judah.  
Lm0116 “I weep for these things; My eyes overflow with tears, Because a comforter, One who could restore my soul, is far away from me. My children are desolate and perishing, For the enemy has prevailed.”  
Lm0117 Zion stretches out her hands, But there is no comforter for her. The LORD has commanded concerning Jacob That his neighbors should be his enemies; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing [an object of contempt] among them.  
Lm0118 “The LORD is righteous and just; For I have rebelled against His commandment (His word). Hear now, all you peoples, And look at my pain; My virgins and my young men Have gone into captivity.  
Lm0119 “I [Jerusalem] called to my lovers (political allies), but they deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city While they looked for food to restore their strength.  
Lm0120 “See, O LORD, how distressed I am! My spirit is deeply disturbed; My heart is overturned within me and cannot rest, For I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword kills and bereaves; In the house there is [famine, disease and] death!  
Lm0121 “People have heard that I groan, That I have no comforter [in You]. All my enemies have heard of my desperation; They are delighted [O LORD] that You have done it. Oh, that You would bring the day [of judgment] which You have proclaimed So that they will become like me.  
Lm0122 “Let all their wickedness come before You; And deal with them as You have dealt with me Because of all my transgressions; For my groans are many and my heart is faint.”  
Lm0201 How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem) With a cloud in His anger! He has cast down from heaven to the earth The glory and splendor of Israel And has not remembered His footstool In the day of His anger.  
Lm0202 The Lord has swallowed up; He has not spared All the country places of Jacob. In His wrath He has thrown down The strongholds of the Daughter of Judah (Jerusalem). He has brought them down to the ground [in disgrace]; He has debased the kingdom and its princes.  
Lm0203 In fierce anger He has cut off and destroyed Every horn of Israel. He has withdrawn His right hand From the presence of the enemy. And He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire Consuming all around.  
Lm0204 He has bent His bow like an enemy; He has set His right hand like an adversary And slain all that were delightful and pleasing to the eye; In the tent of the Daughter of Zion He has poured out His wrath like fire.  
Lm0205 The Lord has become like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all its palaces; He has destroyed its strongholds And multiplied in the Daughter of Judah Mourning and lamentation (expressions of grief).  
Lm0206 And He has violently broken down His temple like a [fragile] garden hedge; He has destroyed His appointed meeting place. The LORD has caused the appointed feast and Sabbath To be forgotten in Zion And has despised and rejected the king and the priest In the indignation of His anger.  
Lm0207 The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary. He has given into the hand of the enemy The walls of her palaces; They have made a noise in the house of the LORD As on a day of an appointed feast.  
Lm0208 The LORD determined to lay in ruins The [city] wall of the Daughter of Zion. He has stretched out a line, He has not stopped His hand from destroying. He has caused the rampart and the wall to lament (mourn in grief); They have languished together.  
Lm0209 Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are [exiled] among the nations; The law is no more. Also, her prophets no longer find Vision from the LORD.  
Lm0210 The elders of the Daughter of Zion Sit on the ground keeping silent; They have thrown dust on their heads, They have covered themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem Have bowed their heads to the ground.  
Lm0211 My eyes fail because of tears [mourns Jeremiah], My spirit is deeply disturbed; My heart is poured out on the earth [in grief] Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem], When little ones and infants faint In the streets of the city.  
Lm0212 They cry to their mothers, “Where is grain and wine?” As they faint like a wounded man In the streets of the city, As their life [slips away and] is poured out In their mothers’ arms.  
Lm0213 How shall I console you? To what shall I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? With what shall I compare you, so that I may comfort you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your ruin is as vast as the sea; Who can heal you?  
Lm0214 Your prophets have seen (imagined) for you False and foolish visions; And they have not exposed your wickedness To restore you from captivity [by teaching you to repent], But they have seen (imagined) and declared to you false and misleading oracles.  
Lm0215 All who pass along the way Clap their hands in derision at you; They scoff and shake their heads At the Daughter of Jerusalem, saying, “Is this the city that was called ‘The perfection of beauty, The joy of all the earth’?”  
Lm0216 All your enemies Have opened their mouths wide against you; They [scornfully] hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, “We have swallowed her up! Certainly this is the day for which we waited; We have reached it, we have seen it!”  
Lm0217 The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His word Which He commanded from days of old. He has demolished without sparing, And He has caused the enemy to rejoice over you; He has exalted the power of your enemies.  
Lm0218 Their hearts cried out to the Lord. “O wall of the Daughter of Zion, Let your tears run down like a river day and night; Give yourself no relief, Let your eyes have no rest.  
Lm0219 “Arise, cry aloud in the night, At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones Who are faint from hunger At the head of every street.”  
Lm0220 See, O LORD, and look! With whom have You dealt this way? Should women eat their offspring, The little ones who were born healthy and beautiful? Should priest and prophet be killed In the sanctuary of the Lord?  
Lm0221 The young and the old Lie on the ground in the streets; My virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword. You have killed them in the day of Your anger, You have slaughtered, not sparing.  
Lm0222 You [LORD] called as in the day of an appointed feast My terrors (dangers) on every side; And there was no one who escaped or survived In the day of the LORD’S anger. Those I have cared for and brought up with tenderness, My enemy annihilated them.  
Lm0301 I am [Jeremiah] the man who has seen affliction Because of the rod of His wrath.  
Lm0302 He has led me and made me walk In darkness and not in light.  
Lm0303 Surely He has turned His hand against me Repeatedly all the day.  
Lm0304 He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away; He has shattered my bones.  
Lm0305 He has besieged and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.  
Lm0306 He has made me live in dark places Like those who have long been dead.  
Lm0307 He walled me in so that I cannot get out; He has weighted down my chain.  
Lm0308 Even when I cry out and shout for help, He shuts out my prayer.  
Lm0309 He has blocked my ways with cut stone; He has made my paths crooked.  
Lm0310 He is to me like a bear lying in wait, And like a lion [hiding] in secret places.  
Lm0311 He has turned aside my ways and torn me in pieces; He has made me desolate.  
Lm0312 He has bent His bow And set me as a target for the arrow.  
Lm0313 He has caused the arrows of His quiver To enter my inner parts.  
Lm0314 I have become the [object of] ridicule to all my people, And [the subject of] their mocking song all the day.  
Lm0315 He has filled me with bitterness; He has made me drunk with wormwood (bitterness).  
Lm0316 He has broken my teeth with gravel; He has [covered me with ashes and] made me cower in the dust.  
Lm0317 My soul has been cast far away from peace; I have forgotten happiness.  
Lm0318 So I say, “My strength has perished And so has my hope and expectation from the LORD.”  
Lm0319 Remember [O LORD] my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and the gall (bitterness).  
Lm0320 My soul continually remembers them And is bowed down within me.  
Lm0321 But this I call to mind, Therefore I have hope.  
Lm0322 It is because of the LORD’S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail.  
Lm0323 They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.  
Lm0324 “The LORD is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”  
Lm0325 The LORD is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].  
Lm0326 It is good that one waits quietly For the salvation of the LORD.  
Lm0327 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke [of godly discipline] in his youth.  
Lm0328 Let him sit alone [in hope] and keep quiet, Because God has laid it on him [for his benefit].  
Lm0329 Let him put his mouth in the dust [in recognition of his unworthiness]; There may yet be hope.  
Lm0330 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him; Let him be filled with reproach.  
Lm0331 For the Lord will not reject forever,  
Lm0332 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness and tender mercy.  
Lm0333 For He does not afflict willingly and from His heart Or grieve the children of men.  
Lm0334 To trample and crush under His feet All the prisoners of the land,  
Lm0335 To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High,  
Lm0336 To defraud a man in his lawsuit— The Lord does not approve of these things.  
Lm0337 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has authorized and commanded it?  
Lm0338 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both adversity (misfortune) and good (prosperity, happiness) proceed?  
Lm0339 Why should any living mortal, or any man, Complain [of punishment] in view of his sins?  
Lm0340 Let us test and examine our ways, And let us return to the LORD.  
Lm0341 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands [in prayer] Toward God in heaven;  
Lm0342 We have transgressed and rebelled, You have not pardoned.  
Lm0343 You have covered Yourself with anger And pursued us; You have slain [without pity] and have not spared.  
Lm0344 You have covered Yourself with a cloud So that no prayer can pass through.  
Lm0345 You have made us scum and refuse Among the peoples (Gentile nations).  
Lm0346 All our enemies have gaped at us.  
Lm0347 Panic and pitfall (traps, danger) have come on us, Devastation and destruction.  
Lm0348 My eyes overflow with streams of tears Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people (Jerusalem).  
Lm0349 My eyes overflow unceasingly, Without stopping,  
Lm0350 Until the LORD looks down And sees from heaven.  
Lm0351 My eyes [see things that] bring pain to my soul Because of all the daughters of my city.  
Lm0352 Without cause my enemies Hunted me down like a bird;  
Lm0353 They silenced me in the pit And placed a stone over me.  
Lm0354 The waters ran down on my head; I said, “I am cut off (destroyed)!”  
Lm0355 I called on Your name, O LORD, Out of the lowest pit.  
Lm0356 You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help.”  
Lm0357 You drew near on the day I called to You; You said, “Do not fear.”  
Lm0358 O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause [You have guided my way and protected me]; You have rescued and redeemed my life.  
Lm0359 O LORD, You have seen the wrong [done to me]; Judge my case.  
Lm0360 You have seen all their vengeance, All their schemes against me.  
Lm0361 You have heard their reproach, O LORD, And all their schemes against me.  
Lm0362 The lips and whispering of my assailants Are against me all day long.  
Lm0363 Look at their sitting and their rising [their actions and secret counsels]; I am their mocking song [the subject of their ridicule].  
Lm0364 You will repay them, O LORD, According to the work of their hands.  
Lm0365 You will harden their hearts; Your curse will be upon them.  
Lm0366 You will pursue them in anger and destroy them From under the heavens of the LORD.  
Lm0401 How dark and dim the gold has become, How the pure gold has changed! The sacred stones [of the temple] are poured out and scattered At the head of every street.  
Lm0402 The [noble and] precious sons of Zion, [Once] worth their weight in fine gold, How they are regarded [merely] as earthen jars, The work of a potter’s hands!  
Lm0403 Even the jackals offer the breast, They nurse their young; But the daughter of my people has become cruel Like ostriches in the wilderness [that desert their young].  
Lm0404 The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for food, But no one gives it to them.  
Lm0405 Those who feasted on delicacies Are perishing in the streets; Those reared in purple [as nobles] Embrace ash heaps.  
Lm0406 For the [punishment of the] wickedness of the daughter of my people [Jerusalem] Is greater than the [punishment for the] sin of Sodom, Which was overthrown in a moment, And no hands were turned toward her [to offer help].  
Lm0407 Her princes were purer than snow, They were whiter than milk [in appearance]; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Their polishing was like lapis lazuli (sapphire).  
Lm0408 Their appearance is [now] blacker than soot [because of the prolonged famine]; They are not recognized in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones; It is withered, and it has become [dry] like wood.  
Lm0409 Those killed with the sword Are more fortunate than those killed with hunger; For the hungry pine and ebb away, For the lack of the fruits of the field.  
Lm0410 The hands of compassionate women Boiled their own children; They became food for them Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people [Judah].  
Lm0411 The LORD has fulfilled His wrath; He has poured out His fierce anger And has kindled a fire in Zion That has consumed her foundations.  
Lm0412 The kings of the earth did not believe, Nor did any of the inhabitants of the earth, That the adversary (oppressor) and enemy Could enter the gates of Jerusalem.  
Lm0413 Because of the sins of her [counterfeit] prophets And the wickedness of her [unfaithful] priests, Who have shed in her midst The blood of the just and righteous;  
Lm0414 They wandered, blind, in the streets; They were defiled with blood So that no one could touch their garments.  
Lm0415 People cried to them, “Go away! Unclean! Depart! Depart! Do not touch!” So they fled, then they wandered [as fugitives]; People among the nations said, “They shall not stay here any longer with us.”  
Lm0416 The presence of the LORD scattered them [among the nations]; He will not continue to look after them. They did not honor the priests; They did not favor the elders.  
Lm0417 [And as for us,] yet our eyes failed, Looking in vain for help. Watching [from the towers] we watched For a nation that could not save.  
Lm0418 The enemy hunted our steps, So that we could not walk in our streets; Our end drew near, Our days were finished For our end had come.  
Lm0419 Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the sky; They pursued us on the mountains, They waited in ambush for us in the wilderness.  
Lm0420 The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD [our king], Was captured in their snares, He of whom we had said, “Under his shadow We shall live among the nations.”  
Lm0421 Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, Who lives in the land of Uz. But the cup [of the wine of God’s wrath] will pass to you as well; You will become drunk and make yourself naked.  
Lm0422 The punishment of your sin has been completed, O Daughter of Zion; The LORD will no longer send you into exile. But He will punish your sin, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.  
Lm0501 O LORD, remember what has come upon us; Look, and see our reproach (national disgrace)!  
Lm0502 Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, Our houses to foreigners.  
Lm0503 We have become orphans without a father; Our mothers are like widows.  
Lm0504 We have to pay for our drinking water; Our wood comes to us at a price.  
Lm0505 Our pursuers are at our necks; We are worn out, there is no rest for us.  
Lm0506 We have given the hand [as a pledge of fidelity and submission] to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.  
Lm0507 Our fathers sinned, and are no more; It is we who have carried their sin.  
Lm0508 Servants rule over us; There is no one to rescue us out of their hand.  
Lm0509 We get our bread at the risk of our lives Because of the sword [of the Arabs] in the wilderness [who may attack if we go out to harvest the crop].  
Lm0510 Our skin is as hot as [the heat of] an oven Because of the burning heat of [the fever of] famine.  
Lm0511 They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.  
Lm0512 Princes were hung by their hands; Elders were not respected.  
Lm0513 Young men worked at the grinding mill, And boys fell [staggering] under loads of wood.  
Lm0514 Elders are gone from the gate; Young men from their music.  
Lm0515 The joy of our hearts has ended; Our dancing has been turned into mourning.  
Lm0516 The crown has fallen from our head [our honor is covered with dust]! Woe to us, for we have sinned!  
Lm0517 Because of this our heart is faint, Because of these things our eyes are dim.  
Lm0518 As for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, Foxes and the jackals prowl over it.  
Lm0519 But You, O LORD, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to [all] generations.  
Lm0520 Why do You forget us forever? Why do You forsake us so long?  
Lm0521 Return us to You, O LORD, so that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,  
Lm0522 Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us.  
Ez0101 Now it came about [when I was] in my thirtieth year [of life], on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles beside the River Chebar [in Babylonia], the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.  
Ez0102 (On the fifth of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,  
Ez0103 the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD came upon him there.)  
Ez0104 As I looked, I saw a stormy wind coming out of the north, a great cloud with fire flashing continually from it; and a brightness was around it, and in its core [there was] something like glowing [amber-colored] metal in the midst of the fire.  
Ez0105 Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.  
Ez0106 Each one had four faces and four wings.  
Ez0107 Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled and gleamed like shiny bronze.  
Ez0108 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,  
Ez0109 their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.  
Ez0110 Regarding the form and appearance of their faces: they [each] had the face of a man [in front], and each had the face of a lion on the right side, and the face of an ox on the left side; all four also had the face of an eagle [at the back of their heads].  
Ez0111 Such were their faces. Their wings were stretched out upward; two [wings] of each one were touching another [the wings of the beings on either side of it], and [the remaining] two [wings of each being] were covering their bodies.  
Ez0112 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.  
Ez0113 Among the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire.  
Ez0114 And the living beings moved rapidly back and forth like flashes of lightning.  
Ez0115 Now as I looked at the living beings, I saw one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them.  
Ez0116 Regarding the appearance of the wheels and their construction: they gleamed like chrysolite (beryl, olivine); and the four were made alike. Their appearance and construction were a wheel [set at a right angle] within a wheel.  
Ez0117 Whenever they moved, they went in any [one] of their four directions without turning as they moved.  
Ez0118 Regarding their rims: they were so high that they were awesome and dreadful, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around.  
Ez0119 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.  
Ez0120 Wherever the spirit went, the beings went in that direction. And the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit or life of the living beings was in the wheels.  
Ez0121 Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those came to a stop, these came to a stop; and whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.  
Ez0122 Now stretched over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, looking like the terrible and awesome shimmer of icy crystal.  
Ez0123 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. Every living being had two wings which covered its body on one side and on the other side.  
Ez0124 As they moved, I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of great [rushing] waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the sound of tumult like the noise of an army camp. Whenever they came to a stop, they lowered their wings.  
Ez0125 And there was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stopped, they lowered their wings.  
Ez0126 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, it appeared like [it was made of] sapphire or lapis lazuli; and [seated] on that which looked like a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.  
Ez0127 Now upward, from that which appeared to be His waist, I saw something like glowing metal that looked like it was filled with fire all around it; and downward, from that which appeared to be His waist, I saw something like fire; and there was a brightness and a remarkable radiance [like a halo] around Him.  
Ez0128 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory and brilliance of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell face downward and I heard a voice of One speaking.  
Ez0201 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.”  
Ez0202 Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.  
Ez0203 And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day.  
Ez0204 I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’  
Ez0205 As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them.  
Ez0206 And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.  
Ez0207 But you shall speak My words to them whether they will listen or refuse [to listen], for they are [most] rebellious.  
Ez0208 “As for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”  
Ez0209 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out toward me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.  
Ez0210 And He spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back, and written on it were [words of] lamentation (funeral songs) and mourning and woe.  
Ez0301 He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find [in this book]; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.”  
Ez0302 So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.  
Ez0303 He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll that I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.  
Ez0304 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak My words to them.  
Ez0305 For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel,  
Ez0306 not to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you and pay attention to My message;  
Ez0307 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you and obey you, since they are not willing to listen to Me and obey Me, for the entire house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.  
Ez0308 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.  
Ez0309 I have made your forehead like emery (diamond), harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.”  
Ez0310 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and hear with your ears (listen closely).  
Ez0311 Go to the [Jewish] exiles [in Babylon], to the children of your people, and speak to them, whether they listen or not, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez0312 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rushing sound behind me, “Blessed be the glory of the LORD in His place [above the expanse].”  
Ez0313 And then I heard the sound of the wings of the living beings as they touched one another and [I heard] the sound of the wheels beside them, a great rushing sound.  
Ez0314 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went embittered [by the sins of Israel] in the rage of my spirit; and the hand of the LORD was strong on me.  
Ez0315 Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the River Chebar at Tel Abib. I sat there for seven days [in the place] where they were living, overwhelmed with astonishment [by my vision and the work before me].  
Ez0316 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez0317 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.  
Ez0318 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to tell him to turn from his wicked way to save his life, that same evil man will die in his sin, but you will be responsible for his blood.  
Ez0319 However, if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he will die in his sin; but you have freed yourself [from responsibility].  
Ez0320 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness (right standing with God) and sins, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered; but you will be responsible for his blood.  
Ez0321 However, if you have warned the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning; also you have freed yourself [from responsibility].”  
Ez0322 The hand of the LORD was on me there, and He said to me, “Arise, go out to the plain, and I will speak to you.”  
Ez0323 So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory and brilliance of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the River Chebar, and I fell face downward.  
Ez0324 Then the Spirit entered me and made me stand on my feet; He spoke and said to me, “Go, shut yourself up in your house.  
Ez0325 As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and bind you with them so that you cannot go out among them.  
Ez0326 And I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you cannot talk and you cannot be a man who rebukes the people, for they are a rebellious house.  
Ez0327 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses [to hear], let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.  
Ez0401 “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you and inscribe on it [a diagram of] the city of Jerusalem.  
Ez0402 Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise a ramp against it; set up [enemy] camps and place battering rams all around it.  
Ez0403 Further, take an iron plate and place it as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This is a sign to the house of Israel.  
Ez0404 “Then lie down on your left side (toward the north) to bear [symbolically] the wickedness and punishment of the house of Israel. You shall bear their wickedness and punishment for the number of days that you lie on your side.  
Ez0405 For I have assigned you the years of their wickedness and punishment, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days [representing three hundred and ninety years]; in this way you shall bear [symbolically] the wickedness and punishment of the house of Israel.  
Ez0406 When you have completed these [days for Israel], lie down again, but on your right side (toward the south), and you shall bear the wickedness and punishment of the house of Judah forty days. I have assigned you one day for each year.  
Ez0407 Then you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it.  
Ez0408 Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.  
Ez0409 “But as for you, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, and put them into one vessel and make them into bread for yourself. You shall eat it according to the number of the days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days.  
Ez0410 The food you eat each day shall be [measured] by weight, twenty shekels, to be eaten daily at a set time.  
Ez0411 You shall drink water by measure also, the sixth part of a hin; you shall drink daily at a set time.  
Ez0412 You shall eat your food as barley cakes, having baked it in their sight over human dung.”  
Ez0413 Then the LORD said, “Thus the children of Israel will eat their bread unclean and defiled among the nations where I will banish them.”  
Ez0414 But I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold (hear me), I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died on its own or was torn by beasts, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth.”  
Ez0415 Then He said to me, “See, I will let you use cow’s dung instead of human dung over which you shall prepare your food.”  
Ez0416 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, behold (listen carefully), I am going to break the staff of bread [that supports life] in Jerusalem; and they shall eat bread [rationed] by weight and [eat it] with anxiety and fear, and drink water by measure and [drink it] in horror [of the impending starvation],  
Ez0417 because bread and water will be scarce; and they will look at one another in dismay and waste away [in punishment] for their wickedness.  
Ez0501 “And you [Ezekiel], son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor and shave your head and your beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair [into three parts].  
Ez0502 You shall burn one third with fire in the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.  
Ez0503 Also take some of them and bind them in the edges of your robes.  
Ez0504 Again take some hair and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.  
Ez0505 “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the center of the nations, and countries are around her.  
Ez0506 And she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the [pagan] nations and against My statutes more than the countries that are around her; for Israel has rejected My ordinances and has not walked in My statutes.’  
Ez0507 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have more turmoil than the nations which surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor kept My ordinances, nor observed the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’  
Ez0508 therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I, I Myself, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.  
Ez0509 And because of all your abominations, I will do among you that which I have not done, and the like of which I will not do again.  
Ez0510 Therefore, fathers will eat their sons among you, and sons will eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments on you and I will scatter to all the winds the remnant of you.  
Ez0511 So, as I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you and withdraw, and My eye will have no pity and I will not spare [you].  
Ez0512 One third of you will die of virulent disease or be consumed by famine among you; one third will fall by the sword around you; and one third I will scatter to all the winds, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.  
Ez0513 ‘Thus My anger will come to an end and I will satisfy My wrath on them, and I will be appeased; then they will know [without any doubt] that I the LORD have spoken in My zeal when I have spent My wrath on them.  
Ez0514 Moreover, I will make you a desolation and a disgrace among the nations which surround you and in the sight of all who pass by.  
Ez0515 So it will be a disgrace, a taunt, a warning and an object of horror to the [pagan] nations who surround you when I execute judgments against you in anger and in wrath and in raging reprimands—I, the LORD, have spoken.  
Ez0516 When I send against them the deadly arrows of hunger which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will increase the famine upon you and break your staff of bread.  
Ez0517 Further, I will send against you hunger and wild beasts, and they will bereave you of children; virulent disease and bloodshed also will pass through you, and I will bring the sword on you. I, the LORD, have spoken.’”  
Ez0601 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez0602 “Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them,  
Ez0603 and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places [of idolatrous worship],  
Ez0604 and your altars will become deserted and your pillars for sun-worship will be smashed in pieces; and I will throw down your slain in front of your idols [that cannot bring them back to life].  
Ez0605 I will also lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel in front of their [Canaanite] idols; and I will scatter your bones all around your altars.  
Ez0606 Everywhere you live, the cities will become waste and the high places will become deserted, so that your altars may bear their guilt and become deserted, your idols may be broken and destroyed, your incense altars [for sun-worship] may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out.  
Ez0607 The slain will fall among you, then you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez0608 “Yet I will leave some of you alive [a remnant], for you will have some who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered throughout the countries.  
Ez0609 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be exiled, how I have been broken by their lewdness and their adulterous hearts which have turned away from Me, and by their eyes which lust after their idols; and they will loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed, for all their repulsive acts.  
Ez0610 Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would bring this disaster [as punishment] on them.”’  
Ez0611 “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Strike with your fist, stamp with your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil atrocities of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, by famine, and by virulent disease!  
Ez0612 He who is far away will die of the virulent disease, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus I will spend My wrath on them.  
Ez0613 Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every leafy tree and under every oak with thick branches, the places where they offered sweet incense and a soothing aroma to all their idols.  
Ez0614 And I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land a more desolate waste than the wilderness toward Diblah [the Moabite city], throughout all the places where they live; and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’”  
Ez0701 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez0702 “Also, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel, ‘An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land.  
Ez0703 Now the end is upon you, and I will send My anger against you and will judge you in accordance with your ways and I will bring [retribution for] all your abominations upon you.  
Ez0704 For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will repay you for your evil ways, while your abominations are among you; and you will know (recognize, understand) [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’  
Ez0705 “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘A disaster is coming, [one so destructive and injurious, so sudden and violent, that it stands alone,] a unique disaster, look it is coming!  
Ez0706 An end is coming; the end has come! It has awakened against you. Look, it has come!  
Ez0707 Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land; the time has come, the day is near—tumult rather than joyful shouting on the mountains.  
Ez0708 Now I will soon pour out My wrath on you and spend My anger against you, and I will judge you in accordance with your ways and will repay you [with punishment] for all your outrageous acts.  
Ez0709 My eye will show no pity nor will I spare [you]. I will repay you in accordance with your ways, while your abominations are in your midst; then you will know and understand that it is I, the LORD, who strikes you.  
Ez0710 ‘Behold, the day! Behold, it is coming! Your doom has gone forth, the rod has blossomed, arrogance has sprouted.  
Ez0711 Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness; none of them (Israel) will remain, none of their people, none of their wealth, nor anything eminent among them.  
Ez0712 The time has come, the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn, for wrath is against all their multitude [of people].  
Ez0713 For the seller will not regain and return to what he sold, even were they yet alive; for the vision [of punishment] regarding all the multitude [of people] will not be turned back, nor will any one of them sustain his life because of his sin.  
Ez0714 ‘They have blown the trumpet and have made everything ready, but no one is going to the battle, for My wrath is against all their multitude [of people].  
Ez0715 The sword is outside and virulent disease and famine are within. He who is in the field will die by the sword, and famine and disease will devour those in the city.  
Ez0716 Even when their survivors escape, they will be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each over his [punishment for] sin.  
Ez0717 All hands will hang limp and all knees will be as weak as water.  
Ez0718 They will also cover themselves with sackcloth; horror will overwhelm them, and shame will be on all faces and baldness on all their heads [as evidence of grief].  
Ez0719 They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will be [discarded] like something unclean; their silver and their gold shall not be able to save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. These [things] cannot satisfy their soul nor fill their stomachs, for they have become their stumbling block and source of sin.  
Ez0720 As for the beauty of [gold for] ornaments, they turned it to pride and from it made the images of their repulsive things (idols) and of their vile things. Therefore I will make it an unclean thing to them.  
Ez0721 I will give it into the hands of strangers (Babylonians) as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they shall profane it.  
Ez0722 I will also turn My face away from them, and they will desecrate My secret treasure (the Jerusalem temple); and robbers will enter [irreverently] into it (the Holy of Holies) and violate it.  
Ez0723 ‘Prepare the chain [for imprisonment], for the land is full of bloody crimes [murders committed under the pretense of civil justice] and the city is full of violence.  
Ez0724 Therefore, I will bring the worst of the [Gentile] nations, and they will take possession of their houses [those of the people of Judah]; I will also silence their pride, and their holy places will be profaned.  
Ez0725 When anguish comes, they [of Judah] shall seek peace, but there will be none.  
Ez0726 Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be heaped on rumor; they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law and guidance will be lost from the priest and [wise] counsel [will cease] from the elders.  
Ez0727 The king [of Judah] will mourn and the prince (Zedekiah) will be clothed with [garments of] despair and anguish, and the hands of the people of the land shall tremble [in terror]. I will deal with them in accordance with their conduct, and by their judgments I will judge them. And they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’”  
Ez0801 It came about in the sixth year [of the captivity of King Jehoiachin], on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I sat in my house [near Babylon] with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there.  
Ez0802 Then I looked, and behold, a likeness [of a man] with the appearance of fire; from His loins downward He was like fire, and from His loins upward He had the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal (bronze).  
Ez0803 He stretched out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of hair on my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner courtyard, where the seat of the idol (image) of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located.  
Ez0804 And behold, the glory and brilliance of the God of Israel [who had loved and chosen them] was there, like the vision which I saw in the plain.  
Ez0805 Then He said to me, “Son of man, now raise your eyes toward the north.” So I looked toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol (image) of jealousy at the entrance.  
Ez0806 Furthermore, He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great repulsive acts which the house of Israel is committing here, to drive Me far away from My sanctuary? But you will again see greater repulsive acts.”  
Ez0807 Then He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard; and when I looked, behold, [there was] a hole in the wall.  
Ez0808 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” And when I had dug into the wall, behold, there was an entrance.  
Ez0809 And He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked, repulsive acts that they are committing here.”  
Ez0810 So I entered and looked, and saw every kind of creeping things and beasts and loathsome things, and all the idols of the house of Israel, carved all around on the wall.  
Ez0811 Standing before these [images] were seventy elders of the house of Israel, and among them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan [the scribe], each man with his censer in his hand and a thick and fragrant cloud of incense was rising [as they prayed to these gods].  
Ez0812 Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each man in his [secret] room of carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has abandoned the land.’”  
Ez0813 He also said to me, “Yet again you will see even greater repulsive acts which they are committing.”  
Ez0814 Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the LORD’S house; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.  
Ez0815 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater repulsive acts than these [that they are committing].”  
Ez0816 So He brought me to the inner court of the LORD’S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch (vestibule, portico) and the [bronze] altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing down toward the east and worshiping the sun.  
Ez0817 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too slight a thing for the house of Judah to commit the repulsive acts which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and repeatedly provoked Me to anger? And behold, they are putting the branch to their nose.  
Ez0818 Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare [them]; and though they cry loudly in My ears, yet I will not listen to them.”  
Ez0901 Then [in my vision] I heard Him cry out with a thunderous voice, saying, “Approach now, executioners of the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.”  
Ez0902 Behold, six men [angelic beings] came from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing case at his side. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.  
Ez0903 Then the [Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the God of Israel (the cloud) went up from the cherubim on which it had rested, to [stand above] the threshold of the [LORD’S] temple. And the LORD called to the man clothed with linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side.  
Ez0904 The LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, throughout all of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh [in distress] and grieve over all the repulsive acts which are being committed in it.”  
Ez0905 But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him [the man with the scribe’s writing case] throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare [anyone].  
Ez0906 Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women; but do not touch or go near anyone on whom is the mark. Begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple [who did not have the LORD’S mark on their foreheads].  
Ez0907 And He said to the executioners, “Defile the temple and fill its courtyards with the dead. Go out!” So they went out and struck down the people in the city.  
Ez0908 As they were executing them and I alone was left, I fell face downward and cried out, “Alas, Lord GOD! Will You destroy all that is left of Israel [the whole remnant] by pouring out Your wrath and indignation on Jerusalem?”  
Ez0909 Then He said to me, “The wickedness (guilt) of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of blood and the city is full of perversion and injustice; for they say, ‘The LORD has abandoned the land; the LORD does not see [what we are doing].’  
Ez0910 But as for Me, My eye will have no pity, nor will I spare, but I will bring their [wicked] conduct upon their [own] heads.”  
Ez0911 Then behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing case at his side, reported, “I have done just as You have commanded me.”  
Ez1001 Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse (firmament) that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared something [glorious and brilliant] above them looking like a [huge] sapphire stone, formed to resemble a throne.  
Ez1002 And the LORD spoke to the man (seventh angel) clothed in linen and said, “Go between the whirling wheels under the cherubim; fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And he entered as I watched.  
Ez1003 Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered; and a cloud [the Shekinah glory of God] filled the inner courtyard.  
Ez1004 Then the glory and brilliance of the LORD moved upward from the cherubim to [rest over] the threshold of the temple; and the temple was filled with the cloud and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the LORD’S glory.  
Ez1005 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard [even] as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.  
Ez1006 It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” the man entered and stood beside a wheel.  
Ez1007 Then a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between [the four of] them, and took some [of it] and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and departed.  
Ez1008 Beneath their wings the cherubim seemed to have [something in] the form of a man’s hand.  
Ez1009 Then I looked and behold, [there were] four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub and another wheel beside each other cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like a sparkling Tarshish stone (beryl).  
Ez1010 As for their appearance, all four looked alike, as if one wheel were within another wheel.  
Ez1011 When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went.  
Ez1012 Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around, even the wheels belonging to all four of them.  
Ez1013 Regarding the wheels [attached to them], I heard them called, “the whirling (rolling, revolving) wheels.”  
Ez1014 And each one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.  
Ez1015 Then the cherubim rose upward. They are the [same four] living beings [regarded as one] that I saw by the River Chebar [in Babylonia].  
Ez1016 Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the earth, the wheels would remain beside them.  
Ez1017 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose upward, the wheels would rise with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in these [wheels].  
Ez1018 Then the [Shekinah] glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and rested over the cherubim.  
Ez1019 As I looked at them, the cherubim lifted up their wings and rose up from the earth, they departed with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory and brilliance of the God of Israel hovered over them.  
Ez1020 These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the River Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.  
Ez1021 Each one had four faces and each one had four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands.  
Ez1022 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the River Chebar. Each one went straight forward.  
Ez1101 Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the LORD’S house, which faced eastward. And behold, at the entrance of the gate there were twenty-five men; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.  
Ez1102 Then the Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise evil and give wicked advice in this city,  
Ez1103 who say, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? This city is [secure just like] the pot and we are the meat [in it].’  
Ez1104 Therefore, prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man!”  
Ez1105 Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “This is what you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts.  
Ez1106 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the corpses [of righteous men].”  
Ez1107 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “Your dead whom you have laid in the midst of your city are the meat and this city is the pot; but I shall force you out of [the security of] it.  
Ez1108 You have feared the sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1109 “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city and hand you over to strangers and execute judgment against you.  
Ez1110 You will fall by the sword; I will judge and punish you [in front of your neighbors] at the border of [the land of] Israel; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez1111 This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat [safe] in it, but I will judge you at the border of Israel.  
Ez1112 And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you.”’”  
Ez1113 Now it came about while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell face downward and cried out loudly, “Alas, Lord GOD! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”  
Ez1114 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1115 “Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those to whom the [present] inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’  
Ez1116 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Though I had removed Israel far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary for them for a little while in the countries to which they had gone.”’  
Ez1117 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give [back] to you the land of Israel.”’  
Ez1118 When they return there, they will remove from it all [traces of] its detestable things and all its repulsive things (remnants of paganism).  
Ez1119 And I will give them one heart [a new heart], and put a new spirit within them. I will take from them the heart of stone, and will give them a heart of flesh [that is responsive to My touch],  
Ez1120 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.  
Ez1121 But as for those whose heart longs for and follows after their detestable things and their repulsive things [associated with idolatry], on their own head I will repay [them in full for] their [vile] conduct,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1122 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the [Shekinah] glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.  
Ez1123 Then the glory and brilliance of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and paused over the mountain, [the Mount of Olives] which is east of the city.  
Ez1124 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Chaldea (Babylonia). Then the vision that I had seen left me.  
Ez1125 Then I told the exiles everything that the LORD had shown me.  
Ez1201 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,  
Ez1202 “Son of man, you live among a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious people.  
Ez1203 Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for exile, and move into exile during the day when they will see you; even go into exile from your place to another place as they watch. Perhaps they will understand even though they are a rebellious people.  
Ez1204 Bring your provisions and supplies out during the day as they watch, as provisions and supplies for [going into] exile. Then you shall go out at evening as they watch, as those going into exile.  
Ez1205 Dig through the wall as they watch and go out through the hole.  
Ez1206 As they look on, load the provisions and supplies on your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel.”  
Ez1207 I did as I had been commanded. I brought out my provisions and supplies during the day, like the provisions and supplies of an exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I brought out my provisions and supplies in the dark, carrying it on my shoulder as they watched.  
Ez1208 In the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1209 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, asked you, ‘What you are doing?’  
Ez1210 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “This oracle (a burden to be carried) concerns the prince (Zedekiah) in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are there.”’  
Ez1211 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.’  
Ez1212 The prince who is among them will load his provisions and supplies on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to go out. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes.  
Ez1213 I will also spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.  
Ez1214 I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them.  
Ez1215 So they will know and understand fully that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the [pagan] countries.  
Ez1216 But I will leave a few [survivors] who will escape the sword, the famine, and the virulent disease, that they may confess all their repulsive (idolatrous) acts among the nations where they go, and may know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”  
Ez1217 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1218 “Son of man, eat your bread with anxiety, and drink your water with trembling and with fear.  
Ez1219 Then say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped and looted of its fullness because of the violence of all those who live in it.  
Ez1220 The cities that are inhabited will be in ruins and the land will be deserted; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’”  
Ez1221 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1222 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’?  
Ez1223 Therefore tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.  
Ez1224 For there will no longer be any false and empty vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.  
Ez1225 For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be accomplished. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and I will fulfill it,” says the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez1226 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1227 “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of the times that are far off.’  
Ez1228 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be fulfilled completely,”’” says the Lord God.  
Ez1301 And the word of the LORD came to me saying,  
Ez1302 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!  
Ez1303 Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe (judgment is coming) to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit [claiming to have seen things] but have [in fact] seen nothing.  
Ez1304 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among the ruins.  
Ez1305 You have not gone up into the gaps or breaches, nor built the wall around the house of Israel that it might stand in the battle on the day of the LORD.  
Ez1306 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, saying, ‘The LORD says,’ but the LORD has not sent them. Yet they hope and make men to hope for the confirmation of their word.  
Ez1307 Did you not see (make up) a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The LORD declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”  
Ez1308 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “Because you have spoken empty and delusive words and have seen lies, therefore behold, I am against you,” says the Lord God.  
Ez1309 “So My hand will be against the [counterfeit] prophets who see (make up) empty and delusive visions and who give lying prophecies. They will have no place in the [secret] council of My people, nor will they be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter into the land of Israel, that you may know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.  
Ez1310 It is definitely because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because when one builds a [flimsy] wall, behold, these [lying] prophets plaster it over with whitewash;  
Ez1311 so tell those who plaster it with whitewash, that it will fall! A flooding rain [of judgment] will come, and you, O [great] hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will tear the wall apart.  
Ez1312 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the coating with which you [prophets] plastered it?’”  
Ez1313 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath, and there will be in My anger an overwhelming rain and great hailstones to destroy [that wall] in wrath.  
Ez1314 So I will tear down the wall which you have plastered with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundations will be exposed; when it falls, you will perish in its midst. And you shall know and understand fully that I am the LORD.  
Ez1315 Thus I will expend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with whitewash and I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone,  
Ez1316 along with the [false] prophets of Israel who prophesy [deceitfully] to Jerusalem, and who see [false] visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1317 “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are prophesying out of [the wishful thinking of] their own mind (inspiration). Prophesy against them  
Ez1318 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the women who fasten magic (protective) charms on all wrists and make veils for the heads of those of every stature to capture [human] lives! Will you capture the lives of My people but keep your own?  
Ez1319 You have profaned Me among My people [in payment] for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die and giving [a guarantee of] life to those who should not live, because of your lies to My people who pay attention to lies.”’”  
Ez1320 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against your magic bands [and veils] by which you hunt [human] lives as birds and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the lives you hunt go free, even those lives whom you hunt as birds.  
Ez1321 I will also tear off your [pagan] veils and rescue My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your grip to be hunted and trapped. Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez1322 Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life,  
Ez1323 therefore, you women will no longer see false visions or practice divinations, and I will rescue My people from your hand. Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”  
Ez1401 Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me [seeking an oracle from God] and sat down before me.  
Ez1402 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1403 “Son of man, these men have set up [and honored] their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the [vile] stumbling block of their wickedness and guilt; should I [permit Myself to] be consulted by them at all?  
Ez1404 Therefore speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Any man of the house of Israel who takes his idols [of rebellion] into his heart, and puts the [vile] stumbling block of his wickedness and guilt [images of silver and gold] before his face, and yet comes to the prophet [to ask of him], I the LORD will answer him, [but I will answer him] in accordance with the number of his idols,  
Ez1405 in order that I may take hold of the heart (mind) of the house of Israel who are all estranged from Me because of their idols.”’  
Ez1406 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your disgusting and vile acts.  
Ez1407 For anyone of the house of Israel or among the strangers who immigrate to Israel who separates himself from Me, taking his idols into his heart, and puts right before his face the [vile] stumbling block of his wickedness and guilt, and [then] comes to the prophet to ask of Me for himself, I the LORD will answer him Myself.  
Ez1408 I will set My face against that man [that hypocrite] and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez1409 “But if the prophet [who speaks without My authority] is enticed to speak a word [of his own], it is I the LORD who have caused that prophet [to speak falsely to please the inquirer, thus allowing himself to be a party to the inquirer’s sin], and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.  
Ez1410 They [both] will bear the punishment of their wickedness; the sin of the [counterfeit] prophet will be the same as the sin of the [hypocritical] inquirer,  
Ez1411 so that the house of Israel may no longer drift away from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions, but they will be My people, and I will be their God,”’ says the Lord GOD.”  
Ez1412 The word of the LORD came [again] to me, saying,  
Ez1413 “Son of man, if a land sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it and destroy its source of bread and send famine on it and cut off from it both man and animal,  
Ez1414 even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that land, by their own righteousness (right standing with God) they could only save (deliver) themselves,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1415 “If I were to cause predatory beasts to pass through the land and they ravaged it and depopulated it of children, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through because of the predators,  
Ez1416 though these three men were in the land, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate (ruined, deserted).  
Ez1417 Or if I were to bring a sword on that land and say, ‘Let a sword go through the land and cut off man and animal from it,’  
Ez1418 even though these three men were in the land, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be saved.  
Ez1419 Or if I should send a virulent disease into that land and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and animal from it,  
Ez1420 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they could not save either their son or their daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness [that is, their right-standing with God—their moral and spiritual integrity].”  
Ez1421 For thus says the Lord GOD, “How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem—sword, famine, predatory beasts, and virulent disease—to cut off man and animal from it!  
Ez1422 Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it [escaping the judgments], both sons and daughters. Listen carefully, they are going to come out to you [in Babylon] and you will see their [wicked] conduct and [despicable] actions; then you will be at peace in regard to the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought on it [has been deserved].  
Ez1423 Then they will reassure you [in regard to the appropriateness of the judgments] when you see their [heinous] conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done without cause whatever I did to it,” declares the Lord GOD.  
Ez1501 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1502 “Son of man, how is the wood of the grapevine (Israel) better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?  
Ez1503 Can wood be taken from it to make any object? Or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?  
Ez1504 If it has been thrown into the fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and the middle section has been charred, is it suitable or useful for anything?  
Ez1505 Notice this, even when it was complete, it was not useful and was not made into anything. How much less, after the fire has burned [part of] it and [the remainder of] it is charred, can it still be made into anything?  
Ez1506 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Like the wood of the grapevine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the people of Jerusalem;  
Ez1507 and I set My face against them. Though they have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them.  
Ez1508 I will make the land desolate (ruined, deserted), because they have acted unfaithfully [through their idolatry],’ says the Lord GOD.”  
Ez1601   Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,   
Ez1602 “Son of man, make Jerusalem understand [the heinous and vile nature of] her repulsive (idolatrous) acts  
Ez1603 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem (all of Israel), “Your [spiritual] origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite; your [spiritual] father was an Amorite and your [spiritual] mother a Hittite.  
Ez1604 And as for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing, nor were you rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths.  
Ez1605 No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out in the open field, for you were loathed on the day that you were born.  
Ez1606 “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your [newborn] blood, I said to you while you were there in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were there in your blood, ‘Live!’  
Ez1607 I made you (Israel) multiply like plants [which grow] in the field, and you grew up and became tall and you reached the age for [wearing] fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown, yet you were naked and bare.  
Ez1608 “Then I passed by you [again] and looked on you; behold, you were maturing and at the time for love, and I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore [an oath] to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord GOD, “and you became Mine.”  
Ez1609 “Then I washed you with water; yes, I [thoroughly] washed away from you the [clinging] blood and anointed you with oil.  
Ez1610 I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.  
Ez1611 I adorned you with ornaments and I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck.  
Ez1612 I also put a ring in your nostril and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.  
Ez1613 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was [made] of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil; so you were extremely beautiful and you advanced and prospered into royalty.  
Ez1614 Then your fame went out among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My majesty and splendor which I bestowed on you,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1615 “But you trusted in and relied on your beauty and prostituted yourself [in idolatry and its debauched rituals] because of your fame, and you poured out your immoralities on every [willing] passer-by and your beauty was his [as you worshiped the idols of the Gentile nations].  
Ez1616 You took some of your clothes and made for yourself [decorated] high places and shrines of various colors and prostituted yourself on them—things which should never have come about and taken place.  
Ez1617 You also took your beautiful jewels and beautiful vessels made of My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men so that you could prostitute yourself with them;  
Ez1618 and you took your embroidered clothing and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them.  
Ez1619 Also My bread which I gave you, [made from the] fine flour and oil and honey with which I fed you, you even offered it before idols [no better than cow dung] as a sweet and soothing aroma; so it happened,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1620 “Moreover, you took your sons and your daughters whom you had borne to Me, and you destroyed them as sacrifices [to your man-made gods]. Were your gross immoralities so small a matter?  
Ez1621 You slaughtered My children and offered them up to [worthless] idols, forcing them to pass through the [hideousness of the] fire.  
Ez1622 And in all your repulsive acts and prostitutions (idolatrous immoralities) you did not [pause to] remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, squirming in your [newborn] blood.  
Ez1623 “Then it came about after all your wickedness (‘Woe, woe to you!’ says the Lord GOD),  
Ez1624 that you built yourself an altar for prostitution and made yourself a high place [for ritual prostitution] in every square [of Jerusalem].  
Ez1625 At the beginning of every street you built your high place and made your beauty repulsive; and you offered your body to every passer-by and multiplied your obscene immorality.  
Ez1626 You also prostituted yourself with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors [by embracing their pagan rituals], and you multiplied your obscene immorality to provoke Me to anger.  
Ez1627 Behold now [listen very carefully], I have stretched out My hand against you, reduced your portion, and handed you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your infamous behavior.  
Ez1628 You prostituted yourself with the Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you prostituted yourself with them and still were not satisfied.  
Ez1629 Moreover, you increased your obscene immorality with the land of tradesmen, Chaldea (Babylonia), and yet even with this you were not satisfied.”’”  
Ez1630 “How weakened by longing and lust is your heart (mind),” says the Lord GOD, “while you do all these things, the actions of a bold and brazen prostitute.  
Ez1631 When you built your shrine altar for prostitution at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every public square, you were not like a prostitute because you refused payment.  
Ez1632 You adulterous wife, who welcomes and receives strangers instead of her husband!  
Ez1633 Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you give your gifts to all your lovers, bribing the pagan nations to come to you [as allies] from every direction for your obscene immoralities.  
Ez1634 And you are different from other [unfaithful] women in your promiscuity, in that no one follows you to lure you into prostitution, and because you give money and no money is given you; in this way you are different.”  
Ez1635 Therefore, O prostitute [Israel], hear the word of the LORD.  
Ez1636 Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your obscene immoralities with your lovers (pagan allies), and with all your [repulsive] idols, and because of the blood of your sons that you gave to them,  
Ez1637 therefore, listen, I will gather all your lovers (pagan allies) with whom you took pleasure, and all those whom you loved with all those whom you hated; I will even gather them against you from every direction and will expose your nakedness to them that they may see all your nakedness [making you, Israel, an object of loathing and of mockery, a spectacle among the nations].  
Ez1638 And I [the Lord GOD] will judge you like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.  
Ez1639 I will also hand you over to your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and they will leave you naked and bare.  
Ez1640 They will also incite a crowd against you and they will stone you and slaughter you with their swords.  
Ez1641 They will burn down your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women (Gentile nations). Then I will make you cease your prostitution, and you will no longer hire your lovers.  
Ez1642 So I will calm My wrath toward you and My jealousy [resulting from being denied what is rightfully and uniquely mine] will turn away from you; I will be pacified and no longer angry.  
Ez1643 Because you have not remembered the days of your youth but have enraged Me with all these things, therefore, I in turn will bring your conduct down on your own head,” says the Lord GOD, “so that you will not commit this lewdness on top of all your other repulsive acts.  
Ez1644 “Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’  
Ez1645 You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her children. You are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your [spiritual] mother was a Hittite and your [spiritual] father an Amorite.  
Ez1646 Now your older sister is Samaria, she with her daughters (outlying cities) who live north of you; and your younger sister is Sodom, she with her daughters who live south of you.  
Ez1647 Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or behaved in accordance with their pagan practices; but, as if that were too little, you [soon] acted more corruptly in all your ways than they.  
Ez1648 As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.  
Ez1649 Behold, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters (outlying cities) had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.  
Ez1650 They were haughty and committed repulsive acts before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.  
Ez1651 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, but you have greatly increased your repulsive acts more than they. So you have made your [wicked] sisters [Samaria and Sodom] appear righteous and justified by [comparison to] all the disgusting things which you have done.  
Ez1652 Also bear your disgrace [as punishment], having made judgment favorable for your sisters, for [you virtually absolved them] because of your sins in which you behaved more repulsively than they; they are more in the right than you. Yes, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you made your [pagan] sisters seem righteous.  
Ez1653 “Nevertheless, I will restore them [again] from their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters (outlying cities), the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them [I will restore you from] your own captivity [in the day of the Lord GOD],  
Ez1654 so that you [Judah] will bear your humiliation and disgrace, and be [thoroughly] ashamed for all [the wickedness] that you have done to console and comfort them.  
Ez1655 Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former state; and you and your daughters will return to your former state.  
Ez1656 For [the name of] your sister Sodom was not mentioned by you [except as a byword] in the day of your pride [when David ruled],  
Ez1657 before your [own] wickedness was uncovered. Now you have become an object of reproach and a byword for the daughters of Aram and of Edom and all who are around her, and for the daughters of the Philistines—those surrounding you who despise you.  
Ez1658 You have borne [the penalty of] your lewdness and your repulsive acts,” says the LORD.  
Ez1659 Yes, thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.  
Ez1660 “Nevertheless, I will remember [with compassion] My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.  
Ez1661 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant [with Me].  
Ez1662 And I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD,  
Ez1663 so that you may remember [in detail] and be ashamed and never open your mouth again because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1701 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1702 “Son of man, ask a riddle and tell a parable to the house of Israel,  
Ez1703 saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar) with great wings, long pinions and a rich plumage of many colors came to Lebanon (Jerusalem) and took away the top of the cedar (Judah).  
Ez1704 He broke off the topmost of its young twigs (young King Jehoiachin) and carried it to a land of traders (Babylonia); he set it in a city of merchants (Babylon).  
Ez1705 He also took some of the seed of the land (Zedekiah, of the royal family) and planted it in fertile soil and a fruitful field; he placed it beside abundant waters and set it like a willow tree.  
Ez1706 Then it sprouted and grew and became a low, spreading vine whose branches turned [in submission] toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.  
Ez1707 “There was [also] another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, this vine (Zedekiah) bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him, away from the beds where it was planted, for him to water.  
Ez1708 It was planted in good soil where water was plentiful for it to produce leaves and branches and to bear fruit, so that it might become a splendid vine.”’  
Ez1709 Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Ask, “Will it thrive? Will he (Nebuchadnezzar) not uproot it and strip off its fruit so that all its sprouting leaves will wither? It will not take a strong arm or many people to uproot it [ending Israel’s national existence].  
Ez1710 Though it is planted, will it thrive and grow? Will it not completely wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the beds where it grew.”’”  
Ez1711 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez1712 “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know (realize) what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Hear this, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king [Jehoiachin] and its princes and brought them with him to Babylon.  
Ez1713 And he took a member of the royal family [the king’s uncle, Zedekiah] and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took the important leaders of the land,  
Ez1714 so that the kingdom would be in subjection, unable to restore itself and rise again, but that by keeping his covenant it might continue.  
Ez1715 But Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant [with Babylon] and [still] escape?  
Ez1716 As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘surely in the country of the king (Nebuchadnezzar) who made Zedekiah [the vassal] king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon Zedekiah shall die.  
Ez1717 Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in the war, when they (the Babylonians) put up ramps and build siege walls to destroy many lives.  
Ez1718 Now Zedekiah dishonored the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’”  
Ez1719 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, I will bring down on his own head My oath [made on My behalf by Nebuchadnezzar] which Zedekiah dishonored and My covenant which he broke.  
Ez1720 I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare; and I will bring him to Babylon and will enter into judgment with him there for his treason which he has committed against Me.  
Ez1721 All the choice men [from Judah] in all his troops will fall by the sword, and those that survive will be scattered to every wind; and you will know [without any doubt] that I the LORD have spoken.”  
Ez1722 Thus says the Lord GOD, “I Myself will take a twig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.  
Ez1723 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel, that it may grow boughs and bear fruit and be a noble and stately cedar. And birds of every kind will live under it; they will nest [securely] in the shade of its branches.  
Ez1724 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will fulfill it.”  
Ez1801 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,  
Ez1802 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers eat sour grapes [they sin], But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?  
Ez1803 As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you are certainly not going to use this proverb [as an excuse] in Israel anymore.  
Ez1804 Behold (pay close attention), all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.  
Ez1805 “But if a man is righteous (keeps the law) and practices justice and righteousness,  
Ez1806 and does not eat [at the pagan shrines] on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her [monthly] time of impurity—  
Ez1807 if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,  
Ez1808 if he does not charge interest or take a percentage of increase [on what he lends in compassion], if he keeps his hand from sin and executes true justice between man and man,  
Ez1809 if he walks in My statutes and [keeps] My ordinances so as to act with integrity; [then] he is [truly] righteous and shall certainly live,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez1810 “If he is the father of a violent son who sheds blood, and who does any of these things to a brother  
Ez1811 (though the father did not do any of these things), that is, the son even eats [the food set before idols] at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,  
Ez1812 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore [to the debtor] his pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols, and commits repulsive acts,  
Ez1813 and charges interest and takes [a percentage of] increase on what he has loaned; will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these disgusting things, he shall surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.  
Ez1814 “Now behold, if this [wicked] man has a son who has observed all the sins which his father committed, and considers [thoughtfully what he has observed] and does not do like his father:  
Ez1815 He does not eat [food set before idols] at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife,  
Ez1816 or oppress anyone, or take anything in pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,  
Ez1817 he keeps his hand from [oppressing] the poor, does not receive interest or increase [from the needy], but executes My ordinances and walks in My statutes; he shall not die for the sin (guilt) of his father; he shall certainly live.  
Ez1818 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his sin.  
Ez1819 “Yet do you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s sin?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and has done them, he shall certainly live.  
Ez1820 The person who sins [is the one that] will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the sin of the father, nor will the father bear the punishment for the sin of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on himself.  
Ez1821 “But if the wicked man turns [away] from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.  
Ez1822 All of his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced [for his moral and spiritual integrity in every area and relationship], he will live.  
Ez1823 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” says the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn [away] from his [malevolent] acts and live?  
Ez1824 “But when the righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin and acts in accordance with all the repulsive things that the wicked man does, will he live? All of his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered because of the treachery that he has committed and for his sin which he has committed; for them he shall die.  
Ez1825 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?  
Ez1826 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin and dies because of it, it is for his sin which he has committed that he dies.  
Ez1827 Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.  
Ez1828 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.  
Ez1829 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right!’ O house of Israel, are My ways not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?  
Ez1830 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each one in accordance with his conduct,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent (change your way of thinking) and turn away from all your transgressions, so that sin may not become a stumbling block to you.  
Ez1831 Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed [against Me], and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, O house of Israel?  
Ez1832 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live!”  
Ez1901 “As for you, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the princes of Israel  
Ez1902 and say, ‘What was your mother [Jerusalem and Judah]? A lioness among lions! She lay down among young lions, She reared her cubs.  
Ez1903 ‘When she [the royal mother-city] brought up [Jehoahaz] one of her cubs, He became a [young] lion, And he learned to catch and tear the prey; He devoured men.  
Ez1904 ‘The nations heard about him; He was captured in their pit, And they brought him with hooks To the land of Egypt.  
Ez1905 ‘When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion.  
Ez1906 ‘And he moved among the lions; He became a young lion, He learned to tear the prey; He devoured men.  
Ez1907 ‘He destroyed their palaces And he flattened their cities; And the land and all who were in it were appalled By the sound of his roaring.  
Ez1908 ‘Then the nations set against him (the king) On every side from the provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was captured in their pit.  
Ez1909 ‘They put him in a cage with hooks and chains And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would be heard no more On the mountains of Israel.  
Ez1910 ‘Your mother [Jerusalem] was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches Because of abundant water.  
Ez1911 ‘And it had strong branches for the scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the thick branches and into the clouds So that it was seen [easily] in its height with the mass of its branches.  
Ez1912 ‘But the vine was uprooted in [godly] wrath [by His representative] And it was thrown down to the ground; The east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branch was broken off So that it withered; The fire [of God’s judgment] consumed it.  
Ez1913 ‘And now it is transplanted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land [of Babylon].  
Ez1914 ‘And the fire [of Zedekiah’s rebellion] has gone out from its branch; It has consumed the vine’s shoots and fruit, So that it has in it no [longer a] strong branch As a scepter to rule.’” This is a dirge (funeral poem to be sung), and has become a dirge.  
Ez2001 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month [after the beginning of the exile in Babylon], certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD and sat down before me.  
Ez2002 Then came the word of the LORD to me, saying,  
Ez2003 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’  
Ez2004 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make them know [accurately] and understand fully the repulsive acts of their fathers;  
Ez2005 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when I chose Israel and lifted up My hand and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God,  
Ez2006 on that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, [plentiful and] flowing with milk and honey, [a land] which is an ornament and a glory to all lands.  
Ez2007 Then I said to them, ‘Let every man throw away the detestable things on which he feasts his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’  
Ez2008 But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not throw away the detestable things on which they feasted their eyes, nor did they give up the idols of Egypt. “Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them and finish My anger against them in the land of Egypt.  
Ez2009 But I acted for My Name’s sake, that it would not be profaned in the sight of the [pagan] nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.  
Ez2010 So I made them leave the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.  
Ez2011 I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them, which, if a man keeps, he will live.  
Ez2012 Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD who sanctifies them (separates and sets them apart).  
Ez2013 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they despised and rejected My ordinances, which, if a man keeps, he will live; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.  
Ez2014 But I acted for My Name’s sake, that it would not be profaned in the sight of the [pagan] nations in whose sight I had brought them out [of slavery].  
Ez2015 I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, [a land of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament and glory of all lands,  
Ez2016 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My Sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their [worthless] idols.  
Ez2017 Yet My eye [looked on them with compassion and] spared them instead of destroying them, and I did not annihilate them in the wilderness.  
Ez2018 “But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers nor observe their ordinances nor defile yourselves with their idols.  
Ez2019 I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them.  
Ez2020 Sanctify My Sabbaths and keep them holy; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD your God.’  
Ez2021 Yet the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, which, if a man keeps, he will live; they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them and finish My anger against them in the wilderness.  
Ez2022 Yet I withdrew My hand and acted for My Name’s sake, that it would not be profaned in the sight of the [pagan] nations in whose sight I had brought them out [of slavery].  
Ez2023 Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the [Gentile] nations and disperse them among the countries,  
Ez2024 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had [dishonored and] rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and set their eyes on the [man-made] idols of their fathers.  
Ez2025 [Therefore] I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live;  
Ez2026 and I pronounced them unclean because of their offerings [to their idols], in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire [as pagan sacrifices], so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’  
Ez2027 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Again in this your fathers have blasphemed Me, in that they acted faithlessly and treacherously against Me.  
Ez2028 For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, they saw every high hill and every dark and leafy tree [as a place for idol worship], and there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented their offering that provoked My anger; there also they made their sweet-smelling aroma and there poured out their drink offerings.  
Ez2029 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So the name of it is called Bamah (High Place) to this day.”’  
Ez2030 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will you [exiles] defile yourselves in the same manner as your fathers? And will you prostitute yourselves before their loathsome and heinous things?  
Ez2031 When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be asked by you [for an oracle], O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.  
Ez2032 What comes into your mind will never happen, when you say, ‘We will be like the [pagan] nations, like the tribes of the [Gentile] countries, serving [idols made of] wood and stone.’  
Ez2033 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “most certainly with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be King over you.  
Ez2034 I will bring you out from the peoples and will gather you from the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;  
Ez2035 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you and contend with you face to face.  
Ez2036 As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment and contend with you,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2037 “I will make you pass under the rod [as the shepherd does with his sheep when he counts them, and I will count you as Mine and constrain you] and bring you into the bond of the covenant [to which you are permanently bound].  
Ez2038 And I will separate from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they temporarily live, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez2039 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD, “Go, let everyone serve his idols; but later you shall most certainly listen to Me, and you shall no longer profane My holy name with your gifts and with your idols.  
Ez2040 For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel (Zion),” says the Lord GOD, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me. There I will [graciously] accept them, and there I will seek (require) your offerings and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy and sacred things.  
Ez2041 I will accept you [graciously] as a pleasant and soothing aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands in which you have been scattered; and I will prove Myself holy and manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations.  
Ez2042 And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your fathers.  
Ez2043 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all your evil deeds which you have done.  
Ez2044 And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My Name’s sake, not in accordance with your evil ways nor with your corrupt conduct, O house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez2045 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2046 “Son of man, set your face toward Teman, and speak out against the south and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev (the South),  
Ez2047 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every one of your green trees, as well as every one of your dry trees. The blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole surface from the south to the north will be burned by it.  
Ez2048 All flesh will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”’”  
Ez2049 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not [just] speaking in parables and making allegories?’”  
Ez2101 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2102 “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and direct your [prophetic] word against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel  
Ez2103 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am against you and will draw My sword out of its sheath and I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.  
Ez2104 Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go from its sheath against all flesh from south to north,  
Ez2105 and all living will know [without any doubt] that I the LORD have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it will not be sheathed again.”’  
Ez2106 As for you, son of man, groan with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight.  
Ez2107 And when they say to you, ‘Why do you sigh and groan?’ you shall answer, ‘Because of the news that is coming; and every heart will melt and all hands will be frail, and every spirit will faint and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ says the Lord GOD.”  
Ez2108 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2109 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD.’ Say, ‘A sword, a sword [from Babylon] is sharpened And also polished!  
Ez2110 ‘It is sharpened to make a slaughter, Polished to flash and glimmer like lightning!’ Shall we then rejoice [when such a disaster approaches]? But it rejects and views with contempt the scepter of My son [Judah].  
Ez2111 The sword [of Babylon] is ready to be polished so that it may be handled and put to use; the sword is sharpened and polished to be put in the hand of the slayer (Nebuchadnezzar).  
Ez2112 Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against My people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with My [terrified] people. Therefore strike your thigh and strike your chest [in grief].  
Ez2113 For this sword has been tested [on others]; and what if it views with contempt the scepter [of Judah]? The scepter shall be no more [but shall be swept away],” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2114 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time [in intensity], the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter which surrounds them [so that no one can escape, even by hiding in their inner rooms],  
Ez2115 so that hearts may melt, and many will fall at their gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made [to flash] like lightning; it is pointed and sharpened for slaughter.  
Ez2116 Turn O sword and cut right or cut left, whichever way your thirst for blood and your edge direct you.  
Ez2117 I will also strike My hands together, and I will cause My wrath to rest. I the LORD have spoken.”  
Ez2118 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2119 “As for you, son of man, mark out two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost; place it at the head of the way to the city.  
Ez2120 You shall point out a way for the [Babylonian] sword to come to Rabbah [the capital] of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.  
Ez2121 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim (household idols), he looks at the liver [of an animal for an omen].  
Ez2122 In his right hand is the lot marked for Jerusalem: to set battering rams, to open the mouth calling for destruction, to lift up the voice with a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to put up assault ramps, and to build siege walls.  
Ez2123 It will seem like a false divination in their eyes, those who have sworn solemn oaths [of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar]. But he will remind them of their guilt [by rebelling and violating their oath], that they may be caught.  
Ez2124 “Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have caused your guilt to be remembered, in that your rebellion is uncovered, so that your sins appear in everything that you do—because you have come to mind, you will be seized with the hand [of the enemy].  
Ez2125 And you, O dishonored and wicked one [Zedekiah], the prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of final punishment is here,’  
Ez2126 thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they have been. Exalt that which is low and abase the high.  
Ez2127 A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! It shall no longer exist until He comes whose right it is [to reign], and I will give it to Him.’  
Ez2128 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their reproach (disgrace),’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter; it is sharpened and polished to put an end [to everything], and to flash like lightning,  
Ez2129 while they (Ammonite prophets) see false visions [of peace] for you, while they divine lies [of escape] for you—to place you [of Ammon] on the headless bodies of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, whose time of the final punishment is here.  
Ez2130 Return the sword to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin (birth), I will judge you.  
Ez2131 I will pour out My indignation on you [sons of Ammon]; I will blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will place you in the hand of brutal men, skilled in destruction.  
Ez2132 You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I the LORD have spoken.’”  
Ez2201 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2202 “And you, son of man [Ezekiel], will you judge, will you judge the city of bloodshed? Then make her recognize all her repulsive acts.  
Ez2203 You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time [of doom] will come, and makes idols to defile her, contrary to her interest!  
Ez2204 You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and you are defiled by the idols which you have made. Thus you have caused your day [of judgment and punishment] to approach and have arrived at [the completion of] your years; therefore, I have made you an object of scorn to the [pagan] nations and a thing to be mocked by all countries.  
Ez2205 Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you [infamous one] of ill repute, full of turmoil.  
Ez2206 “Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his power, have been intending to shed blood in you.  
Ez2207 In you they have treated father and mother lightly. They have oppressed the stranger among you; and in your presence they have wronged the fatherless and the widow.  
Ez2208 You have despised and scorned My sacred things and have profaned My Sabbaths.  
Ez2209 In you are men who slander for the purpose of shedding blood, and in your presence they have eaten [food offered to idols] at the mountain shrines; in your midst they have committed acts of lewdness.  
Ez2210 In you men have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness [the nakedness of mother or stepmother]; in you they have violated women who are [set apart as ceremonially] unclean during their menstrual impurity [or after childbirth].  
Ez2211 In you one has committed a shameful act with his neighbor’s wife, another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law, and another has violated his sister, his father’s daughter.  
Ez2212 In you they have accepted bribes to shed blood; you have taken [forbidden] interest and [a percentage of] profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by oppression and extortion, and you have forgotten Me,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2213 “Behold, therefore, I strike My hands [together] at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is among you.  
Ez2214 Can your heart (courage) endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and will act.  
Ez2215 I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will destroy your filthiness.  
Ez2216 You will defile yourself in the sight of the [Gentile] nations, and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’”  
Ez2217   And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,   
Ez2218 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross (metallic waste) to Me. All of them are (useless) bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the furnace; they are the dross of silver.  
Ez2219 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you [O Israel] into the midst of Jerusalem.  
Ez2220 As they gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into the furnace to blow fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger and in My wrath, and I will put you there and melt you.  
Ez2221 I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it.  
Ez2222 As silver is melted in the furnace, so will you be melted in the midst of it; and you will know [without any doubt] that I the LORD have poured out My wrath on you [O Israel].’”  
Ez2223 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2224 “Son of man, say to her, ‘You [Israel] are a land that is not pronounced clean or rained on in the day of indignation.’  
Ez2225 There is a conspiracy of her [false] prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured [human] life; they have taken [in their greed] treasure and precious things; they have made many widows among her.  
Ez2226 Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy (sacred) and the profane (secular), they have not taught [people] the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.  
Ez2227 Her princes within her are like wolves tearing and devouring the prey, shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.  
Ez2228 Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD’—when the LORD has not spoken.  
Ez2229 The people of the land have practiced oppression and extortion and have committed robbery; they have wronged the poor and needy and they have oppressed the stranger without justice.  
Ez2230 I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for [the sake of] the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one].  
Ez2231 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; I have repaid their way [by bringing it] upon their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2301 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,  
Ez2302 “Son of man, there were two women (Israel and Judah), the daughters of one mother (the united kingdom);  
Ez2303 and they prostituted themselves in Egypt. From their youth they were grossly immoral; in that place their breasts were embraced and their virgin bosom was grasped.  
Ez2304 Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister, and they became Mine and they gave birth to sons and daughters. And as for [the identity of] their names, Oholah is Samaria (capital city of Israel) and Oholibah is Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).  
Ez2305 “Oholah played the prostitute while she was Mine; and she adored and lusted after her lovers (allies), the Assyrians, her neighbors,  
Ez2306 who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them attractive young men, horsemen riding on horses.  
Ez2307 She bestowed [freely] her immoralities on them, the choicest men of Assyria, all of them; and with all whom she adored and lusted after, she defiled herself with their idols.  
Ez2308 She did not give up the acts of prostitution that originated during her time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their depravity on her.  
Ez2309 Therefore, I placed her in the hand of her lovers (allies), into the hand of the Assyrians whom she adored.  
Ez2310 They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters and they killed her with the sword. So she became notorious among women, and they executed judgments on her.  
Ez2311 “Now her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt in her lust than she, and her acts of prostitution were more [wanton] than the immoralities of her sister.  
Ez2312 She lusted after the Assyrians—governors and officials, her neighbors, magnificently clothed, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.  
Ez2313 I saw that she had defiled herself; they both behaved the same way.  
Ez2314 But Oholibah carried her depravity further, for she saw men pictured on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans (Babylonians) sketched and portrayed in vermilion (bright red pigment),  
Ez2315 girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, like the Babylonian men whose native land was Chaldea.  
Ez2316 When she saw [the sketches of] them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.  
Ez2317 The Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and they defiled her with their evil desire; and when she had been defiled by them, she (Jerusalem) broke the relationship and pushed them away from her in disgust.  
Ez2318 So she flaunted her acts of prostitution and exposed her nakedness; then I became disgusted with her [and turned away], as I had become disgusted with her sister [and turned away].  
Ez2319 Yet she multiplied her depravities, remembering the days of her youth, when she was actively immoral in the land of Egypt.  
Ez2320 For she lusted after her lovers [there], whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses.  
Ez2321 Thus you longed for the lewdness and vulgarity of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom on account of the breasts of your youth.  
Ez2322 “Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers (allies) against you, from whom you turned away in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:  
Ez2323 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and officials all of them, princes, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.  
Ez2324 They will come against you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of people (infantry) who will array themselves against you on every side with large shield and small, and helmet; and I will commit the judgment and the punishment to them, and they will judge and punish you in accordance with their [pagan] customs.  
Ez2325 I will set My jealous indignation against you [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], and they will deal with you in fury. They will remove your nose and your ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will take your sons and your daughters; and the survivors will be devoured by the fire.  
Ez2326 They will also strip you (Judah) of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels.  
Ez2327 Thus I will put an end to your lewdness and your prostitution brought from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt [with longing] anymore.’  
Ez2328 For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will place you into the hands of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned away in disgust.  
Ez2329 They will deal with you in hatred, take all your property, and leave you naked and bare. And the nakedness of your depravity will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your obscene practices.  
Ez2330 These things will be done to you because you have prostituted yourself with the [Gentile] nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols.  
Ez2331 You have walked in the way of your sister (Samaria); therefore I will give her cup [of judgment] into your hand.’  
Ez2332 Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘You will drink your sister’s cup, Which is deep and wide [and filled to the brim]. You shall be laughed at and derided; It contains much [too much to endure].  
Ez2333 ‘You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, With the cup of horror and desolation, With the cup of your sister Samaria.  
Ez2334 ‘You will drink it and drain it, Then you will gnaw its fragments And tear your breasts; for I have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2335 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore bear now [the consequences of] your lewdness and prostitution.’”  
Ez2336 Moreover, the LORD said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah (Samaria, capital of Israel) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, capital of Judah)? Then inform them of their atrocities [the detestable and vile things they do].  
Ez2337 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery [against Me] with their idols and have even forced their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire as [an offering of] food to them (idols).  
Ez2338 Moreover, they have done this to Me: they have defiled My sanctuary on the same day [of their idolatries] and have profaned My Sabbaths.  
Ez2339 For when they had killed their children [as offerings] to their idols, then they came the same day to My sanctuary to profane it [by daring to offer a sacrifice there also]. And behold, this they did within My house.  
Ez2340 “Furthermore, you have even sent a messenger for men to come from far away; and behold, they came—those for whom you bathed, painted your eyes, and decorated yourself with ornaments;  
Ez2341 and you sat on a splendid couch with a table arranged before it on which you had set My incense and My oil.  
Ez2342 The sound of a carefree crowd was with her; and drunkards were brought from the wilderness with men of a common sort, who put bracelets on the hands of the women (both sisters) and beautiful crowns on their heads.  
Ez2343 “Then I said concerning the one (Oholah) worn out by adulteries, ‘Will they now commit adultery with her when she is like this?’  
Ez2344 But they committed adultery with her as they would with a prostitute. So they went in to Oholah (Israel) and to Oholibah (Judah), the lewd women.  
Ez2345 And they, righteous men, will judge and condemn them with the judgment (punishment) of adulteresses and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.  
Ez2346 “For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Bring up a horde (mob) against them and hand them over to terror and plunder.  
Ez2347 And the horde will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and their daughters and burn down their houses with fire.  
Ez2348 Thus I will make lewdness cease from the land, that all women may be admonished and taught not to commit immoral acts as you have done.  
Ez2349 Thus your lewdness will be repaid to you, and you will suffer the penalty for your [sinful] idolatry; and you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez2401 Again in the ninth year [of King Jehoiachin’s captivity by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon], in the tenth month, on the tenth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2402 “Son of man, record the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.  
Ez2403 Speak a parable against the rebellious house [of Judah] and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Put on a pot; put it on and also pour water into it;  
Ez2404 Put in it the pieces [of meat], Every good piece (the people of Jerusalem), the thigh and the shoulder; Fill it with choice bones.  
Ez2405 “Take the choicest of the flock, And also pile wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously And boil its bones in the pot.”  
Ez2406 ‘Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe (judgment is coming) to the bloody city, To the pot in which there is rust And whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece by piece, Without making any choice.  
Ez2407 “For her blood [that she has shed] remains in her midst; She put it on the bare rock; She did not pour it on the ground To cover it with dust.  
Ez2408 “That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have put her blood [guilt for her children sacrificed to Molech] on the bare rock, That it may not be covered.”  
Ez2409 ‘Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe to the bloody city! I will also make the pile [of wood] high.  
Ez2410 “Heap on wood, kindle the fire, Boil the meat well [done] And mix in the spices, And let the bones be burned.  
Ez2411 “Then set the empty pot (Jerusalem) back on the coals So that it may be hot And its bronze may glow And its filthiness may be melted And its rust (scum) may be consumed.  
Ez2412 “She has wearied Me with toil, Yet her great rust has not left her; Her thick rust and filth will not be burned away by fire [no matter how hot the flame].  
Ez2413 “In your filthiness are lewdness and outrage. Therefore I would have cleansed you, Yet you were not [willing to be] cleansed, You will not be cleansed from your filthiness again Until I have satisfied My wrath against you.  
Ez2414 I the LORD have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not relent, and I will not have compassion and I will not be sorry; in accordance with your ways and in accordance with your deeds I will judge and punish you,” says the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez2415 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2416 “Son of man, listen carefully, I am about to take away from you the desire of your eyes [your wife] with a single stroke. Yet you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not flow.  
Ez2417 Sigh and groan in silence; do not mourn for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of [mourners furnished by other] men.”  
Ez2418 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I was commanded.  
Ez2419 The people said to me, “These things that you are doing—tell us, what do they mean for us?”  
Ez2420 Then I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2421 ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind [in Jerusalem] will fall by the sword.  
Ez2422 You will do as I [Ezekiel] have done; you shall not cover your mustache nor eat the bread of [mourning brought to you by other] men.  
Ez2423 Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will rot away in your sins and you will groan to one another.  
Ez2424 So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; in accordance with all that he has done you will do. And when this [destruction of the temple] comes, then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez2425 ‘As for you, son of man, on the day when I take their strength and their stronghold from them, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes and their heart’s [chief] delight (the temple), and I also take their sons and their daughters,  
Ez2426 that on that day a survivor will come to you to let you hear [of the destruction of Jerusalem] with your [own] ears.  
Ez2427 On that day your mouth will be opened to him who escaped, and you will speak and no longer be mute. In this way you shall be a sign to them, and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’”  
Ez2501 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,  
Ez2502 “Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.  
Ez2503 And say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord GOD, for thus says the Lord GOD, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate and against the house of Judah when they went into exile,  
Ez2504 therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession, and they will set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.  
Ez2505 I will make Rabbah [your chief city] a pasture for camels and [the cities of] the Ammonites a resting place for flocks [of sheep]. And you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”  
Ez2506 For thus says the Lord GOD, “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the contempt, and malice, and spite of your soul against the land of Israel,  
Ez2507 therefore, behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and will hand you over as prey and spoil to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you. Then you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”  
Ez2508 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because Moab and Seir (Edom) say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the [pagan] nations,’  
Ez2509 therefore, behold, I will deprive the flank of Moab of its cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon and Kiriathaim.  
Ez2510 I will give it, along with the children of Ammon, to the people of the East as a possession, so that the children of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations [any longer].  
Ez2511 Thus I will execute judgment and punishment on Moab, and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”  
Ez2512 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended and has incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them,”  
Ez2513 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom and I will cut off and destroy man and beast. I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword.  
Ez2514 I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom in accordance with My anger and My wrath, and they will know and experience My vengeance,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2515 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because the Philistines have acted revengefully and have taken vengeance [contemptuously] with malice in their hearts to destroy with everlasting hostility and hatred,”  
Ez2516 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast.  
Ez2517 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes and chastisements and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD when I lay My vengeance on them.”’”  
Ez2601 Now in the eleventh year, on the first [day] of the month [after the capture of King Jehoiachin], the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2602 “Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gateway of the people is broken; she is open to me. I will be filled, now that she is a desolate waste,’  
Ez2603 therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and I will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea makes its waves crest.  
Ez2604 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; and I will scrape her dust and debris from her and make her as bare as [the top of] a rock.  
Ez2605 Her island in the midst of the sea will become a dry place to spread nets, for I have spoken,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘and she will become a prey and a spoil for the nations.  
Ez2606 Also Tyre’s daughters (towns, villages) on the mainland will be killed by the sword, and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’”  
Ez2607 For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots and with horsemen and a great army.  
Ez2608 He will kill your daughters on the mainland with the sword, and he shall make siege walls against you and build a siege ramp against you and raise [a roof of] large shields [as a defense] against you.  
Ez2609 He will direct the [shocking] blow of his battering rams against your walls, and he will tear down your towers with his crowbars.  
Ez2610 Because of the great number of his horses, their dust will cover you; your walls [O Tyre] will shake from the noise of the horsemen and the wagons and the chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city that is breached.  
Ez2611 With the hoofs of his horses Nebuchadnezzar will trample all your streets; with the sword he will kill your people, and your strong pillars (obelisks) will fall to the ground.  
Ez2612 Also they will take your riches as spoil and plunder your merchandise, and tear down your walls and your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timber and the debris [from your city] out in the water.  
Ez2613 So I will silence your songs, and the sound of your lyres will no longer be heard.  
Ez2614 I will make you [Tyre] a bare rock; you will be a dry place on which to spread nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2615 Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre, “Shall not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall when the wounded groan, when the slaughter occurs in your midst?  
Ez2616 Then all the princes of the sea will go down from their thrones and remove their robes and take off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble again and again, and be appalled at you.  
Ez2617 They will take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for you and say to you, ‘How you have perished and vanished, O renowned city, From the seas, O renowned city, Which was mighty on the sea, She and her inhabitants, Who imposed her terror On all who lived there!  
Ez2618 ‘Now the coastlands will tremble On the day of your fall; Yes, the coastlands which are by the sea Will be terrified at your departure.’”  
Ez2619 For thus says the Lord GOD, “When I make you a desolate city, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you and great waters cover you,  
Ez2620 then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit (the place of the dead), to the people of old, and I will make you [Tyre] live in the depths of the earth, like the ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited; but I will set glory and splendor in the land of the living.  
Ez2621 I will bring terrors on you and you will be no more. Though you will be sought, yet you will never be found again,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2701 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,  
Ez2702 “Now you, son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for Tyre,  
Ez2703 and say to Tyre, who lives at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’  
Ez2704 “Your borders are in the heart of the seas; Your builders have perfected your beauty.  
Ez2705 “They have made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.  
Ez2706 “Of the oaks of Bashan they have made your oars; They have made your deck of boxwood from the coastlands of Cyprus, inlaid with ivory.  
Ez2707 “Your sail was of fine embroidered linen from Egypt So that it became your distinguishing mark (insignia); Your [ship’s] awning [which covered you] was blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah [of Asia Minor].  
Ez2708 “The inhabitants of Sidon and [the island] of Arvad were your oarsmen; Your skilled and wise men, O Tyre, were with you; they were your pilots.  
Ez2709 “The elders of Gebal and its skilled and wise men were with you, repairing your leaks; All the ships of the sea with their mariners were with you to deal in your merchandise.  
Ez2710 “Persia and Lud and Put (Libya) were in your army as your men of war. They hung the shield and the helmet on you; they gave you splendor.  
Ez2711 The men of Arvad with your army were upon your walls, all around, and the Gammadim (men of valor) were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls, all around; they perfected your beauty.  
Ez2712 “Tarshish [in Spain] was your customer and traded with you because of the abundance of your riches of all kinds; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your wares.  
Ez2713 Javan (Greece), Tubal and Meshech (Asia Minor) traded with you; with the lives of men [taken as slaves] and vessels of bronze they paid for your merchandise.  
Ez2714 Those from Beth-togarmah (Armenia) traded for your wares with [chariot] horses, war horses, and mules.  
Ez2715 The men of Dedan were your traders. Many coastlands were your markets; ivory tusks and ebony they brought to you in payment or as gifts.  
Ez2716 Aram traded with you because of the abundance of the goods you made. They paid for your merchandise with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.  
Ez2717 Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders; with the wheat of Minnith [in Ammon], cakes, honey, oil, and balm they paid for your goods.  
Ez2718 Damascus traded with you because of the abundance of your handiworks and the immense wealth of every kind, with the wine of Helbon [Aleppo] and the white wool [of Sachar in Syria].  
Ez2719 Vedan and Javan traded with yarn from Uzal [in Arabia] for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise.  
Ez2720 Dedan traded with you in saddle blankets for riding.  
Ez2721 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, they were your customers for lambs, rams, and goats [favored by you]; for these they were your customers.  
Ez2722 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah [in Arabia], they traded with you; they paid for your wares with the choicest of all kinds of spices and all kinds of precious stones and gold.  
Ez2723 Haran and Canneh and Eden [in Mesopotamia], the merchants of Sheba [on the Euphrates], Asshur and Chilmad traded with you.  
Ez2724 They traded with you in choice fabrics and garments, in clothes of blue or violet and embroidered work, and in [treasures of] multi-colored damask and knotted carpets bound with tightly wound cords, which were among your merchandise.  
Ez2725 The ships of Tarshish were the caravans for your merchandise, And you [Tyre] were replenished and very glorious [heavily laden with an imposing fleet] In the heart of the seas.  
Ez2726 “Your rowers have brought you Into great and deep waters; The east wind has broken and shipwrecked you In the heart of the seas.  
Ez2727 “Your riches, your wares, your merchandise Your oarsmen and your pilots, Your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, And all your men of war who are with you, With all your company that is in your midst, Will sink in the heart of the seas On the day of your ruin.  
Ez2728 “The pasture lands and the countryside will shake At the [piercing] sound of the [hopeless, wailing] cry of your pilots.  
Ez2729 “All who handle the oar, The mariners and all the pilots of the sea Will come down from their ships; They will stand on the shore,  
Ez2730 And they will make their voice heard [as they wail loudly] over you And they will cry bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads; They will wallow in ashes.  
Ez2731 “And they will make themselves [completely] bald for you And wrap themselves in sackcloth; And in bitterness of soul they will weep for you With bitter mourning and wailing.  
Ez2732 “In their wailing they will take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for you And sing a dirge for you: ‘Who is like Tyre, Like her who is silent [destroyed] in the midst of the sea?  
Ez2733 ‘When your wares went out to the sea, You met the desire, and the demand, and the necessities of many people; You enriched the kings of the earth With your abundant wealth and merchandise.  
Ez2734 ‘Now you are shattered by the seas In the depths of the waters; Your merchandise and all your crew Have gone down with you.  
Ez2735 ‘All the inhabitants of the coastlands Are aghast and appalled at you, And their kings are horribly frightened and shudder; Their faces twitch and pale.  
Ez2736 ‘The merchants among the people hiss at you [with malicious joy]; You have become a horror and a source of terrors. You will cease to be forever.’”’”  
Ez2801 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,  
Ez2802 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because your heart is lifted up And you have said and thought, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods In the heart of the seas’; Yet you are [only] a man [weak, feeble, made of earth] and not God, Though you [imagine yourself to be more than mortal and] think your mind is as [wise as] the mind of God—  
Ez2803 Behold, you are [imagining yourself] wiser than Daniel; There is no secret [you think] that is hidden from you;  
Ez2804 With your [own] wisdom and with your [own] understanding You have acquired your riches and power And have brought gold and silver into your treasuries;  
Ez2805 By your great wisdom and by your trade You have increased your riches and power, And your heart is proud and arrogant because of your wealth;  
Ez2806 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have imagined your mind [to be] Like the mind of God [having thoughts and plans like God Himself],  
Ez2807 Therefore, behold, I will bring strangers (Babylonians) upon you, The most ruthless and violent of the nations. And they will draw their swords Against the beauty of your wisdom [O Tyre] And defile your splendor.  
Ez2808 ‘They will bring you down to the pit [of destruction], And you will die the death of all those who die In the heart of the seas.  
Ez2809 ‘Will you still say, “I am a god,” In the presence of him who kills you? But you are [only] a man [made of earth] and not God, In the hands of those who wound and profane you.  
Ez2810 ‘You will die the death of the uncircumcised [barbarian] By the hand of strangers, For I have spoken!’ says the Lord GOD.”’”  
Ez2811 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2812 “Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the full measure of perfection and the finishing touch [of completeness], Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.  
Ez2813 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and your sockets, Was in you. They were prepared On the day that you were created.  
Ez2814 “You were the anointed cherub who covers and protects, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire [sparkling jewels].  
Ez2815 “You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness and evil were found in you.  
Ez2816 “Through the abundance of your commerce You were internally filled with lawlessness and violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you out as a profane and unholy thing From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire.  
Ez2817 “Your heart was proud and arrogant because of your beauty; You destroyed your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I lay you before kings, That they might look at you.  
Ez2818 “You profaned your sanctuaries By the great quantity of your sins and the enormity of your guilt, By the unrighteousness of your trade. Therefore I have brought forth a fire from your midst; It has consumed you, And I have reduced you to ashes on the earth In the sight of all who look at you.  
Ez2819 “All the peoples (nations) who knew you Are appalled at you; You have come to a horrible and terrifying end And will forever cease to be.”’”  
Ez2820 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2821 “Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against her  
Ez2822 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, And I will show My glory and be glorified in your midst. Then they will know [by personal experience] that I am the LORD when I bring judgment and punishment on her, And I will manifest My holiness in her.  
Ez2823 “For I will send virulent disease to her And blood into her streets, And the wounded will fall in her midst By the sword upon her from every side, And they shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez2824 And there will no longer be a briar or a painful thorn to prick the house of Israel from all those around them who treated them with contempt; then they will know [with clarity] that I am the Lord GOD.”  
Ez2825 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “When I gather the house of Israel from the nations among whom they are scattered, and I manifest my Holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob.  
Ez2826 They shall live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgment on all those around them who despise them. Then they will know [with clarity and confidence] that I am the LORD their God.”’”  
Ez2901 In the tenth year [of the captivity of King Jehoiachin by the king of Babylon], in the tenth month, on the twelfth of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2902 “Son of man, set your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.  
Ez2903 Speak and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, The great monster that lies in the midst of his rivers, [Boastfully] declaring, ‘My Nile is my own, and I have made it for myself.’  
Ez2904 “I will put hooks in your jaws And [I will] make the fish of your rivers stick to your scales. And I will pull you up from the midst of your rivers, And all the fish of your rivers will stick to your scales.  
Ez2905 “I will abandon you to the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers; You will fall on the open field; and you will not be gathered up or buried. I have given you as food to the [wild] animals of the earth and the birds of the sky.  
Ez2906 “And all the inhabitants of Egypt will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, Because they have been [only] a staff made of [fragile] reeds to the house of Israel.  
Ez2907 “When they (Israel) grasped you (Egypt) by the hand, You broke and tore apart their hands; When they leaned on you, You broke and strained their backs.”  
Ez2908 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am going to bring a sword on you and cut off (destroy) both man and animal,  
Ez2909 and the land of Egypt will be a desolation and a wasteland. And they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD. “Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine and I have made it,’  
Ez2910 behold (hear this), therefore, I am against you and against your rivers (the Nile, its tributaries), and I will make the land of Egypt a complete waste and a desolation, from [northern] Migdol to [southern] Syene, even as far as the border of Ethiopia (Cush).  
Ez2911 No man’s foot will pass through it, no animal’s foot will pass through it, and it will not be inhabited for forty years.  
Ez2912 So I will make the land of Egypt a desolation [plundered and ruined] among desolated lands; and her cities, among cities that are laid waste, will be desolate forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and [I will] disperse them through the lands.”  
Ez2913 ‘For thus says the Lord GOD, “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations among whom they were scattered.  
Ez2914 I will reverse the fortunes of Egypt [as I will that of Israel] and cause them to return to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they will be a lowly kingdom.  
Ez2915 It will be the lowliest of the kingdoms, and it will never again exalt itself above the nations; I will diminish the Egyptians so they will never again rule over the nations.  
Ez2916 And Egypt will never again have the confidence of the house of Israel; their wickedness will be remembered whenever Israel looks toward them [for help]. Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord GOD.”’”  
Ez2917 In the twenty-seventh year [after King Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon], in the first month, on the first of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez2918 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army work hard [at My command] against Tyre; every [soldier’s] head became bald and every shoulder was worn and peeled [from carrying loads of dirt and stones for siege works]. Yet he had no wages from Tyre [in proportion to the time and labor expended during the siege], either for himself or his army, for the work that he had done against it [for Me].”  
Ez2919 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will carry off her wealth and capture her spoil and seize her plunder; and it shall be the wages for his army.  
Ez2920 I have given him the land of Egypt for the hard work which he did [against Tyre], because they did it for Me,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez2921 “In that day I will make a horn sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them, and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD [when I renew their strength].”  
Ez3001 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,  
Ez3002 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’  
Ez3003 “For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near, It will be a cloudy day; A time of doom for the nations.  
Ez3004 “A sword will come upon Egypt, And anguish and trembling will be in Ethiopia (Cush), When the slain fall in Egypt And they [of Babylon] carry away her great mass of people and her riches And her foundations are torn down.  
Ez3005 Ethiopia (Cush), Put, Lud, all Arabia, Libya (Cub) and the people of the land of the covenant [the Jews who had taken refuge in Egypt] will fall with the Egyptians by the sword.”  
Ez3006 ‘Thus says the LORD, “Those who uphold and support Egypt will fall And the pride of her power will come down; From Migdol [in the north] to Syene [in the south] They will fall within her by the sword,” Says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3007 “And they will be desolate In the midst of countries that are desolated; And her cities will be Among cities that are devastated [by plunder and slavery].  
Ez3008 “And they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, When I have set a fire in Egypt And all her helpers are shattered and destroyed.  
Ez3009 On that day [swift] messengers will go from Me in ships to frighten the careless and unsuspecting Ethiopians, and there will be anguish and trembling in them as in the day of [judgment for] Egypt; for behold, it is coming!”  
Ez3010 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also make the great people of Egypt cease By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.  
Ez3011 “He and his people with him, The most violent and ruthless of the nations, Will be brought in to destroy the land, And they will draw their swords against Egypt And fill the land with the slain.  
Ez3012 “And I will make the rivers [of the Nile delta] dry And sell the land into the hands of evil men; I will make the land desolate And all that is in it, By the hand of strangers. I the LORD have spoken.”  
Ez3013 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also destroy the idols And I will put an end to the images in Memphis; There will no longer be a prince of the land of Egypt. And I will put fear in the land of Egypt.  
Ez3014 “I will make Pathros desolate, Set fire to Zoan And execute judgments and punishments on Thebes.  
Ez3015 “I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium, The stronghold of Egypt, And I will cut off (destroy) the population of Thebes.  
Ez3016 “I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium will writhe in [great] anguish, Thebes shall be torn open And Memphis shall be in daily distress.  
Ez3017 “The young men of On (Aven) and of Pi-beseth Will fall by the sword, And the women [and children] will go into captivity.  
Ez3018 “In Tehaphnehes the day will be dark When I break the yoke bars and dominion of Egypt there. Then the pride of her power will come to an end; A cloud [of disasters] will cover her, And her daughters will go into captivity.  
Ez3019 “In this way I will bring judgment and punishment on Egypt. Then they shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’”  
Ez3020 In the eleventh year [after King Jehoiachin was taken to Babylon], in the first month, on the seventh of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3021 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and behold, it has not been bound up to heal or wrapped with a bandage, so that it may be strong to hold and wield the sword.  
Ez3022 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms, both the strong one and the broken, and I will make the sword fall from his hand.  
Ez3023 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and will disperse them throughout the lands.  
Ez3024 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms and he will groan before him (Nebuchadnezzar) with the groanings of a [mortally] wounded man.  
Ez3025 But I will strengthen and hold up the arms of the king of Babylon and the arms of Pharaoh will fall down. Then the people [of Egypt] will know that I am the LORD, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt.  
Ez3026 When I scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the lands, then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.’”  
Ez3101 In the eleventh year [after King Jehoiachin was taken captive to Babylon], in the third month, on the first of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3102 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Whom are you like in your greatness?  
Ez3103 ‘Behold (listen carefully), Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon With beautiful branches and with forest shade, And of high stature, With its top among the clouds.  
Ez3104 ‘The waters nourished it, the deep [underground waters] made it grow tall. Its rivers ran all around the place where it was planted, Sending out its streams to all the trees (other nations) of the field.  
Ez3105 ‘Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the forest And its boughs multiplied and its branches grew long; Because there was so much water they spread outward.  
Ez3106 ‘All the birds of the sky made their nests in its twigs, And under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth [to their young], And all of the great nations lived under its shadow.  
Ez3107 ‘So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended [downward] to great waters.  
Ez3108 ‘The cedars in the garden of God could not hide or rival it; The cypress trees did not have boughs like it, And the plane trees did not have branches like it. No tree in the garden of God was like it in its beauty.  
Ez3109 ‘I made it beautiful with the great mass of its branches, So that all the trees of Eden which were in the garden of God were jealous of it (Assyria).  
Ez3110 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Because it is high in stature and has set its top among the thick boughs and the clouds, and its heart is proud of its height,  
Ez3111 I will hand it over to a mighty one and a mighty one of the nations; he will most certainly deal with it. I have driven it away in accordance with its wickedness.  
Ez3112 Alien tyrants of the nations have cut it down and left it; its foliage has fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys and its branches have been broken in all the ravines of the land. And all the nations of the earth have come from under its shade and have left it.  
Ez3113 All the birds of the sky will nest in its ruins, and all the animals of the field will rest on its fallen branches  
Ez3114 so that none of the trees by the waters may exalt themselves because of their height, nor set their top among the clouds, nor their well-watered mighty ones stand [arrogantly] in their height. For they have all been handed over to death, to the earth beneath, among the sons of men, with those who go down to the pit (the grave).”  
Ez3115 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when Assyria went down to Sheol (the place of the dead) I caused mourning; I closed the deep [subterranean waters] over it and restrained its rivers. And the many waters [that contributed to its prosperity] were held back; and I made [the heart of] Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted away because of it.  
Ez3116 I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, will be comforted in the earth beneath [at Assyria’s downfall].  
Ez3117 They also went down to Sheol with it to those who were slain by the sword; those who were its strength lived under its shade among the nations.  
Ez3118 “Which among the trees of Eden do you equal in glory and in greatness [O Egypt]? Yet you [also] will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth beneath (nether world). You will lie among the uncircumcised (the barbaric, the boorish, the crude) with those who were slain by the sword. This is how it shall be with Pharaoh and all his hordes!”’ says the Lord GOD.”  
Ez3201 In the twelfth year [after King Jehoiachin of Judah was taken into exile by the king of Babylon], in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3202 “Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him, ‘You have compared yourself to a young lion among the nations, But you are like a monster in the seas; You burst into your rivers And disturbed and muddied the waters with your feet And fouled their rivers [the source of their prosperity].’”  
Ez3203 Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will spread out My net over you With a company of many nations, And they will bring you up in My net.  
Ez3204 “Then I will leave you (Egypt) on the land; I will hurl you on the open field. And I will make all the birds of the sky dwell on you, And I will satisfy the animals of all the earth with you.  
Ez3205 “And I will scatter your flesh on the mountains And fill the valleys with your debris [your corpses and their worms].  
Ez3206 “I will also water the land with your flowing blood As far as the mountains, And the ravines will be full of you.  
Ez3207 “And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens [of Egypt] and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud And the moon will not give its light.  
Ez3208 “All the bright lights in the heavens I will darken over you And I will place darkness on your land,” Says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3209 “I will also put fear into the hearts of many peoples when I bring your destruction [and captivity] among the nations, into countries which you have not known.  
Ez3210 I will make many peoples appalled at you [at your judgment and your defeat], and their kings will be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword [of judgment] before them; they will tremble and shudder every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of your downfall.”  
Ez3211 For thus says the Lord GOD, “The sword of the king of Babylon will come on you.  
Ez3212 I will make your horde [of people] fall by the swords of the mighty—all of them are tyrants among the nations, And they will devastate the pride and presumption of Egypt, And all its hordes will be destroyed.  
Ez3213 “I will also destroy all its cattle from beside its great waters; And the foot of man will not muddy them anymore Nor will the hoofs of the animals muddy them.  
Ez3214 “Then I will make their waters quiet and clear; I will make their rivers run [slowly and smoothly] like oil,” Says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3215 “When I make the land of Egypt desolate, And the country is stripped and deprived of all that which filled it, When I strike all those who live in it, Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez3216 This is the dirge (funeral poem to be sung) and they shall sing it [for her]. The daughters of the nations shall sing it; for Egypt and for all her hordes they shall sing it,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3217 In the twelfth year [after King Jehoiachin of Judah was taken into exile], on the fifteenth of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3218 “Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and cast them down, both her and the daughters of the powerful and majestic nations, to the nether world (the place of the dead), with those who go down to the pit;  
Ez3219 ‘Whom [among them] do you surpass in beauty? Go down and make your bed with the uncircumcised (the barbaric, the boorish, the crude).’  
Ez3220 They will fall among those who are slain by the sword. She (Egypt) is handed over to the sword; they have drawn her and all her hordes away [to judgment].  
Ez3221 The strong among the mighty rulers will say of him (Pharaoh) and his allies from the midst of Sheol, ‘They have gone down [defeated]; they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’  
Ez3222 “Assyria is there with all her warriors; their graves are all around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,  
Ez3223 whose graves are set in the remotest parts of the pit and her army is all around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.  
Ez3224 “Elam [a conquest of Assyria] is there and all her hordes around her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, who made their terror spread in the land of the living and bore their shame and defeat with those who went down to the pit.  
Ez3225 They have made a bed for her among the slain with all her hordes. Her graves are around it; they are all uncircumcised (barbaric, boorish, crude), slain by the sword (for their terror had been spread in the land of the living), and they bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit; they were laid among the slain.  
Ez3226 “Meshech, Tubal, and all their hordes are there; their graves surround them. All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, for they spread their terror in the land of the living.  
Ez3227 Nor do they lie beside the fallen heroes of the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid [with honors] under their heads. The punishment for their sins rested on their bones, for the terror of these heroes was once in the land of the living.  
Ez3228 But you will be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised and you will lie [without honors] with those who are slain by the sword.  
Ez3229 “Edom is there also, her kings and all her princes, who for all their power and strength are laid with those who were slain by the sword; they will lie [in shame and defeat] with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.  
Ez3230 “The princes of the north are there also, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror resulting from their power, have gone down in shame with the slain. So they lay down uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bore their disgrace with those who go down to the pit.  
Ez3231 “Pharaoh will see them, and he will be comforted for all his hordes slain by the sword—Pharaoh and all his army,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3232 “Though I instilled a terror of him in the land of the living, yet he will be made to lie down among the uncircumcised along with those slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his hordes,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3301 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3302 “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people [who are exiled in Babylon] and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword on a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,  
Ez3303 and he sees the sword coming on the land, and he blows the trumpet and warns the people,  
Ez3304 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his [own] head.  
Ez3305 He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood shall be on himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life.  
Ez3306 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, he is taken away because of his corruption and sin; but I will require his blood from the watchman’s hand.’  
Ez3307 “Now as for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you shall hear a message from My mouth and give them a warning from Me.  
Ez3308 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will certainly die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man will die because of his sin; but I will require his blood from your hand.  
Ez3309 But if you on your part warn the wicked man to turn from his [evil] way and he does not turn from his [evil] way, he will die in his sin; but you have saved your life.  
Ez3310 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have said, “Truly our transgressions and our sins are on us, and we are rotting away because of them; how then can we live?”’  
Ez3311 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back (change your way of thinking), turn back [in repentance] from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’  
Ez3312 And you, son of man, say to the sons of your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him in the day of his transgression; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stagger because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness, whereas a righteous man will not be able to live because of his [previous acts of] righteousness on the day when he commits sin.’  
Ez3313 When I say to the righteous that he will most certainly live, and he trusts in his [previous acts of] righteousness [to save him] and commits injustice, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but he will die for his injustice that he committed.  
Ez3314 But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices that which is just (fair) and right—  
Ez3315 if a wicked man returns [what he took as] a pledge, pays back what he had taken by robbery, walks in the statutes which ensure life, without committing injustice, he will certainly live; he will not die.  
Ez3316 None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced that which is just (fair) and right; he will most certainly live.  
Ez3317 “Yet your people [who are in exile in Babylon] say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right;’ but as for them, it is their own way that is not right.  
Ez3318 When the righteous turns back from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will also die because of it.  
Ez3319 But when a wicked man turns back from his wickedness and practices what is just (fair) and right, he will live because of it.  
Ez3320 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ O house of Israel, I will judge you, every one [of you] in accordance with his own ways!”  
Ez3321 In the twelfth year of our exile [in Babylon], on the fifth of the tenth month, a survivor from Jerusalem came to me, saying, “The city has been captured.”  
Ez3322 Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me in the evening, before the survivor came. And He opened my mouth at the time he came to me in the morning; so my mouth was opened [in readiness] and I was no longer mute.  
Ez3323 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3324 “Son of man, those [back in Palestine] who inhabit these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was [only] one man and he took possession of the land, but we are many; the land has [most certainly] been given to us [to possess] as property.’  
Ez3325 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You eat meat with the blood in it and raise your eyes to your idols and shed blood. Should you take possession of the land?  
Ez3326 You rely on your sword [as your security]; you commit outrageous and disgraceful acts and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then take possession of the land?”’  
Ez3327 You shall say this to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, those who are in the ruins certainly will fall by the sword, and I will give whoever is in the open field to the [predatory] animals to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves will die of virulent diseases.  
Ez3328 And I will make the land [of Israel] a desolation and a ruin, and her pride in her power will be brought to an end; and the mountains of Israel will be so deserted that no one will pass through.  
Ez3329 Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, when I make the land a desolation and a ruin because of all the atrocities which they have committed.”’  
Ez3330 “But as for you, son of man, your people who talk about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses say one to another, every one to his brother, ‘Come now and hear what the message is that comes from the LORD.’  
Ez3331 They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not practice them; for with their mouth they express loving devotion, but their heart goes after their (unlawful) gain.  
Ez3332 Behold, you are to them like a love song by one who has a pleasant voice and plays well on a stringed instrument [merely to entertain them]; for they hear your words but do not practice them.  
Ez3333 So when it comes to pass—as it most certainly will—then they will know [without any doubt] that a prophet has been among them.”  
Ez3401 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3402 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, the [spiritual] shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe (judgment is coming) to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?  
Ez3403 You eat the fat [the choicest of meat], and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the best of the livestock, but you do not feed the flock.  
Ez3404 You have not strengthened those who are weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bandaged the crippled, you have not brought back those gone astray, you have not looked for the lost; but you have ruled them with force and violence.  
Ez3405 They were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the predators of the field.  
Ez3406 My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought them.”’”  
Ez3407 Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:  
Ez3408 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “certainly because My flock has become prey, My flock has even become food for every predator of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock;  
Ez3409 therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:  
Ez3410 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand My flock from them and make them stop tending the flock, so that the shepherds cannot feed themselves anymore. I will rescue My flock from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”’”  
Ez3411 For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out.  
Ez3412 As a shepherd cares for his sheep on the day that he is among his scattered flock, so I will care for My sheep; and I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.  
Ez3413 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.  
Ez3414 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.  
Ez3415 I will feed My flock and I will let them lie down [to rest],” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3416 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hard- hearted and perverse]. I will feed them with judgment and punishment.  
Ez3417 “And as for you, My flock, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats [between the righteous and the unrighteous].  
Ez3418 Is it too little a thing for you that you [unrighteous ones who are well-fed] feed in the best pasture, yet you must trample down with your feet [of wickedness] the rest of your pastures? Or that you drink clear [still] water, yet you must muddy with your feet [of wickedness] the rest [of the water]?  
Ez3419 As for My flock (the righteous), they must feed on what you trample with your feet and drink what you muddy with your feet!’”  
Ez3420 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them, “Behold, I Myself will judge between the [well- fed] fat sheep and the lean sheep.  
Ez3421 Because you push with side and shoulder, and gore with your horns all those that have become weak and sick until you have scattered them away,  
Ez3422 therefore, I will rescue My flock, and they shall no longer be prey; and I will judge between one sheep [ungodly] and another [godly].  
Ez3423 “Then I will appoint over them one shepherd and he will feed them, [a ruler like] My servant David; he will feed them and be their shepherd.  
Ez3424 And I the LORD will be their God, and My servant David will be a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken.  
Ez3425 “I will make a covenant of peace with them and will eliminate the predatory animals from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep [safely] in the woods.  
Ez3426 I will make them and the places around My hill (Jerusalem, Zion) a blessing. And I will make showers come down in their season; there will be [abundant] showers of blessing (divine favor).  
Ez3427 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its produce; and My people will be secure on their land. Then they will know [with confidence] that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have rescued them from the hand of those who made them slaves.  
Ez3428 They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the predators of the earth will not devour them; but they will live safely, and no one will make them afraid [in the day of the Messiah’s reign].  
Ez3429 I will prepare for them a place renowned for planting [crops], and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations any longer.  
Ez3430 Then they will know [with assurance] that I the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3431 “As for you, My flock, the flock of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3501 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3502 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir (Edom), and prophesy against it  
Ez3503 and say to it, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, Mount Seir, I am against you, And I will stretch out My hand against you And make you completely desolate.  
Ez3504 “I will destroy your cities And you will become a wasteland. Then you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez3505 Because you [descendants of Esau] have had an everlasting hatred [for Jacob (Israel)] and you handed over the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their tragedy, at the time of their final punishment [the Babylonian conquest],  
Ez3506 therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will hand you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you since you have not hated bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.  
Ez3507 I will make Mount Seir (Edom) a ruin and a desolate wasteland and I will cut off from it the one who passes through it and the one who returns.  
Ez3508 I will fill its mountains with its slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills, and in your valleys, and in all your ravines.  
Ez3509 I will make you an everlasting desolation and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez3510 “Because you [descendants of Esau] have said, ‘These two nations [Israel and Judah] and these two lands shall be mine, and we will take possession of them,’ although the LORD was there,  
Ez3511 therefore, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will deal with you in accordance with the anger and envy you showed because of your hatred for them; and I will make Myself known among them [as Judge] when I judge and punish you.  
Ez3512 Then you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all your scornful speeches which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They have been made a wasteland; they have been given to us as food.’  
Ez3513 So you have boasted and spoken arrogantly against Me, and have multiplied your words against Me; I have heard it.”  
Ez3514 Thus says the Lord GOD, “While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you a wasteland.  
Ez3515 As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you; you will be a desolate waste, O Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’  
Ez3601 “And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.  
Ez3602 Thus says the Lord GOD, “Because the enemy has said of you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The ancient heights have become our property,’  
Ez3603 therefore prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “For good reason they have made you a desolation, and they crushed you from every side so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have become the talk and the whispering of the people.”’”  
Ez3604 Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities which have become prey and a mockery to the rest of the nations which surround you,  
Ez3605 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Most certainly in the fire of My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with uttermost contempt, so that they might empty it out [and possess it] as prey.”  
Ez3606 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) and in My wrath because you have endured the [shameful] insults of the nations.’  
Ez3607 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, ‘I have lifted up My hand and sworn [an oath] that the nations that are around you will themselves endure their [shameful] insults.  
Ez3608 But you, O mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon come [home].  
Ez3609 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you [in favor], and you shall be cultivated and sown.  
Ez3610 I will multiply people on you, all the house of Israel, [indeed] all of it; the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt.  
Ez3611 I will multiply on you man and animal; and they will increase and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as you were formerly, and I will do better [things] for you than at your beginning. Then you will know [with great confidence] that I am the LORD.  
Ez3612 Yes, [O mountains of Israel] I will cause men—My people Israel—to walk on you and take possession of you, so that you will become their inheritance and never again bereave them of children.’  
Ez3613 “Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because they say to you, “You [O land] are a devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,”  
Ez3614 therefore you will no longer devour people, and no longer bereave your nation of children,’ says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3615 I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you bear disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you cause your nation to stumble [through idolatry] any longer,” says the Lord GOD.’”  
Ez3616 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3617 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their [own] behavior and by their [idolatrous] actions. Their conduct before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman during her [physical] impurity.  
Ez3618 So I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land and because they had defiled it with their idols.  
Ez3619 Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the countries. I judged and punished them in accordance with their conduct and their [idolatrous] behavior.  
Ez3620 When they came to the nations wherever they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD; yet they have come out of His land.’  
Ez3621 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.  
Ez3622 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.  
Ez3623 I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.  
Ez3624 For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.  
Ez3625 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols.  
Ez3626 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  
Ez3627 I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My ordinances and do them.  
Ez3628 You will live in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God.  
Ez3629 I will also save you from all your uncleanness, and I will call for the grain and make it abundant, and I will not bring famine on you.  
Ez3630 I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not suffer again the disgrace of famine among the nations.  
Ez3631 Then you will remember [clearly] your [own] evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your sins and for your outrageous atrocities.  
Ez3632 I am not doing this for your sake,” says the Lord GOD. “Let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your [wicked] ways, O house of Israel!”  
Ez3633 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your sins I will also cause the cities [of Israel] to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.  
Ez3634 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by.  
Ez3635 Then they will say, ‘This land that was deserted and desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’  
Ez3636 Then the nations that are left around you will know that I the LORD have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and will do it.”  
Ez3637 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock.  
Ez3638 Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the desolate cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know [with confident assurance] that I am the LORD.”’”  
Ez3701 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.  
Ez3702 He caused me to pass all around them, and behold, there were very many [human bones] in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.  
Ez3703 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”  
Ez3704 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’  
Ez3705 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life.  
Ez3706 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.’”  
Ez3707 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  
Ez3708 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on the bones, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.  
Ez3709 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”  
Ez3710 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.  
Ez3711 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’  
Ez3712 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will open your graves and make you come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you [back home] to the land of Israel.  
Ez3713 Then you will know [with confidence] that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and made you come up out of your graves, My people.  
Ez3714 I will put My Spirit in you and you will come to life, and I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and fulfilled it,” says the LORD.’”  
Ez3715 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,  
Ez3716 “And you, son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’  
Ez3717 Then join them together into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand.  
Ez3718 When your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’  
Ez3719 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join the stick of Judah with it and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’  
Ez3720 The sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.  
Ez3721 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am going to take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;  
Ez3722 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king over all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and will no longer be divided into two kingdoms.  
Ez3723 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will save them from all their transgressions in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse them. So they will be My people, and I will be their God.  
Ez3724 “My servant David will be king over them, and they all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them.  
Ez3725 They will live in the land where your fathers lived, [the land] that I gave to My servant Jacob, and they will live there, they and their children and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David will be their leader forever.  
Ez3726 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will put My sanctuary in their midst forever.  
Ez3727 My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.  
Ez3728 Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD who sets apart and sanctifies Israel [for holy use], when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’”  
Ez3801 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Ez3802 “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,  
Ez3803 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.  
Ez3804 I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;  
Ez3805 Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put (Libya, N. Africa) with them, all of them with shield and helmet;  
Ez3806 Gomer and all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north and all its troops—many peoples with you.  
Ez3807 You [Gog] be prepared; prepare yourself, you and all your hordes that are assembled around you, and be a guard and a lookout for them.  
Ez3808 After many days you will be summoned [for service]; in the latter years you shall come into the land that is restored from [the ravages of] the sword, where people have been gathered out of many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual wasteland; but its people were brought out of the nations, and they are living securely, all of them.  
Ez3809 You will go up [against them], you will come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”  
Ez3810 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It will come about on that day that thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan,  
Ez3811 and you will say, ‘I will go up against an open country; I will come against those who are at rest and peaceful, who live securely, all of them living without walls and having neither bars nor gates,  
Ez3812 to take spoil and seize plunder, to turn your hand against the ruins which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world [Israel].’  
Ez3813 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish (southern Spain), with all its young lions (villages) will say to you, ‘Have you come to take spoil? Have you assembled your hordes [of fighting men] to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?’”’  
Ez3814 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On that day when My people Israel live securely, will you not become aware of it [and become active]?  
Ez3815 You will come from your place in the remote parts of the north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding horses, a great horde, and a mighty army;  
Ez3816 and you will go up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. In the last days it will come about that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes, O Gog.”  
Ez3817 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you (Gog) against them?  
Ez3818 It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My wrath will rise and show on My face.  
Ez3819 In My zeal and in My blazing rage I declare that on that day there will most certainly be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,  
Ez3820 so that the fishes of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth will tremble and shake at My presence; the mountains will crumble, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground.  
Ez3821 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s (invading soldier’s) sword will be against his brother (ally) [in panic and confusion].  
Ez3822 With pestilence and with bloodshed I will enter into judgment with Gog; and I will rain on him torrents of rain with [great] hailstones, fire and brimstone on his hordes and on the many nations that are with him.  
Ez3823 Thus I shall magnify Myself and demonstrate My greatness and sanctify Myself, and I will be recognized and will make Myself known in the sight of many nations; they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’  
Ez3901 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince (ruler) of Meshech and Tubal;  
Ez3902 and I will turn you around and lead you along, and bring you up from the remotest parts of the north, and I will bring you against the mountains of Israel.  
Ez3903 I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows to fall out of your right hand.  
Ez3904 You will fall [dead] on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the nations who are with you. I will give you to every kind of predatory bird and animal of the field as food.  
Ez3905 You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3906 “I will also send fire on Magog and on those who live securely in the coastlands; and they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.  
Ez3907 “I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore; and the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.  
Ez3908 Behold, it is coming and it will be done,” says the Lord GOD. “That is the day of which I have spoken.  
Ez3909 And [when you, Gog, no longer exist] those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both the [large] shields and the bucklers (small shields), the bows and the arrows, the war clubs and the spears; and for seven years they will burn them.  
Ez3910 They will not take any wood from the field or cut down and gather [any] firewood from the forests, because they will make their fires using the weapons. And they will take the spoil from those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3911 “And on that day I will give Gog a place for burial there in Israel, the valley of those who pass through east of the sea, and it will block the way of those who would pass through. So they will bury Gog there with all his hordes, and they will call it the Valley of Hamon-gog (the multitude of Gog).  
Ez3912 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land.  
Ez3913 Yes, all the people of the land will bury them; and it will be to their renown on the day that I appear in My glory and brilliance,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3914 “They will elect men who will constantly go through the land, [men commissioned] to bury those who were passing through, those bodies that lie unburied on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will do a search.  
Ez3915 As those who pass through the land pass through and anyone sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it, until the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.  
Ez3916 And even the name of the city will be Hamonah. In this manner they shall cleanse the land.”’  
Ez3917 “As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Say to every kind of bird and to every animal of the field, “Assemble and come, gather from every side to My sacrifice that I am slaughtering for you, as a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you will eat flesh and drink blood.  
Ez3918 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan [east of the Jordan].  
Ez3919 So you will eat fat until you are filled and drink blood till you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast which I have prepared for you.  
Ez3920 You will eat your fill at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men, and with all the men of war,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez3921 “And I will bring [and manifest] My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment and justice [in the punishment] which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them.  
Ez3922 So the house of Israel will know [with absolute confidence] that I am the LORD their God from that day forward.  
Ez3923 And the nations will know [without any doubt] that the house of Israel went into exile for their great sin, because they acted treacherously against Me; and I hid My face (favor, blessing) from them. So I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell [into captivity or were killed] by [the power of] the sword.  
Ez3924 I dealt with them in accordance with their uncleanness and their transgressions, and I hid My face from them.”’”  
Ez3925 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob (Israel) and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine].  
Ez3926 They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery (unfaithfulness) which they perpetuated against Me, when they live securely in their own land and there is no one who makes them afraid.  
Ez3927 When I bring them back from the nations and gather them out of their enemies’ lands, then I shall show Myself holy [and My justice and holiness will be vindicated] through them in the sight of many nations.  
Ez3928 Then they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them to their own land. I will leave none of them there [among the nations] any longer.  
Ez3929 I will not hide My face from them any longer, because I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4001 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile [in Babylon], in the beginning of the year, on the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city [of Jerusalem] was taken, on that [very] same day the hand of the LORD was upon me and He brought me there.  
Ez4002 In the visions of God He brought me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain, on the south side of which there was what seemed to be a structure of a city.  
Ez4003 So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man [an angel] whose appearance was like bronze, with a line of flax and a measuring rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway.  
Ez4004 The man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and set your heart on all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here that I may show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”  
Ez4005 And behold, there was a wall all around the outside [area] of the temple (house) [of the LORD], and in the man’s hand a measuring rod six cubits long (10.2 ft.), each cubit being longer than the standard one by a hand width. So he measured the thickness of the wall, one rod; and the height, one rod.  
Ez4006 Then he went to the gate which faced the east and went up its [seven] steps and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in width; and the other threshold [of the gate inside the thick wall] was one rod in width.  
Ez4007 The guardroom was one rod long and one rod wide, and [the space] between the guardrooms was five cubits. And the threshold of the gate by the porch (portico) of the gate facing inward was one rod.  
Ez4008 He also measured the porch of the gate facing inward [toward the temple of the LORD], one rod.  
Ez4009 Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits, and its side pillars, two cubits. The porch of the gate faced inward [toward the temple of the LORD].  
Ez4010 There were three guardrooms on each side of the gate toward the east; the three were the same size, and the side pillars on each side measured the same.  
Ez4011 And he measured the width of the gateway, ten cubits, and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.  
Ez4012 On each side a border (barrier wall) one cubit wide stood in front of the guardrooms on each side; and the guardrooms were six cubits square on each side.  
Ez4013 He measured the gate from the roof of one guardroom to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits from one door to the opposite door.  
Ez4014 He made [the measurement of] the side pillars sixty cubits high; the gate extended all around to the side pillar of the courtyard.  
Ez4015 From the front of the entrance gate [on the outside] to the front of the inner porch (portico) of the gate [the distance] was fifty cubits.  
Ez4016 There were shuttered windows looking toward the guardrooms, and toward their side pillars within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. And windows were all around inside; and palm tree decorations were on each side pillar.  
Ez4017 Then he brought me into the outer courtyard, and behold, there were chambers and a pavement made for the courtyard all around; thirty chambers faced the pavement.  
Ez4018 The pavement (that is, the lower pavement) was by the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates.  
Ez4019 Then he measured the width from the front of the lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner court, a hundred cubits [both] on the east and on the north.  
Ez4020 And as for the gate of the outer courtyard which faced the north he measured [both] its length and its width.  
Ez4021 Its guardrooms, three on each side, and its side pillars and its porches had the same measurement as the first gate. Its length was fifty cubits and the width was twenty-five cubits.  
Ez4022 Its windows and its porches and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as the gate that faced toward the east. It was reached by going up seven steps, and its porch was in front of them.  
Ez4023 The inner courtyard had a gate opposite the gate on the north as well as the gate on the east; and he measured a hundred cubits from gate to gate.  
Ez4024 Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a gate toward the south; and he measured its side pillars and its porches, and they measured the same as the others.  
Ez4025 The gate and its porches had windows all around like those windows [in the other gateways]; the length was fifty cubits and the width was twenty-five cubits.  
Ez4026 There were seven steps going up to the gate, and its porches were in front of them; and it had palm tree decorations [carved] on its side pillars, one on each side.  
Ez4027 The inner courtyard had a gate toward the south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a hundred cubits.  
Ez4028 Then the man (angel) brought me to the inner courtyard by the south gate; and he measured the south gate according to those same measurements.  
Ez4029 Its guardrooms also, its side pillars and its porches measured the same as the others. And the gate and its porches had windows all around; the length was fifty cubits and the width was twenty-five cubits.  
Ez4030 There were porches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide.  
Ez4031 Its porches faced the outer courtyard; and palm tree decorations were [carved] on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight steps.  
Ez4032 He brought me into the inner courtyard toward the east, and he measured the gate; it measured the same as the others.  
Ez4033 Its guardrooms also, its side pillars and its porches measured the same as the others. The gate and its porches had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.  
Ez4034 Its porches faced the outer courtyard; and palm tree decorations were [carved] on either side of its side pillars, and its stairway had eight steps.  
Ez4035 Then he brought me to the north gate and he measured it; the measurements were the same as those of the other gates,  
Ez4036 with its guardrooms, its side pillars, its porches; and the gate had windows all around. The length was fifty cubits and the width was twenty-five cubits.  
Ez4037 Its side pillars faced the outer courtyard, and palm tree decorations were [carved] on them on either side. And its stairway had eight steps.  
Ez4038 A chamber with its doorway was by the side pillars of the gates; there the burnt offering was to be washed.  
Ez4039 In the porch (portico) of the gate were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering.  
Ez4040 On the outer side, as one went up to the gateway toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables.  
Ez4041 Four tables were on each side next to the gate; [a total of] eight tables on which they slaughter sacrifices.  
Ez4042 Moreover, there were four tables of hewn stone (ashlar) for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high, on which they lay the instruments with which they slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice.  
Ez4043 The double hooks, one hand width in length were installed in the house all around. The meat of the offering was [to be placed] on the tables.  
Ez4044 From the outside to the inner gate were chambers for the singers in the inner courtyard, one of which was beside the north gate, with its front toward the south, and one beside the south gate facing toward the north.  
Ez4045 He [who was guiding me] said to me, “This is the chamber which faces toward the south; it is for the priests who have the responsibility and take care of the temple;  
Ez4046 but the chamber which faces toward the north is for the priests who have the responsibility and take care of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who [alone] from the sons of Levi come near to the LORD to minister to Him.”  
Ez4047 He measured the courtyard, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide, a perfect square; and the altar was in front of the temple.  
Ez4048 Then he brought me to the porch of the temple, and he measured each side pillar of the porch, five cubits on each side; and the width of the gate was three cubits on each side.  
Ez4049 The length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits; and at the stairway by which it was ascended, there were [two] columns beside the side pillars, one on each side [of the entrance].  
Ez4101 Then he (the angel) brought me to the nave (outer sanctuary) and measured the side pillars; six cubits wide on each side was the width of the side pillar.  
Ez4102 The width of the entrance was ten cubits and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on each side; and he measured its length, forty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits.  
Ez4103 Then he went inside [the inner sanctuary] and measured each side pillar of the doorway, two cubits, and the doorway, six cubits [high], and the width of the doorway, seven cubits.  
Ez4104 He measured the length [of the interior of the inner sanctuary], twenty cubits, and the width, twenty cubits, opposite the nave (outer sanctuary); and he said to me, “This is the Most Holy Place.”  
Ez4105 Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits [thick, to accommodate side chambers]; and the width of every side chamber, four cubits, all around the temple on every side.  
Ez4106 The side chambers were three stories [high], one above another, and thirty chambers in each story; and the side chambers extended to the wall which stood on their inward side all around, so that they would be attached, but not attached to the wall of the temple itself.  
Ez4107 The side chambers became wider at each successive level as they encompassed the temple. Because the structure surrounding the temple went higher by stages on all sides of the temple, for that reason the width of the temple increased as it went higher; and thus one went up from the lowest story to the highest one by way of the second story.  
Ez4108 I also saw that the temple (house) had a raised platform all around it; the foundations of the side chambers measured a full rod of six long cubits in height.  
Ez4109 The thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits. But the free space between the side chambers belonging to the temple  
Ez4110 and the outer chambers was a width of twenty cubits all around the temple on every side.  
Ez4111 The doorways of the side chambers toward the free space were one doorway toward the north and another doorway toward the south; and the width of the free space was five cubits all around.  
Ez4112 The building that was in front of the separate area on the side toward the west was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its length was ninety cubits.  
Ez4113 Then he measured the temple, a hundred cubits long; the separate area and the building with its walls were also a hundred cubits long.  
Ez4114 Also the width of the front of the temple and the separate areas along the east side totaled a hundred cubits.  
Ez4115 He (the angel) measured the length of the building along the front of the separate area behind it, with a gallery on each side, a hundred cubits; he also measured the inner sanctuary and the porches (porticoes) of the courtyard.  
Ez4116 The thresholds, the latticed windows, and the galleries all around their three stories, opposite the threshold, were paneled with wood all around, and from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered),  
Ez4117 over the entrance, and to the inner room, and on the outside, and on all the wall all around inside and outside, by measurement.  
Ez4118 It was carved with [figures of] cherubim and palm trees; so that a palm decoration was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces,  
Ez4119 so that the face of a man was toward the palm decoration on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm decoration on the other side. It was carved [this way] on the entire house (temple) all around.  
Ez4120 From the floor to [the space] above the entrance cherubim and palm decorations were carved, and also on the wall of the nave [the Holy Place].  
Ez4121 The doorposts of the nave were square; as for the front of the sanctuary, the appearance of one doorpost was like that of the other.  
Ez4122 The altar was of wood, three cubits high and two cubits long; and its corners, its base, and its sides were wood. And he said to me, “This is the table that is before the LORD.”  
Ez4123 The nave (Holy Place) and the sanctuary (Holy of Holies) each had a double door.  
Ez4124 Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging (folding) leaves; two leaves for the one door and two leaves for the other.  
Ez4125 And there were carved on them, on the doors of the nave, cherubim and palm decorations like those carved on the walls; and there was a threshold of wood on the front of the porch outside.  
Ez4126 There were latticed windows and palm decorations on one side and on the other, on the sides of the porch. Thus were the side chambers and the thresholds of the house.  
Ez4201 Then he (the angel) brought me out into the outer courtyard, toward the north; and he led me to the [attached] chamber which was opposite the separate area and opposite the building to the north.  
Ez4202 Along the length, one hundred cubits, was the north door; and the width was fifty cubits.  
Ez4203 Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner courtyard, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer courtyard, was gallery (balcony) corresponding to gallery in three stories.  
Ez4204 In front of the [attached] chambers was an inner walkway ten cubits wide and one hundred cubits long; and their entrances were on the north.  
Ez4205 Now the upper chambers were smaller because the galleries took away more space from them than from the chambers on the lower and middle stories of the building;  
Ez4206 for they were in three stories and did not have pillars like the pillars of the [outer] courtyards; therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones.  
Ez4207 And the outer wall, by the side of the chambers, toward the outer courtyard facing the chambers, was fifty cubits long.  
Ez4208 For the length of the chambers which were in the outer courtyard was fifty cubits, while the length of those facing the temple was a hundred cubits.  
Ez4209 Below these chambers was the entrance on the east side, as one enters them from the outer courtyard.  
Ez4210 In the width of the wall of the courtyard toward the east, facing the separate area and facing the building, were chambers;  
Ez4211 and a passage in front of them was like the appearance of the [attached] chambers on the north, and they had the same length and width, and all their exits were like both their arrangements and their entrances.  
Ez4212 And like the entrances of the chambers that were toward the south there was an entrance at the head of the walkway, the walkway in front of the dividing wall toward the east, as one enters them.  
Ez4213 Then he (the angel) said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separate area, are the holy chambers where the priests who are close to the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall place the most holy things—the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering—for the place is holy.  
Ez4214 When the priests enter [the Holy Place], they shall not go out from the sanctuary into the outer court unless they lay there their garments in which they minister, for these are holy (set apart). They shall put on other garments before they approach that which is for the people.”  
Ez4215 Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out toward the gate which faced east and measured the outer area all around.  
Ez4216 He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.  
Ez4217 He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.  
Ez4218 He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.  
Ez4219 He turned about to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.  
Ez4220 He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, the length five hundred and the width five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy [the temple proper] and that which was common [the outer area].  
Ez4301 Then he (the angel) led me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east.  
Ez4302 And behold, the glory and brilliance of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east; and His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.  
Ez4303 And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw, like the vision I saw when He came to destroy the city. And the visions were like the vision I saw beside the River Chebar [near Babylon]; and I fell face downward.  
Ez4304 And the glory and brilliance of the LORD entered the temple by way of the gate facing toward the east.  
Ez4305 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner courtyard; and behold, the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the temple.  
Ez4306 And I heard One speaking to me from the temple, while a man was standing beside me.  
Ez4307 And He [the LORD] said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the sons (descendants) of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their [idolatrous] prostitution and by the corpses and monuments of their kings in their graves,  
Ez4308 by setting their threshold by My threshold and their doorpost beside My doorpost, with [only] the wall between Me and them. They have defiled and desecrated My holy name by the vile atrocities which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger.  
Ez4309 Now let them put far away from Me their [idolatrous] prostitution and the corpses and monuments of their kings, and I will dwell in their midst forever.  
Ez4310 “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins; and let them measure its plan [in detail].  
Ez4311 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple (house), its layout, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its statutes and do them.  
Ez4312 This is the law of the temple: Its entire area all around on the top of the mountain (Mount Moriah) shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.  
Ez4313 “And these are the measurements of the altar [of burnt offering] in cubits (the cubit being a [long] cubit [the length of a forearm] and a hand width): the base shall be a cubit [long] and a cubit wide, with its border on its edge all around it of a span [in width]. And this shall be the height of the base of the altar.  
Ez4314 From the base on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits and the width one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge shall be four cubits and the width one cubit.  
Ez4315 The altar hearth shall be four cubits high, and from the altar hearth shall extend upwards four horns [one from each corner, each one cubit high].  
Ez4316 Now the altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides.  
Ez4317 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide on its four sides, and the border around it shall be half a cubit; and its base shall be a cubit all around, and its steps shall face the east.”  
Ez4318 And He [the LORD] said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘These are the statutes and regulations for [the use of] the altar on the day that it is built, to offer burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it.  
Ez4319 You shall give to the priests, the Levites who are from the descendants of Zadok, who are close to Me to minister to Me,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘a young bull for a sin offering [as a memorial to Christ’s sacrifice].  
Ez4320 And you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns [of the altar of burnt offering] and on the four corners of the ledge and on the border all around; thus you shall cleanse it (from sin) and make atonement for it.  
Ez4321 You shall also take the bull for the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the temple, outside the sanctuary.  
Ez4322 ‘On the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering, and they shall cleanse the altar as they cleansed it with the bull.  
Ez4323 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.  
Ez4324 You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.  
Ez4325 For seven days you shall prepare daily a goat for a sin offering; also a young bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be prepared.  
Ez4326 For seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it; so the priests shall consecrate it [to receive offerings].  
Ez4327 When they have completed these days, on the eighth day and from then onward, the priests shall offer your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,’ says the Lord GOD.”  
Ez4401 Then He brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces the east; and it was shut.  
Ez4402 Then the LORD said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.  
Ez4403 As for the prince, he shall sit in it as prince to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the porch (portico) of the gate and shall go out the same way.”  
Ez4404 Then He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the house; I looked, and behold, the glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the house of the LORD, and I fell face downward.  
Ez4405 The LORD said to me, “Son of man, pay careful attention, see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the statutes of the house of the LORD and all its laws; and pay careful attention to the entering of the house [by people], with all the departures from the sanctuary [of people, those who are allowed to enter the temple and all those who are excluded from the sanctuary].  
Ez4406 You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Enough of all your repulsive acts, O house of Israel!  
Ez4407 In that you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to pollute and profane it—My house—when you offered My bread, the fat, and the blood; and they made My covenant void —this in addition to all your other repulsive acts.  
Ez4408 And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have chosen foreigners [to please yourselves] and have set them in charge of My sanctuary.”  
Ez4409 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary.  
Ez4410 But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear the punishment for their sin and guilt.  
Ez4411 Yet they shall minister in My sanctuary, having oversight [as guards] at the gates of the temple and ministering in the temple. They shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.  
Ez4412 Because the priests ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of sin to the house of Israel, therefore I have lifted up My hand and have sworn [an oath] against them,” says the Lord GOD, “that they shall bear the punishment for their sin and guilt.  
Ez4413 And they shall not come near to Me to serve as priests to Me, nor come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame and their disgrace and [the consequences of] their repulsive acts which they have committed.  
Ez4414 Yet I will appoint them as caretakers of the temple, for all its service and for all that shall be done in it.  
Ez4415 “But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of My sanctuary when the children (descendants) of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” declares the Lord GOD.  
Ez4416 “They shall enter into My sanctuary; and they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and they shall perform [the priestly] duty to me.  
Ez4417 It shall be that when they enter the gates of the inner courtyard, they shall be clothed in linen garments; no wool shall be on them while they minister at the gates of the inner courtyard and within the temple (house).  
Ez4418 They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments on their loins; they shall not dress themselves with anything which makes them sweat.  
Ez4419 When they go out into the outer court, into the outer courtyard to the people, they shall take off the garments in which they have been ministering and leave them in the holy chambers; then they shall put on other clothing so that they will not transmit holiness to the people with their [ceremonial] garments.  
Ez4420 Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not allow their hair to grow long; they shall only cut short or trim their hair.  
Ez4421 Nor shall any priest drink wine when he enters the inner courtyard.  
Ez4422 And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman; but they shall marry virgins of the descendants of the house of Israel, or a widow who was previously married to a priest.  
Ez4423 The priests shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and teach them to distinguish between the (ceremonially) unclean and the clean.  
Ez4424 In a controversy they shall take their stand to act as judges; they shall judge it in accordance with My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts and sanctify My Sabbaths.  
Ez4425 They shall not go to a dead person to defile themselves; except for father or for mother, for son or for daughter, for brother or for sister who has had no husband; they may defile themselves.  
Ez4426 After he is cleansed [from the defilement of a corpse], seven days more shall elapse for him [before returning to the temple].  
Ez4427 On the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner courtyard to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4428 “It [their ministry to Me] shall be as an inheritance to them, for I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no property (land) in Israel, for I am their possession.  
Ez4429 They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering; and every devoted thing (offering) in Israel [dedicated by a solemn vow to God] shall be theirs.  
Ez4430 The first of all the first fruits of every kind, and every contribution and offering of every kind, from all your contributions and offerings, shall belong to the priests. You shall also give to the priest the first of your coarse meal and bread dough, so that a blessing may rest on your house.  
Ez4431 The priests shall not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or has been torn to pieces.  
Ez4501 “Moreover, when you divide the land by lot for inheritance, you shall [set apart and] offer an allotment (contribution) to the LORD, a holy portion of the land [to be used for sacred purposes]. The length shall be 25,000 cubits, and the width shall be 20,000 cubits. It shall be holy (set apart for sacred use) within its every area.  
Ez4502 Of this there shall be a square plot five hundred by five hundred cubits in perimeter for the holy place, and fifty cubits for the open space around it.  
Ez4503 And in this area you shall measure off a portion 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 cubits in width. And in it shall be the sanctuary which is most holy.  
Ez4504 It shall be the holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to minister to the LORD, and it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary.  
Ez4505 And another portion of land 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide shall be for the Levites, the ministers of the temple (house), and they shall possess it as a place in which to live.  
Ez4506 “You shall give the city possession of an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, alongside the portion set aside as a holy section. It shall belong to the whole house of Israel.  
Ez4507 “The prince shall have land on either side of the portion set aside as a holy section and the property of the city, adjacent to the holy section and the property of the city, on the west side toward the west and on the east side toward the east, and in length comparable to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border.  
Ez4508 This shall be his land for a possession in Israel; so My princes shall no longer oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.”  
Ez4509 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop your forceful seizure of property from My people,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4510 “You shall have just balances and weights [on your scales and just measures], a just ephah [dry volume measure] and a just bath [liquid measure].  
Ez4511 The ephah and the bath [measures] shall be the same quantity, the bath containing one tenth of a homer and the ephah one tenth of a homer; their standard [measure] shall be according to the homer.  
Ez4512 The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels [added together, a total of sixty] shall be your maneh (mina).  
Ez4513 “This is the offering that you shall offer: a sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat; a sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley;  
Ez4514 and the prescribed portion of oil, (namely, the bath of oil), a tenth part of a bath [of oil] from each kor (which is ten baths or a homer, for ten baths make a homer);  
Ez4515 and [you shall offer] one sheep out of every flock of two hundred from the watering places of Israel—for a grain offering, for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings to make atonement for [those who brought] them,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4516 “All the people of the land shall give to this offering for the prince in Israel.  
Ez4517 It shall be the prince’s responsibility to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the drink offerings at the feasts, on the New Moons and on the Sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He shall prepare and provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.”  
Ez4518 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “In the first month, on the first of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and cleanse the sanctuary (from sin).  
Ez4519 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the door posts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the posts of the gate of the inner courtyard.  
Ez4520 You shall do this on the seventh [day] of the month for everyone who goes astray [and sins through error or ignorance] and for him who is naive; so shall you make atonement for the temple (house).  
Ez4521 “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.  
Ez4522 On that day the prince shall provide for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering.  
Ez4523 And for the seven days of the feast he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams without blemish on every day for the seven days, and a male goat daily for a sin offering.  
Ez4524 He shall provide as a grain offering [to be offered] with each bull an ephah [of grain], an ephah with each ram, and a hin of oil with each ephah [of grain].  
Ez4525 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month at the feast, he shall provide [offerings] like these for the seven days, as the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the oil.”  
Ez4601 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “The gate of the inner courtyard that faces east shall be shut during the six working days, but it shall be opened on the Sabbath day and opened on the day of the New Moon.  
Ez4602 The prince shall enter by the porch (portico) of the gate from outside and stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall prepare and provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate and then go out; but the gate shall not be shut until evening.  
Ez4603 The people of the land shall also worship at the entrance of that gate before the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons.  
Ez4604 The burnt offering which the prince shall offer to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish.  
Ez4605 The grain offering shall be an ephah with the ram, and the grain offering with the lambs as much as he is able to give, and a hin of oil with an ephah.  
Ez4606 On the day of the New Moon he shall offer a young bull without blemish, also six lambs and a ram, without blemish.  
Ez4607 And he shall provide a grain offering, an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he is able, and a hin of oil with an ephah.  
Ez4608 When the prince enters, he shall enter by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way.  
Ez4609 But when the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate through which he entered, but shall go out straight ahead [through the opposite gate].  
Ez4610 When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out.  
Ez4611 “At the feasts and the appointed festivals the grain offering shall be an ephah with a bull and an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as one is able to give, and a hin of oil with an ephah.  
Ez4612 When the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings voluntarily to the LORD, the gate that faces east shall be opened for him, and he shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out the gate shall be shut.  
Ez4613 “And you [priests] shall provide a lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD each day; morning by morning you shall provide it.  
Ez4614 Also you shall provide a grain offering with it morning by morning, one-sixth of an ephah with one-third of a hin of oil to sprinkle on the finely-milled flour. This is a perpetual ordinance for a continual grain offering to the LORD.  
Ez4615 Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering and the oil every morning as a continual burnt offering.”  
Ez4616 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons from his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons [permanently]; it is their possession by inheritance.  
Ez4617 But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his until the year of liberty [the Year of Jubilee]; after that it shall be returned to the prince. His inheritance shall be only his sons’ [permanently]; it shall belong to them.  
Ez4618 Moreover, the prince shall not take from the people’s inheritance by oppression and by evicting them from their property; he shall give his sons an inheritance from his own possession, so that My people will not be scattered, anyone from his possession.”’”  
Ez4619 Then he [my guide] brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests, which faced the north; and behold, a place was there at their extreme westward end.  
Ez4620 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil (cook) the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer courtyard to transmit holiness to the people.”  
Ez4621 Then he brought me out into the outer courtyard and led me across to the four corners of the courtyard; and behold, in every corner of the courtyard there was a small courtyard.  
Ez4622 In the four corners of the courtyard there were enclosed courtyards, forty cubits long and thirty wide; these four in the corners were the same size.  
Ez4623 There was a row of masonry all around inside them, around [each of] the four courtyards, and it was made with cooking hearths under the rows all around.  
Ez4624 Then he said to me, “These are the kitchens of the cooks, where the ministers (Levites) of the temple shall boil (cook) the sacrifices of the people.”  
Ez4701 Then he [my guide] brought me back to the door of the house [the temple of the LORD]; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house (temple) toward the east, for the front of the temple was facing east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.  
Ez4702 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by the way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was spurting out from the south side [of the gate].  
Ez4703 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water that was ankle-deep.  
Ez4704 Again he measured a thousand [cubits] and led me through the water, water that was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand [cubits] and led me through the water, water reaching the hips.  
Ez4705 Again he measured a thousand [cubits]; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be crossed [by wading].  
Ez4706 And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.  
Ez4707 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.  
Ez4708 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley); then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the Dead Sea shall be healed and become fresh.  
Ez4709 It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there so that the waters of the sea are healed and become fresh; so everything will live wherever the river goes.  
Ez4710 And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it [at the banks of the Dead Sea]; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be dry places to spread nets. Their fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great [Mediterranean] Sea.  
Ez4711 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh [and wholesome for animal life]; they will [as the river subsides] be left encrusted with salt.  
Ez4712 By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They shall bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”  
Ez4713 Thus says the Lord GOD, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions.  
Ez4714 You shall divide it as an inheritance, each one equally with the other. I lifted up My hand and swore to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you as an inheritance.  
Ez4715 “And this shall be the boundary of the land on the north side: from the Great [Mediterranean] Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad,  
Ez4716 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; [as far as] Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.  
Ez4717 So the boundary will extend from the [Mediterranean] Sea to Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north, northward, is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.  
Ez4718 “The east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.  
Ez4719 “The south side, southward, from Tamar [near the Dead Sea] shall extend as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the Brook of Egypt and to the Great [Mediterranean] Sea. This is the south side toward the south.  
Ez4720 “The west side shall be the Great [Mediterranean] Sea, from the south border to a point opposite Lebo-hamath [north of Mount Hermon]. This is the west side.  
Ez4721 “So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.  
Ez4722 You shall divide it by lot as an inheritance among yourselves and among the foreigners who stay among you, who give birth to sons among you. They shall be to you as the native-born [in the country] among the children (descendants) of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.  
Ez4723 In whatever tribe the foreigner resides, there shall you give him his inheritance,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4801 “Now these are the names of the tribes: from the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, beside Hamath, and running from the east to the west, Dan, one portion.  
Ez4802 Beside the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion.  
Ez4803 Beside the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side, Naphtali, one portion.  
Ez4804 Beside the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.  
Ez4805 Beside the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion.  
Ez4806 Beside the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side, Reuben, one portion.  
Ez4807 Beside the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion.  
Ez4808 “And beside the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the allotment and contribution of land which you shall set apart and offer, 25,000 cubits in width, and in length like one of the [tribal] portions, from the east side to the west side; and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.  
Ez4809 The allotment [of land] that you shall set apart and offer to the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in width.  
Ez4810 The holy allotment shall be for these, namely for the priests, toward the north 25,000 cubits in length, and toward the west 10,000 in width, and toward the east 10,000 in width, and toward the south 25,000 in length; and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst of it.  
Ez4811 It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept My charge, and who did not go astray when the children (descendants) of Israel went astray as the [other] Levites did.  
Ez4812 And this [land offering] shall be an allotment to them from the allotment of the land, a most holy portion beside the border of the [other] Levites.  
Ez4813 Alongside the border of the priests, the [other] Levites shall have 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in width. The whole length shall be 25,000 cubits and the width 10,000.  
Ez4814 And they shall not sell any of it or exchange it, or allow this choice portion of land to pass to others; for it is holy to the LORD.  
Ez4815 “The remaining [strip of] 5,000 cubits in width and 25,000 in length shall be for the city’s common (secular) use, for a place in which to live and for open country. The city shall be in the midst of it.  
Ez4816 These shall be the measurements of it: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500, the east side 4,500, and the west side 4,500.  
Ez4817 The city shall have open country: toward the north 250 cubits, and toward the south 250, toward the east 250, and toward the west 250.  
Ez4818 The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be 10,000 cubits to the east and 10,000 to the west; and it shall be beside the holy allotment. The produce from it shall be food for the workers of the city.  
Ez4819 The workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel shall cultivate it.  
Ez4820 The whole allotment shall be 25,000 by 25,000 cubits; you shall set apart the holy allotment, a square, with the property of the city.  
Ez4821 “The remainder, on both sides of the holy allotment and of the property possessed by the city, shall belong to the prince. In front of the 25,000 cubits of the allotment toward the east border and westward in front of the 25,000 toward the west border, alongside the [tribal] portions, it shall be for the prince. The holy allotment with the sanctuary of the temple shall be in the midst of it.  
Ez4822 Exclusive of the property of the Levites and of the property of the city, which are in the middle of that which belongs to the prince, everything between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall be for the prince.  
Ez4823 “As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion.  
Ez4824 Beside the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.  
Ez4825 Beside the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion.  
Ez4826 Beside the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion.  
Ez4827 Beside the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion.  
Ez4828 And beside the border of Gad, at the south side, southward, the border shall extend from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the Brook [of Egypt], to the Great [Mediterranean] Sea.  
Ez4829 This is the land which you shall divide by lot among the tribes of Israel as their inheritance, and these are their several portions,” says the Lord GOD.  
Ez4830 “These are the exits of the city: on the north side, [which is to extend] 4,500 cubits by measurement,  
Ez4831 there shall also be gates of the city, named after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north: one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.  
Ez4832 On the east side, 4,500 cubits, also three gates: one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.  
Ez4833 On the south side, 4,500 cubits, by measurement, also three gates: one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.  
Ez4834 On the west side, 4,500 cubits, three gates: one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.  
Ez4835 The distance around the city shall be 18,000 (4 x 4,500) cubits; and the name of the city from that day [and ever after] shall be, ‘The LORD is There.’”  
Dn0101 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  
Dn0102 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles of the house of God; and he brought them into the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and brought the articles into the treasury of his god.  
Dn0103 And the [Babylonian] king told Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some from the royal family and from the nobles,  
Dn0104 young men without blemish and handsome in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with intelligence and discernment, and quick to understand, competent to stand [in the presence of the king] and able to serve in the king’s palace. He also ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.  
Dn0105 The king assigned a daily ration for them from his finest food and from the wine which he drank. They were to be educated and nourished this way for three years so that at the end of that time they were [prepared] to enter the king’s service.  
Dn0106 Among them from the sons of Judah were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  
Dn0107 The commander of the officials gave them [Babylonian] names: Daniel he named Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abed-nego.  
Dn0108 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile (taint, dishonor) himself with the king’s finest food or with the wine which the king drank; so he asked the commander of the officials that he might [be excused so that he would] not defile himself.  
Dn0109 Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials,  
Dn0110 and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has prearranged your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the young men who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.”  
Dn0111 But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,  
Dn0112 “Please, test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.  
Dn0113 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the young men who eat the king’s finest food be observed and compared by you, and deal with your servants in accordance with what you see.”  
Dn0114 So the man listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days.  
Dn0115 At the end of ten days it seemed that they were looking better and healthier than all the young men who ate the king’s finest food.  
Dn0116 So the overseer continued to withhold their fine food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables.  
Dn0117 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all kinds of literature and wisdom; Daniel also understood all kinds of visions and dreams.  
Dn0118 At the end of the time set by the king to bring all the young men in [before him], the commander of the officials presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.  
Dn0119 The king spoke with them, and among them all not one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; so they were [selected and] assigned to stand before the king and enter his personal service.  
Dn0120 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters (Magi) in his whole realm.  
Dn0121 And Daniel remained there until the first year of [the reign of] King Cyrus [over Babylon; now this was at the end of the seventy-year exile of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) in Babylonia, as foretold by Jeremiah].  
Dn0201 In the second year (604 B.C.) of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams which troubled and disturbed his spirit and [interfered with] his ability to sleep.  
Dn0202 Then the king gave a command to call the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.  
Dn0203 The king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled and anxious to know the [content and meaning of the] dream.”  
Dn0204 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.”  
Dn0205 The king replied to the Chaldeans, “My command is firm and unchangeable: if you do not reveal to me the [content of the] dream along with its interpretation, you shall be cut into pieces and your houses shall be made a heap of rubbish.  
Dn0206 But if you tell [me] the [content of the] dream along with its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”  
Dn0207 They answered again, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will explain its interpretation [to you].”  
Dn0208 The king replied, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, because you have seen that my command [to you] is firm and irrevocable.  
Dn0209 If you will not reveal to me the [content of the] dream, there is but one sentence for you; for you have [already] prepared lying and corrupt words [and you have agreed together] to speak [them] before me [hoping to delay your execution] until the situation is changed. Therefore, tell me the dream [first], and then I will know [with confidence] that you can give me its interpretation.”  
Dn0210 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king this matter, for no king, lord or ruler has ever asked such a thing as this of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.  
Dn0211 Furthermore, what the king demands is an unusual and difficult thing indeed! No one except the gods can reveal it to the king, and their dwelling is not with [mortal] flesh.”  
Dn0212 Because of this the king was indignant and extremely furious and gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.  
Dn0213 So the decree went out that the wise men were to be killed; and they looked for Daniel and his companions to put them to death.  
Dn0214 Then Daniel replied with discretion and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;  
Dn0215 he said to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh and urgent?” Then Arioch explained the matter to Daniel.  
Dn0216 So Daniel went in and asked the king to appoint a date and give him time, so that he might reveal to the king the interpretation of the dream.  
Dn0217 Then Daniel returned to his house and discussed the matter with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,  
Dn0218 in order that they might seek compassion from the God of heaven regarding this secret, so that Daniel and his companions would not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  
Dn0219 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.  
Dn0220 Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.  
Dn0221 “It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise And [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!  
Dn0222 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.  
Dn0223 “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us [the solution to] the king’s matter.”  
Dn0224 So Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said this to him: “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will reveal to the king the interpretation [of his dream].”  
Dn0225 Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel before the king and said this to him: “I have found a man among the exiles of Judah who can explain to the king the interpretation [of the dream].”  
Dn0226 The king said to Daniel, whose [Babylonian] name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to reveal to me the [content of the] dream which I have seen and its interpretation?”  
Dn0227 Daniel answered the king and said, “Regarding the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither the wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor astrologers are able to answer the king,  
Dn0228 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days (end of days). This was your dream and the vision [that appeared] in your mind while on your bed.  
Dn0229 As for you, O king, as you were lying on your bed thoughts came into your mind about what will take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has shown you what will occur.  
Dn0230 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because my wisdom is greater than that of any other living man, but in order to make the interpretation known to the king, and so that you may understand [fully] the thoughts of your mind.  
Dn0231 “You, O king, were looking, and behold, [there was] a single great statue; this image, which was large and of unsurpassed splendor, stood before you, and its appearance was awesome and terrifying.  
Dn0232 As for this statue, its head was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,  
Dn0233 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay [pottery].  
Dn0234 As you were looking, a stone was cut out without [human] hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.  
Dn0235 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together and became like the chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them could be found. And the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.  
Dn0236 “This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.  
Dn0237 You, O king, are the king of [earthly] kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory;  
Dn0238 and wherever the sons of men dwell, and the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You [king of Babylon] are the head of gold.  
Dn0239 After you will arise another kingdom (Medo-Persia) inferior to you, and then a third kingdom of bronze (Greece under Alexander the Great), which will rule over all the earth.  
Dn0240 Then a fourth kingdom (Rome) will be strong as iron, for iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things; and like iron which crushes things in pieces, it will break and crush all these [others].  
Dn0241 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but there will be in it some of the durability and strength of iron, just as you saw the iron mixed with common clay.  
Dn0242 As the [ten] toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and another part of it will be brittle.  
Dn0243 And as you saw the iron mixed with common clay, so they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not merge [for such diverse things or ideologies cannot unite], even as iron does not mix with clay.  
Dn0244 In the days of those [final ten] kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left for another people; but it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.  
Dn0245 Just as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has revealed to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”  
Dn0246 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell face downward and paid respect to Daniel [as a great prophet of the highest God], and gave orders for an offering and fragrant incense to be presented to him [in honor of his God].  
Dn0247 The king answered Daniel and said, “Most certainly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery!”  
Dn0248 Then the king promoted Daniel [to an exalted position] and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.  
Dn0249 And Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the court of the king.  
Dn0301 Nebuchadnezzar the king made a gold [-plated] image, whose height [including the pedestal] was sixty cubits (ninety feet) and its width six cubits (nine feet). He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.  
Dn0302 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and lawyers and all the chief officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.  
Dn0303 Then the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and lawyers, and all the chief officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before it.  
Dn0304 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and speakers of every language,  
Dn0305 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon (four-stringed harp), dulcimer, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.  
Dn0306 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.”  
Dn0307 So when the people heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, dulcimer, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.  
Dn0308 At that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought [malicious] accusations against the Jews.  
Dn0309 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever!  
Dn0310 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer, bagpipe, and all kinds of music is to fall down and worship the golden image.  
Dn0311 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.  
Dn0312 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”  
Dn0313 Then Nebuchadnezzar in a furious rage gave a command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and these men were brought before the king.  
Dn0314 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image which I have set up?  
Dn0315 Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, very good. But if you do not worship, you shall be thrown at once into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can rescue you out of my hands?”  
Dn0316 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you on this point.  
Dn0317 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king.  
Dn0318 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”  
Dn0319 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and his facial expression changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then he gave a command that the furnace was to be heated seven times hotter than usual.  
Dn0320 He commanded certain strong men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.  
Dn0321 Then these [three] men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their turbans, and their other clothes, and were thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire.  
Dn0322 Because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, the flame of the fire killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  
Dn0323 But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up.  
Dn0324 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king [looked and] was astounded, and he jumped up and said to his counselors, “Did we not throw three men who were tied up into the midst of the fire?” They replied to the king, “Certainly, O king.”  
Dn0325 He answered, “Look! I see four men untied, walking around in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt! And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”  
Dn0326 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego, servants of the Most High God, come out [of there]! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego came out of the midst of the fire.  
Dn0327 The satraps, the prefects, the governors and the king’s counselors gathered around them and saw that in regard to these men the fire had no effect on their bodies—their hair was not singed, their clothes were not scorched or damaged, even the smell of smoke was not on them.  
Dn0328 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who believed in, trusted in, and relied on Him! They violated the king’s command and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  
Dn0329 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego shall be cut into pieces and their houses be made a heap of rubbish, for there is no other god who is able to save in this way!”  
Dn0330 Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.  
Dn0401 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound!  
Dn0402 It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.  
Dn0403 “How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.  
Dn0404 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and prospering in my palace.  
Dn0405 I saw a dream and it made me afraid; and the fantasies and thoughts and the visions [that appeared] in my mind as I lay on my bed kept alarming me.  
Dn0406 So I gave orders to bring in before me all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.  
Dn0407 Then the magicians, the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were the master astrologers] and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it and make known its meaning to me.  
Dn0408 But at last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I told the dream to him, saying,  
Dn0409 ‘O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery baffles or troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.  
Dn0410 ‘The visions that passed through my mind as I lay on my bed were these: I was looking, and behold, there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was great.  
Dn0411 ‘The tree grew large and became strong And its height reached to heaven, And it was visible to the end of the earth.  
Dn0412 ‘Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, And the birds of the sky nested in its branches, And all living creatures fed themselves from it.  
Dn0413 ‘And behold, I saw in the visions of my mind as I lay on my bed, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.  
Dn0414 ‘He shouted aloud and said this: “Cut down the tree and cut off its branches; Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; Let the living creatures run from under it And the birds fly from its branches.  
Dn0415 “Nevertheless leave the stump with its roots in the ground, Bound with a band of iron and bronze In the new grass of the field; And let him be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him feed with the animals in the grass of the earth.  
Dn0416 “Let his mind and nature be changed from a man’s And let an animal’s mind and nature be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him.  
Dn0417 “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, So that the living may know [without any doubt] That the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind And He bestows it on whomever He desires And sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.”  
Dn0418 This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, explain its meaning, since none of the wise men of my kingdom are able to reveal its interpretation to me; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’  
Dn0419 “Then Daniel, whose [Babylonian] name was Belteshazzar, was appalled and speechless for a while [because he was deeply concerned about the destiny of the king], and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation frighten you.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, may the dream be [meant] for those who hate you and its message for your enemies!  
Dn0420 The tree that you saw, which became great and grew strong, whose height reached to heaven and which was visible to all the earth,  
Dn0421 whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and on which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the sky nested—  
Dn0422 it is you, O king, who have become great and grown strong; your greatness has increased and it reaches to heaven, and your dominion [reaches] to the ends of the earth.  
Dn0423 In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Cut the tree down and destroy it; but leave the stump with its roots in the earth, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him feed with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,”  
Dn0424 this is the interpretation, O king: It is the decree of the Most High [God], which has come upon my lord the king:  
Dn0425 that you shall be driven from mankind and your dwelling place shall be with the beasts of the field; and that you be given grass to eat like the cattle and be wet with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know [without any doubt] that the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind and He bestows it to whomever He desires.  
Dn0426 And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree [in the earth], your kingdom shall be restored to you after you recognize (understand fully) that Heaven rules.  
Dn0427 Therefore, O king, let my advice to you be [considered and found] acceptable; break away now from your sins and exhibit your repentance by doing what is right, and from your wickedness by showing mercy to the poor, so that [if you repent] there may possibly be a continuance of your prosperity and tranquility and a healing of your error.’  
Dn0428 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.  
Dn0429 Twelve months later he was walking on the upper level of the royal palace of Babylon.  
Dn0430 The king said thoughtfully, ‘Is not this the great Babylon which I myself have built as the royal residence and seat of government by the might of my power and for the honor and glory of my majesty?’  
Dn0431 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came [as if falling] from heaven, saying, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: “The kingdom has been removed from you,  
Dn0432 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You will be given grass to eat like the cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He bestows it on whomever He desires.”’  
Dn0433 Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.  
Dn0434 “But at the end of the days [that is, at the seven periods of time], I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding and reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High [God] and I praised and honored and glorified Him who lives forever, For His dominion is an everlasting dominion; And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.  
Dn0435 “All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth; And no one can hold back His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’  
Dn0436 Now at the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor were returned to me, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was re- established in my kingdom, and still more greatness [than before] was added to me.  
Dn0437 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and faithful and His ways are just, and He is able to humiliate and humble those who walk in [self-centered, self-righteous] pride.”  
Dn0501 Belshazzar the king [who was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar] gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking his wine in the presence of the thousand [guests].  
Dn0502 Belshazzar, as he tasted the wine, gave a command to bring in the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them.  
Dn0503 Then they brought in the gold and silver vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them.  
Dn0504 They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.  
Dn0505 Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing opposite the lampstand on [a well-lit area of] the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that did the writing.  
Dn0506 Then the king’s face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; the joints and muscles of his hips and back weakened and his knees began knocking together.  
Dn0507 The king called aloud to bring in the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were master astrologers] and the diviners. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around his neck, and have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”  
Dn0508 Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or reveal to the king its interpretation.  
Dn0509 Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed, his face became even paler, and his nobles were bewildered and alarmed.  
Dn0510 Now the queen [mother], overhearing the [excited] words of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet area. The queen [mother] spoke and said, “O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your face be changed.  
Dn0511 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners.  
Dn0512 It was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve complex problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called and he will give the interpretation.”  
Dn0513 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the sons of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?  
Dn0514 I have heard of you, that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.  
Dn0515 Now the wise men and the enchanters, were brought in before me so that they might read this writing and reveal its meaning to me, but they could not give the interpretation of the message.  
Dn0516 But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to make interpretations and solve complex problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and reveal its interpretation to me, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around your neck, and you shall have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”  
Dn0517 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him.  
Dn0518 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and greatness and glory and majesty;  
Dn0519 and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language trembled and feared him. Whomever he wished he killed, and whomever he wished he kept alive; whomever he wished he promoted and whomever he wished he humbled.  
Dn0520 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him.  
Dn0521 He was also driven from mankind, and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he came to know [without any doubt] that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind and He appoints it to whomever He wills.  
Dn0522 And you, his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart (mind), even though you knew all this.  
Dn0523 And you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven, and the vessels of His house have been brought before you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But the God who holds in His hand your breath of life and your ways you have not honored and glorified [but have dishonored and defied].  
Dn0524 Then the hand was sent from the presence [of the Most High God], and this inscription was written:  
Dn0525 “This is the inscription that was written, ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN [numbered, numbered, weighed, and divided].’  
Dn0526 This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENE’—God has numbered the days of your kingdom and put an end to it;  
Dn0527 ‘TEKEL’—you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient;  
Dn0528 ‘PERES’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”  
Dn0529 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation concerning him was issued [declaring] that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.  
Dn0530 During that same night Belshazzar the [last] Chaldean king was slain [by troops of the invading army].  
Dn0531 So Darius the Mede received the kingdom; he was about the age of sixty-two.  
Dn0601 It seemed good to Darius [who became king after Belshazzar] to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge throughout the kingdom,  
Dn0602 and over them three chief commissioners (of whom Daniel was one), that these satraps might be accountable to them, so that the king would have no loss [from disloyalty or mismanagement].  
Dn0603 Then this Daniel, because of the extraordinary spirit within him, began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and the satraps, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire realm.  
Dn0604 Then the [other two] commissioners and the satraps began trying to find a reason to bring a complaint against Daniel concerning the [administration of the] kingdom; but they could find no reason for an accusation or evidence of corruption, because he was faithful [a man of high moral character and personal integrity], and no negligence or corruption [of any kind] was found in him.  
Dn0605 Then these men said, “We will not find any basis for an accusation against this Daniel unless we find something against him in connection with the law of his God.”  
Dn0606 Then these commissioners and satraps agreed to approach the king and said to him, “King Darius, live forever!  
Dn0607 All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors have consulted and agreed together that the king should establish a royal statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man besides you, O king, during the next thirty days, shall be thrown into the den of lions.  
Dn0608 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which [insures that it] may not be altered or revoked.”  
Dn0609 So King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction.  
Dn0610 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he went into his house (now in his roof chamber his windows were open toward Jerusalem); he continued to get down on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.  
Dn0611 Then, by agreement, these men came [together] and found Daniel praying and making requests before his God.  
Dn0612 Then they approached and spoke before the king regarding his injunction, “Have you not signed an injunction that anyone who petitions (prays to) any god or man except you, O king, within the designated thirty days, is to be thrown into the den of lions?” The king answered, “The statement is true, in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be altered or revoked.”  
Dn0613 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, does not pay any attention to you, O king, or to the injunction which you have signed, but keeps praying [to his God] three times a day.”  
Dn0614 Then, as soon as the king heard these words, he was deeply distressed [over what he had done] and set his mind on rescuing Daniel; and he struggled until the sun went down [trying to work out a way] to save him.  
Dn0615 Then, by agreement, these same men came to the king and said, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or statute which the king establishes may be altered or revoked.”  
Dn0616 Then the king gave a command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you constantly serve, rescue you Himself!”  
Dn0617 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed concerning Daniel.  
Dn0618 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no music or entertainment was brought before him, and he remained unable to sleep.  
Dn0619 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and hurried to the den of lions.  
Dn0620 When he had come near the den, he called out to Daniel with a troubled voice. The king said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to rescue you from the lions?”  
Dn0621 Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever!  
Dn0622 My God has sent His angel and has shut the mouths of the lions so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also before you, O king, I have committed no crime.”  
Dn0623 Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in and relied on and trusted in his God.  
Dn0624 The king then gave a command, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions, they, their children and their wives; and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.  
Dn0625 Then Darius the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language who were living in all the land: “May peace abound to you!  
Dn0626 I issue a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to [reverently] fear and tremble before the God of Daniel, For He is the living God, enduring and steadfast forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever.  
Dn0627 “He rescues and saves and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth— He who has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”  
Dn0628 So this [man] Daniel prospered and enjoyed success in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.  
Dn0701 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions appeared in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related a summary of it.  
Dn0702 Daniel said, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (the nations).  
Dn0703 And four great beasts, each different from the other, were coming up out of the sea [in succession].  
Dn0704 The first (the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar) was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind was given to it.  
Dn0705 And behold, another beast, a second one (the Medo-Persian Empire), was like a bear, and it was raised up on one side (domain), and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much meat.’  
Dn0706 After this I kept looking, and behold, another one (the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great), like a leopard, which had on its back four wings like those of a bird; the beast also had four heads (Alexander’s generals, his successors), and power to rule was given to it.  
Dn0707 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, [I saw] a fourth beast (the Roman Empire), terrible and extremely strong; and it had huge iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns (ten kings).  
Dn0708 While I was considering the horns, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, and three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots before it; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth boasting of great things.  
Dn0709 “I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat; His garment was white as snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire; Its wheels were a burning fire.  
Dn0710 “A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; A thousand thousands were attending Him, And ten thousand times ten thousand were standing before Him; The court was seated, And the books were opened.  
Dn0711 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the great and boastful words which the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to be burned with fire.  
Dn0712 As for the rest of the beasts, their power was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged [for the length of their lives was fixed] for a predetermined time.  
Dn0713 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, on the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.  
Dn0714 “And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority), Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language Should serve and worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.  
Dn0715 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed and anxious within me, and the visions [that appeared] in my mind kept alarming (agitating) me.  
Dn0716 I approached one of those who stood by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and explained to me the interpretation of the things:  
Dn0717 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.  
Dn0718 But the saints (believers) of the Most High [God] will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’  
Dn0719 “Then I wished to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, extremely dreadful, with teeth of iron and claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed and trampled down what was left with its feet,  
Dn0720 and the meaning of the ten horns (kings) that were on its head and the other horn which came up later, and before which three of the horns fell, specifically, that horn which had eyes and a mouth that boasted great things and which looked larger than the others.  
Dn0721 As I kept looking, that horn was making war with the saints (believers) and overpowering them  
Dn0722 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Most High [God], and the time arrived when the saints (believers) took possession of the kingdom.  
Dn0723 “Thus the angel said, ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down, and crush it.  
Dn0724 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the former ones, and he will subdue three kings.  
Dn0725 He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years].  
Dn0726 But the court [of the Most High] will sit in judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, [first to be] consumed [gradually] and [then] to be destroyed forever.  
Dn0727 Then the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints (believers) of the Most High; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’  
Dn0728 “This is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my [waking] thoughts were extremely troubling and alarming and my face grew pale; but I kept the matter [of the vision and the angel’s explanation] to myself.”  
Dn0801 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a [second] vision appeared to me, Daniel, [this was two years] after the one that first appeared to me.  
Dn0802 I looked in the vision and it seemed that I was at the citadel of Susa, [the capital of Persia], which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I saw myself by the Ulai Canal.  
Dn0803 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there in front of the canal stood a [lone] ram (the Medo-Persian Empire) which had two horns. The two horns were high, but one (Persia) was higher than the other (Media), and the higher one came up last.  
Dn0804 I saw the ram (Medo-Persia) charging westward and northward and southward; no beast could stand before him, nor was there anyone who could rescue [anything] from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.  
Dn0805 As I was observing [this], behold, a male goat (Greece) was coming from the west [rushing] across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous and remarkable horn (Alexander the Great) between his eyes.  
Dn0806 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and charged at him in [the fury of] his power and wrath.  
Dn0807 [In my vision] I saw him come close to the ram (Medo-Persia), and he was filled with rage toward him; and the goat (Greece) struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to stand before him. So the goat threw him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from his power.  
Dn0808 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly, and when he was [young and] strong, the great horn (Alexander) was [suddenly] broken; and in its place there came up four prominent horns [among whom the kingdom was divided, one] toward [each of] the four winds of heaven.  
Dn0809 Out of one of them (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) came forth a rather small horn [but one of irreverent presumption and profane pride] which grew exceedingly powerful toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land (Israel).  
Dn0810 And [in my vision] this horn grew up to the host of heaven, and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled on them.  
Dn0811 Indeed, it magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host [of heaven]; and it took away from Him the daily sacrifice (burnt offering), and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down (profaned).  
Dn0812 Because of the transgression [of God’s people—their irreverence and ungodliness] the host will be given over to the wicked horn, along with the regular sacrifice; and righteousness and truth will be flung to the ground, and the horn will do as it pleases [by divine permission] and prosper.  
Dn0813 Then I heard a holy one (angel) speaking, and another holy one said to the one who was speaking, “How much time will be required to complete the vision regarding the regular sacrifice, the transgression that brings horror, and the trampling underfoot of both the sanctuary and the host [of the people]?”  
Dn0814 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be cleansed and properly restored.”  
Dn0815 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; then behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man.  
Dn0816 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of the Ulai, which called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man (Daniel) an understanding of the vision.”  
Dn0817 So he came near where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell face downward; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the [fulfillment of the] vision pertains to [events that will occur in] the time of the end.”  
Dn0818 Now as he (Gabriel) was speaking with me, I drifted into a deep sleep (unconsciousness) with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [where I had stood before].  
Dn0819 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will happen during the final time of the indignation and wrath [of God upon the ungodly], for it concerns the appointed time of the end.  
Dn0820 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.  
Dn0821 The shaggy (rough-coated) male goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the first king.  
Dn0822 Regarding the shattered horn and the four others that arose in its place, four kingdoms will rise from his (Alexander’s) nation, although not with his power and heritage.  
Dn0823 “At the latter period of their reign, When the transgressors have finished, A king will arise Insolent and skilled in intrigue and cunning.  
Dn0824 “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power; And he will corrupt and destroy in an astonishing manner And [he will] prosper and do exactly as he wills; He shall corrupt and destroy mighty men and the holy people.  
Dn0825 “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand (influence); He will magnify himself in his mind, He will corrupt and destroy many who enjoy a false sense of security. He will also stand up and oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken, and that by no human hand [but by the hand of God].  
Dn0826 “The vision of the evenings and the mornings Which has been told [to you] is true. But keep the vision a secret, For it has to do with many days in the now distant future.”  
Dn0827 And I, Daniel, was exhausted and was sick for [several] days. Afterward I got up and continued with the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one who could explain it.  
Dn0901 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—  
Dn0902 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books the number of years which, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the desolations [which had been] pronounced on Jerusalem would end; and it was seventy years.  
Dn0903 So I directed my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.  
Dn0904 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and extends lovingkindness toward those who love Him and keep His commandments,  
Dn0905 we have sinned and committed wrong, and have behaved wickedly and have rebelled, turning away from Your commandments and ordinances.  
Dn0906 Further, we have not listened to and heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.  
Dn0907 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us confusion and open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away, in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the [treacherous] acts of unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.  
Dn0908 O LORD, to us belong confusion and open shame—to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers—because we have sinned against You.  
Dn0909 To the Lord our God belong mercy and lovingkindness and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him;  
Dn0910 and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in His laws which He set before us through His servants the prophets.  
Dn0911 Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, even turning aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us and the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.  
Dn0912 And He has carried out completely His [threatening] words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers [the kings, princes, and judges] who ruled us, to bring on us a great tragedy; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything [so dreadful] like that which [He commanded and] was done to Jerusalem.  
Dn0913 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this tragedy has come on us. Yet we have not wholeheartedly begged for forgiveness and sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our wickedness and paying attention to and placing value in Your truth.  
Dn0914 Therefore the LORD has kept the tragedy ready and has brought it on us, for the LORD our God is [uncompromisingly] righteous and openly just in all His works which He does—He keeps His word; and we have not obeyed His voice.  
Dn0915 “And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a name, as it is today—we have sinned, we have been wicked.  
Dn0916 O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous and just acts, please let Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. Because of our sins and the wickedness of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become an object of scorn and a contemptuous byword to all who are around us.  
Dn0917 Now therefore, our God, listen to (heed) the prayer of Your servant (Daniel) and his supplications, and for Your own sake let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.  
Dn0918 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and look at our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You because of our own merits and righteousness, but because of Your great mercy and compassion.  
Dn0919 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”  
Dn0920 While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,  
Dn0921 while I was still speaking in prayer and extremely exhausted, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me about the time of the evening sacrifice.  
Dn0922 He instructed me and he talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and wisdom and understanding.  
Dn0923 At the beginning of your supplications, the command [to give you an answer] was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly regarded and greatly beloved. Therefore consider the message and begin to understand the [meaning of the] vision.  
Dn0924 “Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] have been decreed for your people and for your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make atonement (reconciliation) for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness (right-standing with God), to seal up vision and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.  
Dn0925 So you are to know and understand that from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Messiah (the Anointed One), the Prince, there will be seven weeks [of years] and sixty-two weeks [of years]; it will be built again, with [a city] plaza and moat, even in times of trouble.  
Dn0926 Then after the sixty-two weeks [of years] the Anointed One will be cut off [and denied His Messianic kingdom] and have nothing [and no one to defend Him], and the people of the [other] prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.  
Dn0927 And he will enter into a binding and irrevocable covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until the complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes the horror.”  
Dn1001 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and it referred to great conflict (warfare, misery). And he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision.  
Dn1002 In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.  
Dn1003 I ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did not anoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks.  
Dn1004 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was on the bank of the great river Hiddekel [which is the Tigris],  
Dn1005 I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with [a belt of] pure gold of Uphaz.  
Dn1006 His body also was like beryl [with a golden luster], his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and his feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words was like the noise of a multitude [of people or the roaring of the sea].  
Dn1007 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision [of this heavenly being], for the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great panic overwhelmed them, so they ran away to hide themselves.  
Dn1008 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my normal appearance turned to a deathly pale, and I grew weak and faint [with fright].  
Dn1009 Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in a deep sleep, with my face toward the ground.  
Dn1010 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me unsteadily on my hands and knees.  
Dn1011 So he said to me, “O Daniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, understand the words that I am about to say to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling.  
Dn1012 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.  
Dn1013 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.  
Dn1014 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.”  
Dn1015 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.  
Dn1016 And behold, one who resembled the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, because of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength.  
Dn1017 For how can such a [weakened] servant of my lord talk with such [a being] as my lord? For now there remains no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.”  
Dn1018 Then the one (Gabriel) whose appearance was like that of a man touched me again, and he strengthened me.  
Dn1019 He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”  
Dn1020 Then he said, “Do you understand [fully] why I came to you? Now I shall return to fight against the [hostile] prince of Persia; and when I have gone, behold, the prince of Greece is about to come.  
Dn1021 But I (Gabriel) will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. There is no one who stands firmly with me and strengthens himself against these [hostile spirit forces] except Michael, your prince [the guardian of your nation].  
Dn1101 “Also I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I (Gabriel) arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him.  
Dn1102 And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise in Persia. Then a fourth will become far richer than all of them. When he becomes strong through his riches he will stir up the whole empire against the realm of Greece.  
Dn1103 Then a mighty [warlike, threatening] king will arise who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.  
Dn1104 But as soon as he (Alexander) has risen, his kingdom will be broken [by his death] and divided toward the four winds of heaven [the north, south, east, and west], but not to his descendants, nor according to the [Grecian] authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom will be torn out and uprooted and given to others (his four generals) to the exclusion of these.  
Dn1105 “Then the king of the South (Egypt) will be strong, along with one of his princes who will be stronger than he and have dominance over him; his domain will be a great dominion.  
Dn1106 After some years the Syrian king of the North and the Egyptian king of the South will make an alliance; the daughter (Berenice) of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to make an equitable and peaceful agreement (marriage); but she will not retain the power of her position, nor will he retain his power. She will be handed over with her attendants and her father as well as he who supported her in those times.  
Dn1107 But out of a branch of her [familial] roots will one (her brother, Ptolemy III Euergetes I) arise in his place, and he will come against the [Syrian] army and enter the fortress of the king of the North, and he will deal with them and will prevail.  
Dn1108 Also he will carry off to Egypt their [Syrian] gods with their cast images and their precious and costly treasure of silver and of gold, and he will refrain from waging war against the king of the North for some years.  
Dn1109 And the king of the North will come into the realm of the king of the South, but he will retreat to his own country [badly defeated].  
Dn1110 “His sons will prepare for battle and assemble a multitude of great forces; which will keep on coming and overflow [the land], and pass through, so that they may again wage war as far as his fortress.  
Dn1111 The king of the South (Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt) will be enraged and go out and fight with the king of the North (Antiochus III the Great); and the Syrian king will raise a great multitude (army), but the multitude shall be given into the hand of the Egyptian king.  
Dn1112 When the multitude (army) is captured and carried away, the heart of the Egyptian king will be proud (arrogant), and he will cause tens of thousands to fall, but he will not prevail.  
Dn1113 For the king of the North will again raise a multitude (army) greater than the one before, and after several years he will advance with a great army and substantial equipment.  
Dn1114 “In those times many will rise up against the king of the South (Egypt); also the violent men among your own people will arise in order to fulfill the [earlier] visions, but they will fail.  
Dn1115 Then the king of the North (Syria) will come and build up siege ramps and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand their ground, not even the finest troops, for there will be no strength to stand [against the Syrian king].  
Dn1116 But he (Syria) who comes against him (Egypt) will do exactly as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand against him; he (Antiochus III the Great) will also stay for a time in the Beautiful and Glorious Land [of Israel], with destruction in his hand.  
Dn1117 He will be determined to come with the power of his entire kingdom, and propose equitable conditions and terms of peace, which he will put into effect [by making an agreement with the king of the South]. He will also give him his daughter (Cleopatra I), in an attempt to overthrow the kingdom, but it will not succeed or be to his advantage.  
Dn1118 After this, he (Antiochus III the Great, King of Syria) will turn his attention to the islands and coastlands and capture many [of them]. But a commander (Lucius Scipio Asiaticus of Rome) will put an end to his aggression [toward Rome’s territorial interests]; in fact, he will repay his insolence and turn his audacity back upon him.  
Dn1119 Then he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land [of Syria], but he will stumble and fall and not be found.  
Dn1120 “Then in his place one (his eldest son, Seleucus IV Philopator) will arise who will send an oppressor through the Jewel of his kingdom; yet within a few days he will be shattered, though not in anger nor in battle.  
Dn1121 And in his place [in Syria] will arise a despicable and despised person, to whom royal majesty and the honor of kingship have not been conferred, but he will come [without warning] in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue.  
Dn1122 The overwhelming forces [of the invading armies of Egypt] will be flooded away before him and smashed; and also the prince of the covenant [will be smashed].  
Dn1123 After an alliance is made with him he will work deceitfully, and he will go up and gain power with a small force of people.  
Dn1124 In a time of tranquility, [without warning] he will enter the most productive and richest parts of the kingdom [of Egypt], and he will accomplish that which his fathers never did, nor his fathers’ fathers; he will distribute plunder, spoil and goods among them. He will devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time [decreed by God].  
Dn1125 He will stir up his strength and courage against [his former Egyptian ally] the king of the South (Ptolemy VI) with a great army; so the king of the South will prepare an extremely great and powerful army to wage war, but he will not stand, for schemes will be devised against him.  
Dn1126 Yes, those who eat his fine food will betray and destroy him (Ptolemy VI), and his army will be swept away, and many will fall down slain.  
Dn1127 And as for both of these kings, their hearts will be set on doing evil; they will speak lies over the same table, but it will not succeed, for the end is yet to come at the appointed time.  
Dn1128 Then he (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) will return to his land with great treasure (plunder); and his heart will be set against the holy covenant, and he will take action and return to his own land (Syria).  
Dn1129 “At the time appointed [by God] he will return and come into the South, but this last time will not be successful as were the previous invasions [of Egypt].  
Dn1130 For ships of Cyprus [in Roman hands] will come against him; therefore he will be discouraged and turn back [to Israel] and carry out his rage against the holy covenant and take action; so he will return and show favoritism toward those [Jews] who abandon (break) the holy covenant [with God].  
Dn1131 Armed forces of his will arise [in Jerusalem] and defile and desecrate the sanctuary, the [spiritual] stronghold, and will do away with the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering]; and they will set up [a pagan altar in the sanctuary which is] the abomination of desolation.  
Dn1132 With smooth words [of flattery and praise] he will turn to godlessness those who [are willing to] disregard the [Mosaic] covenant, but the people who [are spiritually mature and] know their God will display strength and take action [to resist].  
Dn1133 They who are wise and have spiritual insight among the people will instruct many and help them understand; yet for many days some [of them and their followers] will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder.  
Dn1134 Now when they fall they will receive a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.  
Dn1135 Some of those who are [spiritually] wise and have insight will fall [as martyrs] in order to refine, to purge and to make those among God’s people pure, until the end time; because it is yet to come at the time appointed [by God].  
Dn1136 “Then the king (the Antichrist) will do exactly as he pleases; he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and will speak astounding and disgusting things against the God of gods and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is determined [by God] will be done.  
Dn1137 He will have no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he have regard for any other god, for he shall magnify himself above them all.  
Dn1138 Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold and silver, with precious stones and with expensive things.  
Dn1139 He will act against the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and he will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.  
Dn1140 “At the end time the king of the South will push and attack him (the Antichrist), and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots and horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overwhelm them and pass through.  
Dn1141 He shall also enter the Beautiful and Glorious Land (Israel), and many countries will fall, but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost [core] of the people of Ammon.  
Dn1142 Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, but Egypt will not be among the ones which escape.  
Dn1143 He will have power over the treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Ethiopians will follow in his footsteps.  
Dn1144 But rumors from the east and from the north will alarm and disturb him, and he will set out with great fury to destroy and to annihilate many.  
Dn1145 He will pitch his palatial tents between the seas and the glorious Holy Mountain (Zion); yet he will come to his end with no one to help him [in his final battle with God].  
Dn1201 “Now at that [end] time Michael, the great [angelic] prince who stands guard over the children of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; but at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the Book [of Life], will be rescued.  
Dn1202 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake (resurrect), these to everlasting life, but some to disgrace and everlasting contempt (abhorrence).  
Dn1203 Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.  
Dn1204 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”  
Dn1205 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood two others, the one [angel] on this bank of the river and the other [angel] on that bank of the river.  
Dn1206 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”  
Dn1207 And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he held up his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time (three and a half years); and as soon as they finish shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.  
Dn1208 As for me, I heard, but I did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”  
Dn1209 And the angel said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time.  
Dn1210 Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.  
Dn1211 From the time that the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering] is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up [ruining the temple for worship of the true God], there will be 1,290 days.  
Dn1212 How blessed [happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous] and beloved is he who waits expectantly [enduring without wavering for the period of tribulation] and comes to the 1,335 days!  
Dn1213 But as for you (Daniel), go your way until the end [of your life]; for you will rest and rise again for your allotted inheritance at the end of the age.”  
Ho0101 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea the son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel.  
Ho0102 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and have children of [her] prostitution; for the land commits great acts of prostitution by not following the LORD.”  
Ho0103 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.  
Ho0104 And the LORD said to him, “Name him Jezreel; for yet in a little while I will avenge the blood [that was shed in the Valley] of Jezreel and inflict the punishment for it on the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.  
Ho0105 On that day I will break the bow [of the military power] of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”  
Ho0106 Then Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the LORD said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-Ruhamah (not shown mercy), for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them.  
Ho0107 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah and will rescue them by the LORD their God, and will not rescue them by bow, sword, war, horses, or horsemen.”  
Ho0108 Now when Gomer had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived and gave birth to a son.  
Ho0109 And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-Ammi (not my people), for you are not My people and I am not your God.”  
Ho0110 Yet the number of the sons of Israel Shall be like the sand of the sea, Which cannot be measured or numbered; And in the place Where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” It will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.”  
Ho0111 Then the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel shall be gathered together, And they will appoint for themselves one leader, And they will go up from the land, For great and glorious will be the day of Jezreel.  
Ho0201 “[Hosea,] say to your brothers, ‘Ammi (you are my people),’ and to your sisters, ‘Ruhamah (you have been pitied and have obtained mercy).’  
Ho0202 “Contend with your mother (nation); contend, For she is not my wife and I am not her husband; And have her remove her [marks of] prostitution from her face And her adultery from between her breasts  
Ho0203 Or I will strip her naked And expose her as on the day she was born, And make her like a wilderness And make her like a parched land And slay her with thirst.  
Ho0204 “Also, I will have no mercy on her children, Because they are the children of prostitution.  
Ho0205 “For their mother has played the prostitute; She who conceived them has acted shamefully, For she said, ‘I will pursue my lovers Who give me my food and my water, My wool and my flax, my oil and my [refreshing] drinks.’  
Ho0206 “Therefore, behold, I [the LORD God] will hedge up her way with thorns; And I will build a wall against her [shutting off her way] so that she cannot find her paths.  
Ho0207 “She will [passionately] pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, ‘Let me go and return to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now!’  
Ho0208 “For she (Israel) has not noticed nor understood nor realized that it was I [the LORD God] who gave her the grain and the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal and made into his image.  
Ho0209 “Therefore, I will return and take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax Given to cover her nakedness.  
Ho0210 “And now I will uncover her lewdness and shame In the sight of her lovers, And no one will rescue her from My hand.  
Ho0211 “I will also put an end to all her rejoicing, Her feasts, her New Moons, her Sabbaths, And all her festivals.  
Ho0212 “I will destroy her vines and her fig trees Of which she has said, ‘These are my wages Which my lovers have given me.’ And I will make them a forest, And the animals of the open country will devour them.  
Ho0213 “And I will punish her for the [feast] days of the Baals, When she used to offer sacrifices and burn incense to them And adorn herself with her earrings and nose rings and her jewelry, And follow her lovers, so that she forgot Me,” says the LORD.  
Ho0214 “Therefore, behold, I will allure Israel And bring her into the wilderness, And I will speak tenderly to her [to reconcile her to Me].  
Ho0215 “Then I will give her her vineyards from there, And make the Valley of Achor a door of hope and expectation [anticipating the time when I will restore My favor on her]. And she will sing there and respond as in the days of her youth As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.  
Ho0216 “It shall come about in that day,” says the LORD, “That you will call Me Ishi (my husband) And will no longer call Me Baali (my Baal).  
Ho0217 “For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, So that they will no longer be mentioned or remembered by their names.  
Ho0218 “And in that day I will make a covenant for Israel With the animals of the open country And with the birds of the heavens And with the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow and the sword and [banish] war from the land And will make them lie down in safety.  
Ho0219 “And I will betroth you (Israel) to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and loyalty, and in compassion.  
Ho0220 “I will betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness. Then you will know (recognize, appreciate) the LORD [and respond with loving faithfulness].  
Ho0221 “It will come about in that day that I will respond,” says the LORD. “I will respond to the heavens [which ask for rain to pour on the earth], and they will respond to the earth [which begs for the rain],  
Ho0222 And the earth shall respond to the grain and the new wine and the oil [which beg it to bring them forth], And they will respond to Jezreel [My Israel, who will now be restored].  
Ho0223 “I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; And I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people,’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’”  
Ho0301 Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman (Gomer) who is beloved by her husband and yet is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love the raisin cakes [used in the feasts in pagan worship].”  
Ho0302 So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley [the price of a common slave].  
Ho0303 And I said to her, “You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you [until you have proved your faithfulness].”  
Ho0304 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or [idolatrous] pillar, and without ephod or teraphim (household idols).  
Ho0305 Afterward the sons of Israel will return [in deep repentance] and seek the LORD their God and [seek from the line of] David their king [the King of kings—the Messiah]; and they will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness and blessing in the last days.  
Ho0401 Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, For the LORD has a [legal] case with the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no faithfulness [no steadfast love, no dependability] or loyalty or kindness Or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land.  
Ho0402 There is [false] swearing of oaths, deception (broken faith), murder, stealing, and adultery; They employ violence, so that one [act of] bloodshed follows closely on another.  
Ho0403 Therefore the land [continually] mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes [in tragic suffering] Together with the animals of the open country and the birds of the heavens; Even the fish of the sea disappear.  
Ho0404 Yet let no one find fault, nor let any rebuke [others]; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.  
Ho0405 So you will stumble in the daytime, And the [false] prophet will also stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother (Israel).  
Ho0406 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.  
Ho0407 The more they multiplied [in numbers and increased in power], the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame.  
Ho0408 They (the priests) feed on the sin offering of My people And set their heart on their wickedness.  
Ho0409 And it shall be: like people, like priest [both are wicked and both will be judged]; So I will punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.  
Ho0410 They will eat, but not have enough; They will play the prostitute, but not increase [their descendants], Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.  
Ho0411 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away the mind and the [spiritual] understanding.  
Ho0412 My people consult their [lifeless] wooden idol, and their [diviner’s] wand gives them oracles. For a spirit of prostitution has led them astray [morally and spiritually], And they have played the prostitute, withdrawing themselves from their God.  
Ho0413 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains And burn incense on the hills, Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, Because the shade is pleasant there. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute And your brides commit adultery.  
Ho0414 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute Or your brides when they commit adultery, For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes, And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes [who give their bodies in honor of the idol]. So the people without understanding [stumble and fall and] come to ruin.  
Ho0415 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute [by worshiping idols], Do not let Judah become guilty [of the same thing]; And do not go to Gilgal [where idols are worshiped], Or go up to Beth-aven (House of Wickedness), Nor swear [oaths in idolatrous worship, saying], “As the LORD lives!”  
Ho0416 For Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?  
Ho0417 Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].  
Ho0418 When their liquor is gone [and their drinking parties are over], They habitually go to play the prostitute; Ephraim’s rulers continue to dearly love shame [more than her glory which is the LORD, Israel’s God].  
Ho0419 The wind [of God’s relentless wrath] has wrapped up Israel in its wings, And [in captivity] they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, to moon, to stars, and to pagan gods].  
Ho0501 Hear this and pay close attention, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the [pronounced] judgment pertains to you and is meant for you to hear, Because you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out over Tabor (military strongholds on either side of the Jordan River).  
Ho0502 The revolters have gone deep into depravity, But I [the LORD God] will chastise them all.  
Ho0503 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the prostitute and have worshiped idols; Israel has defiled itself.  
Ho0504 Their [immoral] practices will not permit them To return to their God, For the spirit of prostitution is within them And they do not know the LORD [they do not recognize, appreciate, heed or cherish Him].  
Ho0505 But the pride and self-reliance of Israel testifies against him. Therefore Israel, and [especially] Ephraim, stumble and fall in their wickedness and guilt; Judah also has stumbled with them.  
Ho0506 They will go with their flocks and with their herds To seek the LORD [diligently searching for Him], but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them [refusing to hear the prayers of the unrepentant].  
Ho0507 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, For they have borne illegitimate (pagan) children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land [bringing judgment and captivity].  
Ho0508 Blow the horn in Gibeah, The trumpet in Ramah [the lofty hills on Benjamin’s northern border]. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven: “Behind you and coming after you [is the enemy], O Benjamin [be on guard]!”  
Ho0509 Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is certain.  
Ho0510 The princes of Judah are like those who move a boundary marker; I will pour out My wrath on them like [an unrestrained flood of] water.  
Ho0511 Ephraim is oppressed; he is broken and crushed by [divine] judgment, Because he was determined to follow man’s command (vanities, filth, secular precepts).  
Ho0512 Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim And like dry rot to the house of Judah [in My judgment against them].  
Ho0513 When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria [instead of the LORD] And sent to [Assyria’s] great King Jareb [for help]. But he cannot heal you Nor will he cure you of your wound [received in judgment].  
Ho0514 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go on [tearing]; I will carry off [the prey] and there will be no one to rescue them.  
Ho0515 I will go away and return to My place [on high] Until they acknowledge their offense and bear their guilt and seek My face; In their distress they will earnestly seek Me, saying,  
Ho0601 “Come and let us return [in repentance] to the LORD, For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.  
Ho0602 “After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up That we may live before Him.  
Ho0603 “So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] LORD [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”  
Ho0604 O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your [wavering] loyalty and kindness are [transient] like the morning cloud And like the dew that goes away early.  
Ho0605 Therefore, I have hewn them in pieces by [the words of] the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments [pronounced upon them by the prophets] are like the light that shines forth [obvious to all].  
Ho0606 For I desire and delight in [steadfast] loyalty [faithfulness in the covenant relationship], rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  
Ho0607 But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.  
Ho0608 Gilead is a city of wrongdoers; It is tracked with bloody footprints.  
Ho0609 And as bands of robbers [lie in] wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the road toward Shechem [covering their crimes in that city of refuge]; Certainly they have committed crimes and outrages.  
Ho0610 I have seen a horrible thing [sins of every kind] in the house of Israel! Ephraim’s prostitution (idolatry) is there; Israel has defiled itself.  
Ho0611 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest [of divine judgment] appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people [who have been slaves to the misery of sin].  
Ho0701 When I would heal Israel, The sin (guilt) of Ephraim is uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria, Because they practice false dealing; The thief enters, Bandits ravage and raid outside.  
Ho0702 But they do not consider in their hearts (minds) That I remember [always] all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround and entangle them; They are before My face.  
Ho0703 They make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies.  
Ho0704 They are all adulterers; Like the heat of an oven When the baker ceases to stir the fire, [their passion smolders] From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.  
Ho0705 On the [special] day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; The king stretched out his hand [in association] with scoffers (lawless people).  
Ho0706 As they approach their plotting, Their mind burns [with intrigue] like an oven [while they lie in wait]. Their anger smolders all night; In the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.  
Ho0707 They are all hot like an oven And they consume their judges (rulers); All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to Me.  
Ho0708 Ephraim mixes himself with the [Gentile] nations [seeking favor with one country, then another]; Ephraim is a cake not turned [worthless; ready to be thrown away].  
Ho0709 Strangers have devoured his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know.  
Ho0710 Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they do not return [in repentance] to the LORD their God, Nor seek nor search for nor desire Him [as essential] in spite of all this.  
Ho0711 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart or good sense; They call to Egypt [for help], they go to Assyria.  
Ho0712 When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens [into Assyrian captivity]. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation (prophecy) to their congregation.  
Ho0713 Woe (judgment is coming) to them, for they have wandered away from Me! Devastation is theirs, because they have rebelled and trespassed against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.  
Ho0714 They do not cry out to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds [in unbelieving despair]; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves [as if worshiping Baal]; They rebel against Me.  
Ho0715 Although I trained and strengthened their arms [for victory over their enemies], Yet they devise evil against Me.  
Ho0716 They turn, but they do not turn upward to the Most High. They are like a poorly crafted bow [that misses the mark]; Their princes shall fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be cause for their mockery and disdain in the land of Egypt.  
Ho0801 Set the trumpet to your lips [announcing impending judgment]! Like a [great] vulture the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, Because they have broken My covenant And transgressed and rebelled against My law.  
Ho0802 Then they will cry out to Me, “My God, we of Israel know You!”  
Ho0803 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy shall pursue him.  
Ho0804 They set up kings, but not from Me [therefore without My blessing]; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.  
Ho0805 He has rejected your [pagan] calf, O Samaria, saying, “My wrath burns against them.” How long will they be incapable of innocence?  
Ho0806 For even this [loathsome calf] is from Israel. A craftsman made it, so it is not God; Surely the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces and go up in flames.  
Ho0807 For they sow the wind [in evil] And they reap the whirlwind [in disaster]. The standing grain has no growth; It yields no grain. If it were to yield, strangers would swallow it up.  
Ho0808 Israel is [as if] swallowed up [by enemies]; They are now among the nations Like a vessel [of cheap, coarse pottery] that is useless.  
Ho0809 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey wandering alone and taking her own way; Ephraim has hired lovers (pagan allies).  
Ho0810 Yes, even though [with presents] they hire allies among the nations, Now I will gather them up; And [in a little while] they will begin to grow weak and diminish Because of the burden imposed by the king of princes [the king of Assyria].  
Ho0811 For Ephraim has constructed many altars for sin; They are altars intended for sinning [which multiply his guilt].  
Ho0812 I wrote for him the ten thousand precepts of My law, But they are regarded as a strange thing [which does not concern him].  
Ho0813 As for My sacrificial offerings, They sacrifice the meat [as a mere formality] and eat it, But the LORD is not pleased with them and does not accept them. Now He will remember and take into account their wickedness and guilt, And punish them for their sins. They will return [in captivity] to [another] Egypt [that is, Assyria].  
Ho0814 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces [and pagan temples], And Judah has built many fortified cities; But I will send a fire upon their cities so that it may consume their palaces and fortresses.  
Ho0901 Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation as do the [pagan] peoples, For you have played the prostitute, turning away from your God. You have loved prostitutes’ earnings on every threshing floor [attributing the harvest to the Baals instead of to God].  
Ho0902 The threshing floor and the wine press will no longer feed them, And the new wine will fail them [because they failed to honor the God who provides].  
Ho0903 They will not remain in the land of the LORD, But Ephraim will return to [another] Egypt [in bondage] And they will eat [ceremonially] unclean food in Assyria.  
Ho0904 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD; Their sacrifices will not please Him. Their bread will be like mourners’ bread [eaten at funerals]; All who eat it will be [ceremonially] unclean, For their bread will be for themselves; It will not enter the house of the LORD [to be consecrated].  
Ho0905 What will you do on the day of the appointed festival And on the day of the feast of the LORD [when you are in exile]?  
Ho0906 For behold, they will go away because of devastation and destruction; Egypt will gather them up, Memphis will bury them. Weeds will take over their treasures of silver; Thorns will grow in their tents.  
Ho0907 The days of punishment have come; The days of retribution are at hand; Let Israel know this! The prophet is [considered] a fool; The man [of God] who is inspired is [treated as if] demented, Because of the abundance of your wickedness and guilt, And because your deep antagonism [toward God and the prophets] is so great.  
Ho0908 Ephraim was a watchman with my God, a [true] prophet [to warn the nation]; But the snare of a bird catcher was laid in all his paths. And there is only deep hostility in the house of his God (the land of Israel).  
Ho0909 They have deeply corrupted (perverted) themselves As in the days of Gibeah. The LORD will remember their wickedness and guilt; He will punish their sins.  
Ho0910 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness [an unexpected and refreshing delight]; I saw your fathers (ancestors) as the first ripe fruit on the fig tree in its first season, But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to shamefulness [the worship of Baal], And [because of their spiritual and physical adultery] they became as detestable and loathsome as the thing they loved.  
Ho0911 As for Ephraim, their glory will fly away like a bird; No birth, no pregnancy, and [because of their impurity] no conception.  
Ho0912 Even though they bring up their children, Yet I will bereave them until not one is left. Indeed, woe (judgment is coming) to them when I look away and withdraw [My blessing] from them!  
Ho0913 Ephraim, as I have seen, Is planted in a pleasant [and prosperous] meadow like Tyre; But Ephraim will bring out his children to the executioner [for slaughter].  
Ho0914 Give them [the punishment they deserve], O LORD! What will You give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.  
Ho0915 All their wickedness [says the LORD] is focused in Gilgal; Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their [idolatrous] practices I will drive them out of My house (the land of Israel)! I will love them no longer; All their princes are rebels.  
Ho0916 Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up, They will bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will slay the precious children of their womb.  
Ho0917 My God will reject them and cast them away Because they did not listen to Him; And they will be wanderers (fugitives) among the nations.  
Ho1001 Israel is a luxuriant and prolific vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he made [to Baal]; The richer his land, The better he made the [idolatrous] pillars.  
Ho1002 Their heart is divided (faithless); Now they must bear their guilt and punishment. The LORD will break down [the horns of] their altars; He will destroy their idolatrous pillars.  
Ho1003 Surely now they will say [in despair], “We have no [true] king, For we do not revere the LORD; And as for the king, what can he do for us [to rescue us]?”  
Ho1004 They have spoken empty (disingenuous) words, Swearing falsely to make covenants [they intend to break]; Therefore, judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.  
Ho1005 The people of Samaria will fear and tremble For the [idolatrous] calf of Beth-aven (House of Wickedness). Indeed, its people will mourn over it And its idolatrous priests will cry out and wail over it, Over its glory, because the glory [of their calf god] has departed from it.  
Ho1006 The golden calf itself will be carried to Assyria As tribute to King Jareb; Ephraim will be seized with shame And Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel [to worship the calf and separate Israel from Judah].  
Ho1007 As for Samaria, her king will be cut off and float away Like a twig on the surface of the water.  
Ho1008 Also the high places of Aven (Beth-aven), the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; The thorn and the thistle will grow on their [pagan] altars, And [in despair] they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”  
Ho1009 O Israel, you have [willfully] sinned since the days of Gibeah; There they (Israel) stand! Will not the battle against the sons of wickedness overtake them at Gibeah?  
Ho1010 When it is my desire [to defend My righteousness], I will chastise them; And [hostile] peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound and punished for their double guilt [their revolt against the LORD and their worship of idols].  
Ho1011 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to tread out the grain, But I will come over her fair neck with a heavy yoke [for hard field work]. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow and Jacob will harrow and rake for himself.  
Ho1012 Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate]; Reap in accordance with mercy and lovingkindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, For it is time to seek and search diligently for the LORD [and to long for His blessing] Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on you.  
Ho1013 You have plowed and planted wickedness, you have reaped the [willful] injustice [of oppressors], You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and your chariots, and in your many warriors,  
Ho1014 Therefore an uproar will arise among your people, And all your fortresses will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle, When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.  
Ho1015 In this way it will be done to you at [idolatrous] Bethel because of your great wickedness; At daybreak the king of Israel will be completely cut off.  
Ho1101 When Israel was a child [a young nation], I loved him, And I called My son out of Egypt.  
Ho1102 The more they [the prophets] called them [to repentance and obedience], The more they went away from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to the carved images.  
Ho1103 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them in My arms [nurturing the young nation]; But they did not know that I healed them.  
Ho1104 I led them gently with cords of a man, with bonds of love [guiding them], And I was to them as one who lifts up and eases the yoke [of the law] over their jaws; And I bent down to them and fed them.  
Ho1105 They will not return to the land of Egypt, But Assyria will be their king [bringing them into captivity] Because they refused to return to Me.  
Ho1106 The sword will whirl against and fall on their cities, And will demolish the bars of their gates and fortifications And will consume them because of their counsels.  
Ho1107 My people are bent on turning from Me; Though the prophets call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.  
Ho1108 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within Me; All My compassions are kindled together [for My nation of Israel].  
Ho1109 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not return to Ephraim to destroy him again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst [who will not revoke My covenant], And I will not come in wrath or enter the city [in judgment].  
Ho1110 They will walk after the LORD [in obedience and worship], Who will roar like a lion; He will roar [summoning them] And His sons will come trembling from the west.  
Ho1111 They will come trembling and hurriedly like birds from Egypt And like doves from the land of Assyria; And I will settle them in their houses [in the land of their inheritance], declares the LORD.  
Ho1112 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the faithful Holy One.  
Ho1201 Ephraim feeds on the [emptiness of the] wind And [continually] pursues the [parching] east wind [which brings destruction]; Every day he multiplies lies and violence. Further, he makes a covenant with Assyria And (olive) oil is carried to Egypt [to seek alliances].  
Ho1202 The LORD also has a dispute [a legal complaint and an indictment] with Judah, And He will punish Jacob in accordance with his ways; He will repay him in accordance with his deeds.  
Ho1203 In their mother’s womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God.  
Ho1204 He wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept [in repentance] and sought His favor. He met Him at Bethel And there God spoke with [him and through him with] us—  
Ho1205 Even the LORD, the God of hosts, The name of Him [who spoke with Jacob] is the LORD.  
Ho1206 Therefore, return [in repentance] to your God, Observe and highly regard kindness and justice, And wait [expectantly] for your God continually.  
Ho1207 A merchant, in whose hand are false and fraudulent balances; He loves to oppress and exploit.  
Ho1208 Ephraim said, “I have indeed become rich [and powerful as a nation]; I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors they will not find in me Any wickedness that would be sin.”  
Ho1209 But I have been the LORD your God since [you became a nation in] the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed and solemn festival.  
Ho1210 I have also spoken to [you through] the prophets, And I gave [them] many visions [to make My will known], And through the prophets I gave parables [to appeal to your sense of right and wrong].  
Ho1211 Is there wickedness (idolatry) in Gilead? Surely the people there are worthless. In Gilgal [they defy Me when] they sacrifice bulls, Yes, [after My judgment] their [pagan] altars are like the stone heaps In the furrows of the fields.  
Ho1212 Now Jacob (Israel) fled into the open country of Aram (Paddan-aram), And [there] Israel (Jacob) worked and served for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep.  
Ho1213 And by a prophet (Moses) the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, And by a prophet Israel was preserved.  
Ho1214 Ephraim has provoked most bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him [invoking punishment] And bring back to him his shame and dishonor.  
Ho1301 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling and terror. He exalted himself [above the other tribes] in Israel; But through [the worship of] Baal he became guilty and died [spiritually, and then came ruin, sealing Israel’s doom as a nation].  
Ho1302 And now they sin more and more, And make for themselves molten images, Idols skillfully made from their silver [as it pleased them], All of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of these [very works of their hands], “Let those who sacrifice kiss and show respect to the calves [as if they were living gods]!”  
Ho1303 Therefore they will be [swiftly dissipated] like the morning cloud Or like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which swirls with the whirlwind from the threshing floor, And like smoke from the chimney or through the window [worthless and without substance —they will vanish].  
Ho1304 Yet I have been the LORD your God Since [the time you became a nation in] the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.  
Ho1305 I knew and regarded you and cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.  
Ho1306 When they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud (self-centered); Therefore they forgot Me.  
Ho1307 So I will be like a lion to them; Like a leopard I will watch and lie in wait [ready to attack] by the road [to Assyria].  
Ho1308 I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.  
Ho1309 It is your destruction, O Israel, Because you are against Me, [and have rebelled] against your help.  
Ho1310 Where now is your king That he may save you [when you are attacked] in all your cities? And your judges of whom you asked, “Give me a king and princes”?  
Ho1311 I gave you a king in My anger, And I took him away in My wrath [as punishment].  
Ho1312 The wickedness of Ephraim [which is not yet completely punished] is bound up [as in a bag]; His sin is stored up [for judgment and destruction].  
Ho1313 The pains of childbirth come on him; But he is not a wise son, For it is not the time to delay [his chance at a new birth] as the womb opens [but he ignores the opportunity to change].  
Ho1314 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead)? Shall I redeem them from death? O death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes [because of their failure to repent].  
Ho1315 For though he flourishes among the reeds (his fellow tribes), An east wind (Assyria) will come, The breath of the LORD rising from the desert; And Ephraim’s spring will become dry And his fountain will be dried up. Assyria will plunder his treasury of every precious object.  
Ho1316 Samaria will be found guilty [and become desolate], Because she rebelled against her God; They will fall by the sword, Their infants will be dashed in pieces, And their pregnant women will be ripped open.  
Ho1401 O Israel, return [in repentance] to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled and fallen [visited by tragedy], because of your sin.  
Ho1402 Take the words [confessing your guilt] with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all our wickedness; Accept what is good and receive us graciously, So that we may present the fruit of our lips (gratitude).  
Ho1403 “Assyria will not save us; We will not ride on horses [relying on military might], Nor will we say again to [the idols who are] the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’ For in You [O LORD] the orphan finds love and compassion and mercy.”  
Ho1404 I will heal their apostasy and faithlessness; I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from Israel.  
Ho1405 I shall be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.  
Ho1406 His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon.  
Ho1407 Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.  
Ho1408 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I who have answered and will care for you and watch over you. I am like a luxuriant cypress tree; With Me your fruit is found [which is to nourish you].  
Ho1409 Whoever is [spiritually] wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is [spiritually] discerning and understanding, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble and fall in them.  
Jl0101 The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.  
Jl0102 Hear this, O elders, Listen closely, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing as this occurred in your days, Or even in the days of your fathers?  
Jl0103 Tell your children about it, And let your children tell their children, And their children the next generation.  
Jl0104 What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; And what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; And what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten [in judgment of Judah].  
Jl0105 Awake [from your intoxication], you drunkards, and weep; Wail, all you drinkers of wine, Because of the [fresh] sweet wine That is cut off from your mouth.  
Jl0106 For a [pagan and hostile] nation has invaded My land [like locusts], Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness.  
Jl0107 It has made My vine (My people) a waste and object of horror, And splintered and broken My fig tree. It has stripped them completely bare and thrown them away; Their branches have become white.  
Jl0108 Wail like a virgin [bride] clothed with sackcloth For the bridegroom of her youth [who has died].  
Jl0109 The [daily] grain offering and the drink offering are cut off From the house of the LORD; The priests mourn Who minister to the LORD.  
Jl0110 The field is ruined, The ground mourns; For the grain is ruined, The new wine is dried up, The fresh oil fails.  
Jl0111 Be ashamed, O farmers; Wail, O vinedressers, For the wheat and for the barley, Because the harvest of the field has perished.  
Jl0112 The vine dries up And the fig tree fails; The pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, All the trees of the field dry up, Indeed, joy dries up and withdraws From the sons of men.  
Jl0113 Clothe yourselves with sackcloth And lament (cry out in grief), O priests; Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth [and pray without ceasing], O ministers of my God, For the grain offering and the drink offering Are withheld from the house of your God.  
Jl0114 Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly, Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD [in penitent pleadings].  
Jl0115 Alas for the day! For the [judgment] day of the LORD is at hand, And it will come [upon the nation] as a destruction from the Almighty.  
Jl0116 Has not the food been cut off before our eyes, Joy and gladness from the house of our God?  
Jl0117 The seeds [of grain] shrivel under the clods, The storehouses are desolate and empty, The barns are in ruins Because the grain is dried up.  
Jl0118 How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are bewildered and wander aimlessly Because they have no pasture; Even the flocks of sheep suffer.  
Jl0119 O LORD, I cry out to You, For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.  
Jl0120 Even the wild animals pant [in longing] for You; For the water brooks are dried up And fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness.  
Jl0201 Blow the trumpet in Zion [warning of impending judgment], Sound an alarm on My holy mountain [Zion]! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble and shudder in fear, For the [judgment] day of the LORD is coming; It is close at hand,  
Jl0202 A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and of thick [dark] mist, Like the dawn spread over the mountains; There is a [pagan, hostile] people numerous and mighty, The like of which has never been before Nor will be again afterward Even for years of many generations.  
Jl0203 Before them a fire devours, And behind them a flame burns; Before them the land is like the Garden of Eden, But behind them a desolate wilderness; And nothing at all escapes them.  
Jl0204 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, And they run like war horses.  
Jl0205 Like the noise of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, Like a mighty people set in battle formation.  
Jl0206 Before them the people are in anguish; All faces become pale [with terror].  
Jl0207 They run like warriors; They climb the wall like soldiers. They each march [straight ahead] in line, And they do not deviate from their paths.  
Jl0208 They do not crowd each other; Each one marches in his path. When they burst through the defenses (weapons), They do not break ranks.  
Jl0209 They rush over the city, They run on the wall; They climb up into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief.  
Jl0210 The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness.  
Jl0211 The LORD utters His voice before His army, For His camp is very great, Because strong and powerful is he who [obediently] carries out His word. For the day of the LORD is indeed great and very terrible [causing dread]; Who can endure it?  
Jl0212 “Even now,” says the LORD, “Turn and come to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance], With fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored];  
Jl0213 Rip your heart to pieces [in sorrow and contrition] and not your garments.” Now return [in repentance] to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness [faithful to His covenant with His people]; And He relents [His sentence of] evil [when His people genuinely repent].  
Jl0214 Who knows whether He will relent [and revoke your sentence], And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering [from the bounty He provides you] For the LORD your God?  
Jl0215 Blow a trumpet in Zion [warning of impending judgment], Dedicate a fast [as a day of restraint and humility], call a solemn assembly.  
Jl0216 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber. [No one is excused from the assembly.]  
Jl0217 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar, And let them say, “Have compassion and spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance (Israel) an object of ridicule, Or a [humiliating] byword among the [Gentile] nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”  
Jl0218 Then the LORD will be jealous for His land [ready to defend it since it is rightfully and uniquely His] And will have compassion on His people [and will spare them].  
Jl0219 The LORD will answer and say to His people, “Behold, I am going to send you grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will never again make you an object of ridicule among the [Gentile] nations.  
Jl0220 “But I will remove the northern army far away from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, With its forward guard into the eastern sea (Dead Sea) And with its rear guard into the western sea (Mediterranean Sea). And its stench will arise and its foul odor of decay will come up [this is the fate of the northern army in the final day of the LORD], For He has done great things.”  
Jl0221 Do not fear, O land; be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done great things!  
Jl0222 Do not be afraid, you animals of the field, For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green; The tree has produced its fruit, And the fig tree and the vine have yielded in full.  
Jl0223 So rejoice, O children of Zion, And delight in the LORD, your God; For He has given you the early [autumn] rain in vindication And He has poured down the rain for you, The early [autumn] rain and the late [spring] rain, as before.  
Jl0224 And the threshing floors shall be full of grain, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.  
Jl0225 “And I will compensate you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust— My great army which I sent among you.  
Jl0226 “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the LORD your God Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame.  
Jl0227 “And you shall know [without any doubt] that I am in the midst of Israel [to protect and bless you], And that I am the LORD your God, And there is no other; My people will never be put to shame.  
Jl0228 “It shall come about after this That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.  
Jl0229 “Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.  
Jl0230 “I will show signs and wonders [displaying My power] in the heavens and on the earth, Blood and fire and columns of smoke.  
Jl0231 “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.  
Jl0232 “And it shall come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be saved [from the coming judgment] For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the remnant [of survivors] whom the LORD calls.  
Jl0301 “For behold, in those [climactic] days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,  
Jl0302 I will gather together all the [Gentile] nations [that were hostile to My people] And bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the LORD has judged). And there I will deal with them and enter into judgment with them there For [their treatment of] My people, My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations, And [because] they have encroached on My land and divided it up.  
Jl0303 “They have also cast lots for My people, And have traded a boy for a prostitute And have sold a girl for wine that they may drink.  
Jl0304 Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre and Sidon and all the [five small] regions of Philistia? Will you pay Me back for something [I have supposedly done to you]? Even if you do pay Me back, I will swiftly and speedily return your deed [of retaliation] on your own head.  
Jl0305 Because you have taken My silver and My gold and have carried My precious treasures to your temples and palaces,  
Jl0306 and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the Greeks, so that you may send them far away from their territory,  
Jl0307 behold, I am going to stir them up from the place where you have sold them [and return them to their land], and I shall return your action [of retaliation] on your own head.  
Jl0308 Also I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a distant nation,” for the LORD has spoken.  
Jl0309 Proclaim this among the [pagan] nations: Prepare a war! Stir up the mighty men! Let all the men of war come near, let them come up!  
Jl0310 Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am strong!”  
Jl0311 Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there; Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones (Your warriors).  
Jl0312 Let the nations be stirred [to action] And come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge and punish All the surrounding nations.  
Jl0313 Put in the sickle [of judgment], for the harvest is ripe; Come, tread [the grapes], for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for the wickedness [of the people] is great.  
Jl0314 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (judgment)! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision [when judgment is executed].  
Jl0315 The sun and the moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness.  
Jl0316 The LORD thunders and roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem [in judgment of His enemies], And the heavens and the earth tremble and shudder; But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold [of protection] to the children of Israel.  
Jl0317 Then you will know and understand fully that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, And strangers [who do not belong] will no longer pass through it.  
Jl0318 And in that day The mountains will drip with sweet wine And the hills will flow with milk; And all the brooks and riverbeds of Judah will flow with water, And a fountain will go out from the house of the LORD To water the [desert] Valley of Shittim.  
Jl0319 Egypt will become a waste, And Edom will become a desolate wilderness, Because of their violence against the children of Judah, In whose land they have shed innocent blood.  
Jl0320 But Judah shall be inhabited forever And Jerusalem from generation to generation.  
Jl0321 And I shall avenge their blood which I have not avenged, For the LORD dwells in Zion.  
Am0101 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa, which he saw [in a divine revelation] concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.  
Am0102 And he said, “The LORD thunders and roars from Zion [in judgment] And utters His voice from Jerusalem; Then the pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the summit of [Mount] Carmel dries up [because of God’s judgment].”  
Am0103 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Damascus and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I shall not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they have threshed Gilead [east of the Jordan River] with sharp iron sledges [having spikes that crushed and shredded].  
Am0104 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] upon the house of Hazael, And it shall devour the palaces and strongholds of Ben-hadad (Hazael’s son).  
Am0105 “I also will break the bar [of the gate] of Damascus, And cut off and destroy the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven (Wickedness), And the ruler who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden (Damascus); And the people of Aram [conquered by the Assyrians] will go into exile to Kir,” Says the LORD.  
Am0106 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Gaza [in Philistia] and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because [as slave traders] they took captive the entire [Jewish] population [of defenseless Judean border villages, of which none was spared] And deported them to Edom [for the slave trade].  
Am0107 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] on the wall of Gaza And it shall consume her citadels.  
Am0108 “And I will cut off and destroy the inhabitants from Ashdod, And the ruler who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; And I will unleash My power and turn My hand [in judgment] against Ekron, And the rest of the Philistines [in Gath and the towns dependent on these four Philistine cities] shall die,” Says the Lord GOD.  
Am0109 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Tyre and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they [as middlemen] deported an entire [Jewish] population to Edom And did not [seriously] remember their covenant of brotherhood.  
Am0110 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] on the wall of Tyre, And it shall consume her citadels.”  
Am0111 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Edom [the descendants of Esau] and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because he pursued his brother Jacob (Israel) with the sword, Corrupting and stifling his compassions and casting off all mercy; His destructive anger raged continually, And he maintained [and nurtured] his wrath forever.  
Am0112 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] upon Teman, And it shall consume the citadels of Bozrah [in Edom].”  
Am0113 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of the children of Ammon and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because the Ammonites have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, That they might enlarge their border.  
Am0114 “So I will kindle a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] on the wall of Rabbah [in Ammon] And it shall devour its strongholds Amid war cries and shouts of alarm on the day of battle, And a tempest on the day of the whirlwind [when the enemy captures the city].  
Am0115 “Their king shall go into exile, He and his princes together,” says the LORD.  
Am0201 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Moab and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom [Esau’s descendant] into lime [and used it to plaster a Moabite house].  
Am0202 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction] upon Moab And it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth; And Moab shall die amid tumult and uproar, With war cries and shouts of alarm and the sound of the trumpet.  
Am0203 “I will also cut off and destroy the ruler from its midst And slay all the princes with him,” says the LORD.  
Am0204 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Judah and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they have rejected the law of the LORD [the sum of God’s instruction to His people] And have not kept His commandments; But their lies [and their idols], after which their fathers walked, Caused them to go astray.  
Am0205 “So I will send a fire [of war, conquest, and destruction by the Babylonians] upon Judah And it will devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.”  
Am0206 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Israel and for four (multiplied delinquencies) I will not reverse its punishment or revoke My word concerning it, Because they sell the righteous and innocent for silver And the needy for the price of a pair of sandals.  
Am0207 “These who pant after (long to see) the dust of the earth on the head of the helpless [as sign of their grief and distress] Also turn aside the way of the humble; And a man and his father will go to the same girl So that My holy name is profaned.  
Am0208 “They stretch out beside every [pagan] altar on clothes taken in pledge [to secure a loan, disregarding God’s command], And in the house of their God [in contempt of Him] they frivolously drink the wine [which has been] taken from those who have been fined.  
Am0209 “Yet it was I [not the false gods] who destroyed the Amorite before them, Though his height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below.  
Am0210 “Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, And I led you forty years through the wilderness That you might possess the land of the Amorite.  
Am0211 “Then I raised up some of your sons to be prophets [who gave you My revelation], And some of your young men to be Nazirites (dedicated ones). Is this not true, O you children of Israel?” says the LORD.  
Am0212 “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink [despite their vows] And commanded the prophets, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy!’  
Am0213 “Behold, I am weighted down beneath you As a cart that is weighted down when it is full of sheaves.  
Am0214 “Flight will be lost to the swift [so they will be unable to escape], And the strong shall not strengthen nor maintain his power, Nor shall the mighty man save his own life.  
Am0215 “He who handles the bow will not stand his ground, The one who is swift of foot will not escape, Nor will he who rides the horse save his life [from the invading army].  
Am0216 “Even the bravest among the warriors shall flee naked on that day,” says the LORD.  
Am0301 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt:  
Am0302 “I have known [chosen, cared for, and loved] only you of all the families of the earth; Therefore I shall punish you for all your wickedness.”  
Am0303 Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?  
Am0304 Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl from his den if he has not captured something?  
Am0305 Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? Does a trap spring up from the ground when it has caught nothing at all? [Of course not! So it is that Israel has earned her impending judgment.]  
Am0306 If a trumpet is blown in a city [warning of danger] will not the people tremble? If a disaster or misfortune occurs in a city has not the LORD caused it?  
Am0307 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Without revealing His secret plan [of the judgment to come] To His servants the prophets.  
Am0308 The lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken [to the prophets]! Who can but prophesy?  
Am0309 Proclaim on the fortresses in Ashdod (Philistia) and on the citadels in the land of Egypt, and say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great confusion within her and the oppressions and abuse of authority in her midst.  
Am0310 For they do not know how to do right,” says the LORD, “these who store up violence and devastation [like treasures] in their strongholds.”  
Am0311 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “An adversary (Assyria), even one surrounding the land, Shall pull down your strength from you And your fortresses will be looted.”  
Am0312 Thus says the LORD, “Just as the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion a couple of legs or a piece of the [sheep’s] ear [to prove to the owner that he has not stolen the animal], So will the [remaining] children of Israel living in Samaria be snatched away With the corner of a bed and [part of] the damask covering of a couch.  
Am0313 “Hear and testify against the house of Jacob,” Says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,  
Am0314 “On that day when I punish Israel’s transgressions, I shall also punish the altars of Bethel [with their golden calves]; And the horns of the altar shall be cut off And fall to the ground.  
Am0315 “And I shall tear down the winter house with the summer house; And the houses of ivory shall also perish And the great houses shall come to an end,” Says the LORD.  
Am0401 Hear this word, you [well-fed, pampered] cows (women) of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to their husbands, “Bring [the wine] now, and let us drink!”  
Am0402 The Lord GOD has sworn [an oath] by His holiness That, “Behold, the days are coming upon you When they shall take you away with meat hooks, And the last of you with fish hooks.  
Am0403 “And you shall go out through the breaches [made in the city wall], Every woman straight before her [unable to turn aside], And you shall be cast to Harmon,” Says the LORD.  
Am0404 “Come to Bethel [where the golden calf is] and transgress; In Gilgal [where idols are worshiped] multiply transgression; Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days!  
Am0405 “Offer [by burning] a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, And [boastfully] proclaim freewill offerings, announce them. For this you so love to do, O children of Israel!” Says the Lord GOD.  
Am0406 “I also gave you cleanness of teeth [because of the famine] in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.  
Am0407 “Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you When there were still three months until the harvest. Then I would send rain on one city, And on another city I would not send rain; One piece of ground was rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up.  
Am0408 “So [the people of] two or three cities would stagger into one city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.  
Am0409 “I wounded you with blight [from the hot, blasting east wind] and with mildew; And the caterpillar devoured Your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees; Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.  
Am0410 “I sent a plague among you like [those of] Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword and I captured your horses, I made the stench of your camp rise up into your nostrils; Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.  
Am0411 “I overthrew and destroyed [some among] you, as [I, your] God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were [rescued] like a log pulled out of the flame; Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the LORD.  
Am0412 “Therefore this is what I shall do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God [in judgment], O Israel!”  
Am0413 For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes the dawn into darkness And treads on the heights of the earth— The LORD God of hosts is His name.  
Am0501 Hear this word which I take up for you as a funeral song, O house of Israel:  
Am0502 She has fallen, she will not rise again— The virgin Israel. She lies neglected on her land; There is no one to raise her up.  
Am0503 For thus says the Lord GOD, “The city which goes forth a thousand strong Will have a hundred left, And the one which goes forth a hundred strong Will have ten left to the house of Israel.”  
Am0504 For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, “Seek Me [search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food] so that you may live.  
Am0505 “But do not resort to Bethel [to worship the golden calf] Nor enter [idolatrous] Gilgal, Nor cross over to Beersheba [and its idols]; For Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile, And Bethel will come to nothing.  
Am0506 “Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and long for Him as your most essential need] so that you may live, Or He will rush down like a [devouring] fire, O house of Joseph, And there will be no one to quench the flame for [idolatrous] Bethel,  
Am0507 For those [shall be consumed] who turn justice into wormwood (bitterness) And cast righteousness down to the earth.”  
Am0508 He who made the [cluster of stars called] Pleiades and [the constellation] Orion, Who turns deep darkness into the morning And darkens the day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The LORD is His name.  
Am0509 It is He who causes [sudden] destruction to flash forth on the strong So that destruction comes on the fortress.  
Am0510 They hate the one who reprimands [the unrighteous] in the [court held at the city] gate [regarding him as unreasonable and rejecting his reprimand], And they detest him who speaks [the truth] with integrity and honesty.  
Am0511 Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them, Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone, You will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.  
Am0512 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great (shocking, innumerable), You who distress the righteous and take bribes, And turn away from the poor in the [court of the city] gate [depriving them of justice].  
Am0513 Therefore, he who is prudent and has insight will keep silent at such a [corrupt and evil] time, for it is an evil time [when people will not listen to truth and will disregard those of good character].  
Am0514 Seek (long for, require) good and not evil, that you may live; And so may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!  
Am0515 Hate evil and love good, And establish justice in the [court of the city] gate. Perhaps the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [that is, those who remain after God’s judgment].  
Am0516 Therefore, thus says the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, “There is wailing in all the public plazas, And in all the streets they say, ‘Alas! Alas!’ And they call the farmers to mourning [for those who have died] And professional mourners to wailing.  
Am0517 “And in all vineyards there is wailing, For I will pass through your midst [in judgment],” says the LORD.  
Am0518 Woe (judgment is coming) to you who desire the day of the LORD [expecting rescue from the Gentiles]! Why would you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness (judgment) and not light [and rescue and prosperity];  
Am0519 It is as if a man runs from a lion [escaping one danger] And a bear meets him [so he dies anyway], Or goes home, and leans with his hand against the wall And a snake bites him.  
Am0520 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, instead of light, Even very dark with no brightness in it?  
Am0521 “I hate, I despise and reject your [sacred] feasts, And I do not take delight in your solemn assemblies.  
Am0522 “Even though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened animals.  
Am0523 “Take the noise of your songs away from Me [they are an irritation]! I shall not even listen to the melody of your harps.  
Am0524 “But let justice run down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].  
Am0525 “Did you bring Me sacrifices and grain offerings during those forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? [Certainly not!]  
Am0526 You carried along your king Sikkuth and Kayyun [your man-made gods of Saturn], your images of your star-god which you made for yourselves [but you brought Me none of the appointed sacrifices].  
Am0527 Therefore, I will send you to go into exile far beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.  
Am0601 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are at ease and carefree in Zion (Judah) And to those on the mountain of Samaria who feel secure, The distinguished men of the foremost of nations, To whom the house of Israel comes.  
Am0602 Go over to Calneh [in Babylonia] and look, And from there go [north of Damascus] to the great city of Hamath; Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms [of yours], Or is their territory greater than yours?  
Am0603 Do you put off the day of punishment, Yet cause the seat of violence to come near?  
Am0604 Those who lie on [luxurious] beds of ivory And lounge around out on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall,  
Am0605 Who improvise to the sound of the harp— Like David they have composed songs for themselves—  
Am0606 Who drink wine from sacrificial bowls And anoint themselves with the finest oils [reflecting their unrestrained celebration]; Yet they are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph (Israel).  
Am0607 Therefore, they will now go into exile with the first of the captives, And the cultic revelry and banqueting of those who lounge around [on their luxurious couches] will pass away.  
Am0608 The Lord GOD has sworn [an oath] by Himself—the LORD God of hosts, says: “I loathe and reject the [self-centered] arrogance of Jacob (Israel), And I hate his palaces and citadels; Therefore, I shall hand over the [idolatrous] city [of Samaria] with all that it contains [to the Assyrian invaders].”  
Am0609 And it shall come to pass that if there remain ten men in one house, they shall die [by the pestilence that comes with war].  
Am0610 Then one’s uncle, or his undertaker, shall come to bring the [disease-infected] body out of the house, [to cremate it], and he will say to another in the farthest part of the house, “Is there anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “No one.” Then he will respond, “Hush! Keep quiet! For the name of the LORD is not to be mentioned [even casually, for fear that we might invoke even more punishment].”  
Am0611 For behold, the LORD is going to command that the great house be smashed to pieces and the small house to fragments.  
Am0612 Do horses run on rocks? Do men plow rocks with oxen? [Of course not!] Yet you have turned justice into poison And the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (bitterness),  
Am0613 You who [self-confidently] rejoice in Lo-debar (Nothing), Who say, “Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim (Strength) for ourselves?”  
Am0614 “For behold, I am going to stir up a nation against you, O house of Israel,” says the LORD, the God of hosts, “And they will afflict and torment you [to the entire limits of Israel] from the entrance of Hamath [in the north] To the brook of the Arabah [in the south].”  
Am0701 Thus the Lord GOD showed me [a vision], and behold, He was forming a swarm of locusts when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing.  
Am0702 And when the locusts had finished eating the plants of the land, then I said, “O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand, For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”  
Am0703 The LORD revoked this sentence. “It shall not take place,” said the LORD.  
Am0704 Thus the Lord GOD showed me, and behold, the Lord GOD called for punishment with fire, and it devoured the great deep [underground sources of water] and began to consume the land.  
Am0705 Then I said, “O Lord GOD, please stop! How can Jacob stand, For he is so small [that he cannot endure this]?”  
Am0706 The LORD revoked this sentence. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord GOD.  
Am0707 Thus He showed me [a vision], and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand [to determine if the wall was straight or if it needed to be destroyed].  
Am0708 The LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line [as a standard] Among My people Israel [showing the defectiveness of the nation, requiring judgment]. I shall not spare them any longer. [The door of mercy is shut.]  
Am0709 “And the [idolatrous] high places of Isaac (Israel) will be devastated and deserted, And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins. Then I shall rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword [and destroy the monarchy].”  
Am0710 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel [site of the golden calf shrine], sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words.  
Am0711 For in this way Amos has said, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”  
Am0712 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, run for your life [from Israel] to the land of Judah [your own country] and eat bread and live as a prophet there!  
Am0713 But do not prophesy any longer at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal residence.”  
Am0714 Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet [by profession], nor am I a prophet’s son; I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.  
Am0715 But the LORD took me as I followed the flock and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’  
Am0716 Now therefore, listen to the word of the LORD: You say, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.’  
Am0717 Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city [when the Assyrians capture Samaria] and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean and defiled [pagan] land, and Israel shall certainly go from its land into exile.’”  
Am0801 Thus the Lord GOD showed me [a vision], and behold, there was a basket of [overripe] summer fruit.  
Am0802 And He said, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then the LORD said to me, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer [for the nation is ripe for judgment].  
Am0803 In that day, the songs of the palace shall turn to wailing,” says the Lord GOD. “There will be many dead bodies; in [sacred] silence they will throw them everywhere.”  
Am0804 Hear this, you who trample down the needy, and do away with the poor of the land,  
Am0805 saying, “When will the New Moon [festival] be over So that we may sell grain, And the Sabbath ended so that we may open the wheat market, Making the ephah [measure] smaller and the shekel bigger [that is, selling less for a higher price] And to cheat by falsifying the scales,  
Am0806 So that we may buy the poor [as slaves] for silver [since they are unable to support themselves] And the needy for a pair of sandals, And that we may sell the leftovers of the wheat [as if it were a good grade of grain]?”  
Am0807 The LORD has sworn [an oath] by the pride of Jacob, “Surely I shall never forget [nor leave unpunished] any of their [rebellious] acts.  
Am0808 “Because of this [coming judgment] will the land not quake And everyone mourn who dwells in it? Indeed, all of it shall rise up like the Nile, And it will be tossed around [from the impact of judgment] And [afterward] subside again like the Nile of Egypt.  
Am0809 “It shall come about in that day,” says the Lord GOD, “That I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, And I shall darken the earth in broad daylight.  
Am0810 “And I shall turn your festivals and feasts into mourning And all your songs into dirges (funeral poems to be sung); And I shall cause sackcloth to be put on everyone’s loins And baldness on every head [shaved for mourning]. And I shall make that time like a time of mourning for an only son [who has died], And the end of it shall be like a bitter day.  
Am0811 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “When I will send hunger over the land, Not hunger for bread or a thirst for water, But rather [a hunger] for hearing the words of the LORD.  
Am0812 “People shall stagger from sea to sea [to the very ends of the earth] And from the north even to the east; They will roam here and there to seek the word of the LORD [longing for it as essential for life], But they will not find it.  
Am0813 “In that day the beautiful virgins And [even the vigorous] young men shall faint from thirst.  
Am0814 “Those who swear [their oaths] by the sin (guilt) of Samaria or Ashimah (a pagan goddess), Who say, ‘By the life of your god [the golden calf], O Dan!’ And [swear], ‘By the life of the way of [idolatrous] Beersheba,’ They shall fall and not rise again.”  
Am0901 I saw [in a vision] the Lord standing at the altar, and He said, “Destroy the capitals (tops) of the pillars so that the thresholds will shake, And break them on the heads of all of the people! Then I will kill the rest of them with the sword; They will not have a fugitive who will get away, Or a survivor who will escape.  
Am0902 “Though they dig into Sheol [to hide in the deepest pit], From there My hand will take them [for judgment]; And though they climb up to heaven [to hide in the realm of light], From there will I bring them down [for judgment].  
Am0903 “Though they hide on the summit of [Mount] Carmel, I will track them down and take them from there; And though they hide from My sight on the floor of the sea, From there I shall command the serpent and it will bite them.  
Am0904 “And though they go into captivity before their enemies, From there I shall command the sword to kill them, And I will set My eyes against them for evil (judgment, punishment) and not for good [that is, not for correction leading to restoration].”  
Am0905 The Lord GOD of hosts [the Omnipotent Ruler], It is He who touches the earth [in judgment] and it melts, And all who dwell on it mourn [in despair and fear], And all of it rises up like the Nile And subsides like the Nile of Egypt;  
Am0906 It is He who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has established His vaulted dome (the firmament of heaven) over the earth, He who calls to the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth— The LORD is His name.  
Am0907 “Are you [degenerate ones] not as the [despised] sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” says the LORD. “Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, And the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans (Syrians) from Kir?  
Am0908 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful [northern] kingdom [of Israel’s ten tribes] And I shall destroy it from the face of the earth; But I shall not totally destroy the house of Jacob [that is, the entire nation of Israel],” Says the LORD.  
Am0909 “For behold, I am commanding, And I shall shake and sift the house of Israel among all nations [and cause it to tremble] Like grain is shaken in a sieve [removing the chaff], But not a kernel [of the faithful remnant] shall fall to the ground and be lost [from My sight].  
Am0910 “All the sinners among My people will die by the sword, Those who say [defiantly], ‘The disaster will not overtake or confront us.’  
Am0911 “In that day I shall raise up and restore the fallen tabernacle (booth) of David, And wall up its breaches [in the city walls]; I will also raise up and restore its ruins And rebuild it as it was in the days of old,  
Am0912 That they may possess the remnant of Edom (ancient enemies) And all the nations that are called by My name,” Says the LORD who does this.  
Am0913 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the one who gathers the harvest, And the one who treads the grapes [shall overtake] him who sows the seed [for the harvest continues until planting time]; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills shall melt [that is, everything that was once barren will overflow with streams of blessing].  
Am0914 “Also I shall bring back the exiles of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the deserted and ruined cities and inhabit them: They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.  
Am0915 “I will also plant them on their land, And they shall never again be uprooted from their land Which I have given them,” Says the LORD your God.  
Ob0101 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom— We have heard a report from the LORD, And an ambassador has been sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let us rise up against Edom for battle [with the LORD as commander]!”  
Ob0102 “Behold [Edom], I shall [humiliate you and] make you small among the nations; You are greatly despised.  
Ob0103 “The pride and arrogance of your heart have deceived you, You who live in the clefts and lofty security of the rock (Sela), Whose dwelling place is high, Who say [boastfully] in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to earth?’  
Ob0104 “Though you build [your nest] on high like the eagle, Though you set your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there,” says the LORD.  
Ob0105 “If thieves came to you, If robbers by night— How you will be ruined!— Would they not steal only until they had enough? If grape gatherers came to you, Would they not leave some grapes for gleaning?  
Ob0106 “How Esau (Edom) shall be ransacked [by men who come to ravage with divine approval]! How his hidden treasures shall be searched out!  
Ob0107 “All the men allied with you Shall send you on your way to the border; The men who were at peace with you Shall deceive you and overpower you; Those who eat your bread [those you trust] Shall set a hostile ambush for you. (There is no understanding of it.)  
Ob0108 “Will I not on that day,” says the LORD, “Destroy the wise men from Edom [removing all wisdom] And understanding from the mountain of Esau?  
Ob0109 “And your mighty men shall be dismayed and demoralized, O Teman, So that everyone from the mountain of Esau may be cut off in the slaughter.  
Ob0110 “Because of the violence you did against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you [completely], And you shall be cut off forever.  
Ob0111 “On the day that [Jerusalem was destroyed] you stood aloof [from your brother Jacob]— On the day that strangers took his forces captive and carried off his wealth, And foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem [dividing the city for plunder]— You too were like one of them [collaborating with the enemy].  
Ob0112 “Do not gaze and gloat [in triumph] over your brother’s day, The day when his misfortune came. Do not rejoice over the sons of Judah In the day of their destruction; Do not speak arrogantly [jeering and maliciously mocking] In the day of their distress.  
Ob0113 “Do not enter the gate of My people In the day of their disaster; Yes, you, do not look [with delight] on their misery In the day of their ruin, And do not loot treasures In the day of their ruin.  
Ob0114 “Do not stand at the crossroad To cut down those [of Judah] who escaped; And do not hand over [to the enemy] those [of Judah] who survive In the day of their distress.  
Ob0115 “For the [judgment] day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you [in retribution]; Your [evil] dealings will return on your own head.  
Ob0116 “Because just as you [Edom] drank on My holy mountain [desecrating it in the revelry of the destroyers], So shall all the nations drink continually [one by one, of My wrath]; Yes, they shall drink and swallow [the full measure of punishment] And become as though they had never existed.  
Ob0117 “But on Mount Zion [in Jerusalem] there shall be [deliverance for] those who escape, And it shall be holy [no pagan will defile it]; And the house of Jacob shall possess their [former] possessions.  
Ob0118 “Then the house of Jacob shall be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame [in executing God’s wrath]; But the house of Esau will be like stubble. They (Jacob) shall set them on fire and consume them (the Edomites), So that there shall be no survivor of the house of Esau,” For the LORD has spoken.  
Ob0119 Then those of the Negev shall possess the mountain of Esau, And those of the Shephelah [shall possess] the Philistine plain; Also, [they shall] possess the fields of Ephraim and the fields of Samaria, And Benjamin will possess Gilead [across the Jordan River].  
Ob0120 And the exiles of this host of the sons (descendants) of Israel Who are among the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, And the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad Shall possess the cities of the Negev.  
Ob0121 The deliverers shall go up on Mount Zion To rule and judge the mountain of Esau, And the kingdom and the kingship shall be the LORD’S.  
Jh0101 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  
Jh0102 “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim [judgment] against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.”  
Jh0103 But Jonah ran away to Tarshish to escape from the presence of the LORD [and his duty as His prophet]. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish [the most remote of the Phoenician trading cities]. So he paid the fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the LORD.  
Jh0104 But the LORD hurled a great wind toward the sea, and there was a violent tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.  
Jh0105 Then the sailors were afraid, and each man cried out to his god; and to lighten the ship [and diminish the danger] they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship and had lain down and was sound asleep.  
Jh0106 So the captain came up to him and said, “How can you stay asleep? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps your god will give a thought to us so that we will not perish.”  
Jh0107 And they said to another, “Come, let us cast lots, so we may learn who is to blame for this disaster.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.  
Jh0108 Then they said to him, “Now tell us! Who is to blame for this disaster? What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country?”  
Jh0109 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I [reverently] fear and worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”  
Jh0110 Then the men became extremely frightened and said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was running from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.  
Jh0111 Then they said to him, “What should we do to you, so that the sea will become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming more and more violent.  
Jh0112 Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.”  
Jh0113 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard [breaking through the waves] to return to land, but they could not, because the sea became even more violent [surging higher] against them.  
Jh0114 Then they called on the LORD and said, “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish because of taking this man’s life, and do not make us accountable for innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.”  
Jh0115 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.  
Jh0116 Then the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.  
Jh0117 Now the LORD had prepared (appointed, destined) a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.  
Jh0201 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish,  
Jh0202 and said, “I called out of my trouble and distress to the LORD, And He answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol I cried for help, And You heard my voice.  
Jh0203 “For You cast me into the deep, Into the [deep] heart of the seas, And the currents surrounded and engulfed me; All Your breakers and billowing waves passed over me.  
Jh0204 “Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’  
Jh0205 “The waters surrounded me, to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Seaweed was wrapped around my head.  
Jh0206 “I descended to the [very] roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars closed behind me [bolting me in] forever, Yet You have brought up my life from the pit (death), O LORD my God.  
Jh0207 “When my soul was fainting within me, I remembered the LORD, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple.  
Jh0208 “Those who regard and follow worthless idols Turn away from their [living source of] mercy and lovingkindness.  
Jh0209 “But [as for me], I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I shall pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!”  
Jh0210 So the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.  
Jh0301 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,  
Jh0302 “Go to Nineveh the great city and declare to it the message which I am going to tell you.”  
Jh0303 So Jonah went to Nineveh in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk [about sixty miles in circumference].  
Jh0304 Then on the first day’s walk, Jonah began to go through the city, and he called out and said, “Forty days more [remain] and [then] Nineveh will be overthrown!”  
Jh0305 The people of Nineveh believed and trusted in God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth [in penitent mourning], from the greatest even to the least of them.  
Jh0306 When word reached the king of Nineveh [of Jonah’s message from God], he rose from his throne, took off his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the dust [in repentance].  
Jh0307 He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh, by the decree of the king and his nobles: No man, animal, herd, or flock is to taste anything. They are not to eat or drink water.  
Jh0308 But both man and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and every one is to call on God earnestly and forcefully that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence that is in his hands.  
Jh0309 Who knows, God may turn [in compassion] and relent and withdraw His burning anger (judgment) so that we will not perish.”  
Jh0310 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God [had compassion and] relented concerning the disaster which He had declared that He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.  
Jh0401 But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.  
Jh0402 He prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I ran to Tarshish, because I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness, and [when sinners turn to You] You revoke the [sentence of] disaster [against them].  
Jh0403 Therefore now, O LORD, just take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”  
Jh0404 Then the LORD said, “Do you have a good reason to be angry?”  
Jh0405 Then Jonah went out of the city and sat east of it. There he made himself a shelter and sat under its shade so that he could see what would happen in the city.  
Jh0406 So the LORD God prepared a plant and it grew up over Jonah, to be a shade over his head to spare him from discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about [the protection of] the plant.  
Jh0407 But God prepared a worm when morning dawned the next day, and it attacked the plant and it withered.  
Jh0408 When the sun came up God prepared a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he fainted and he wished to die, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”  
Jh0409 Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have a good reason to be angry about [the loss of] the plant?” And he said, “I have a [very] good reason to be angry, angry enough to die!”  
Jh0410 Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight.  
Jh0411 Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 [innocent] persons, who do not know the difference between their right and left hand [and are not yet accountable for sin], as well as many [blameless] animals?”  
Mi0101 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw [through divine revelation] concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.  
Mi0102 Hear, O peoples, all of you; Listen closely, O earth and all that is in it, And let the Lord GOD be witness [giving a testimony of the judgment] against you, The Lord from His holy temple [in the heavens].  
Mi0103 For behold, the LORD is coming down from His place He shall come down and tread [in judgment] on the high places of the earth.  
Mi0104 The mountains shall melt under Him And the valleys shall be split Like wax before the fire, Like waters poured down a steep place.  
Mi0105 All this is because of the rebellion and apostasy of Jacob And for the sins of the house of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). What is the rebellion and apostasy of Jacob? Is it not [the abandonment of God in order to worship the idols of] Samaria? What are the high places [of idolatry] in Judah (the Southern Kingdom)? Are they not Jerusalem [the capital and center of corruption]?  
Mi0106 Therefore I [the LORD] shall make Samaria a heap of ruins [and of stones and arable land] in the open country, A place for planting vineyards; And I will pour her stones down into the ravine And lay bare her foundations.  
Mi0107 All her idols shall be broken in pieces, All her earnings [from her idolatry] shall be burned with fire, And all her images I shall make desolate; For from the earnings of a prostitute she collected them, And to the earnings of a prostitute they shall return.  
Mi0108 Because of this I [Micah] must lament (mourn over with expressions of grief) and wail, I must go barefoot and naked [without outer garments as if robbed]; I must wail like the jackals And lament [with a loud, mournful cry] like the ostriches.  
Mi0109 For Samaria’s wound is incurable, For it has come to Judah; The enemy has reached the gate of my people, Even to Jerusalem.  
Mi0110 Announce it not in Gath [in Philistia], Weep not at all [and in this way betray your grief to Gentiles]; In Beth-le-aphrah (House of Dust) roll in the dust [among your own people].  
Mi0111 Go on your way [into exile—stripped of beauty, disarmed], inhabitants of Shaphir (Beautiful), in shameful nakedness. The inhabitant of Zaanan (Go Out) does not go out [of the house]; The wailing of Beth-ezel (House of Removal) will take away from you its support.  
Mi0112 For the inhabitant of Maroth (Bitterness) Writhes in pain [at its losses] and waits anxiously for good, Because a catastrophe has come down from the LORD To the gate of Jerusalem.  
Mi0113 Harness the chariot to the team of horses [to escape the invasion], O inhabitant of Lachish— She was the beginning of sin To the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem)— Because in you were found The rebellious acts of Israel.  
Mi0114 Therefore you will give parting gifts On behalf of Moresheth-gath (Micah’s home); The houses of Achzib (Place of Deceit) will become a deception To the kings of Israel.  
Mi0115 Moreover, I will bring on you The one who takes possession, O inhabitant of Mareshah (Prominent Place). The glory (nobility) of Israel will enter Adullam [seeking refuge].  
Mi0116 Make yourself bald [in mourning]—shave off your hair For the children of your delight; Remain as bald as the eagle, For your children will be taken from you into exile.  
Mi0201 Woe (judgment is coming) to those who devise wickedness And plot evil on their beds! When morning comes, they practice evil Because it is in the power of their hands.  
Mi0202 They covet fields and seize them, And houses, and take them away. They oppress and rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.  
Mi0203 Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am planning against this family a disaster (exile) [Like a noose] from which you cannot remove your necks; Nor will you be able to walk haughtily and erect, For it will be an evil time [of subjugation to the invaders].  
Mi0204 “On that day they shall take up a [taunting, deriding] parable against you And wail with a doleful and bitter song of mourning and say, ‘We are completely destroyed! God exchanges the inheritance of my people; How He removes it from me! He divides our fields to the rebellious [our captors].’  
Mi0205 “Therefore, you will have no one stretching a measuring line [dividing the common land] For you by lot in the assembly of the LORD.  
Mi0206 ‘Do not speak out,’ so they speak out. But if they do not speak out concerning these things, Reproaches will not be turned back.  
Mi0207 “Is it being said, O house of Jacob: ‘Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Or are these [prophesied judgments] His doings?’ Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?  
Mi0208 “But lately My people have stood up as an enemy [and have made Me their antagonist]. You strip the ornaments off the garment Of those unsuspecting passers-by, Like those returned from war.  
Mi0209 “You evict the women (widows) of My people, Each one from her pleasant house; From her [young, fatherless] children you take away My splendor and blessing forever [by putting them among the pagans, away from Me].  
Mi0210 “Arise and depart [because the captivity is inevitable], For this [land] is not the place of rest Because of the defilement that brings destruction, A painful and terrible destruction.  
Mi0211 “If a man walking in a false spirit [spouting deception] Should lie and say, ‘I will prophesy to you [O Israel] of wine and liquor (greed, sensual pleasure),’ He would be the acceptable spokesman of this people.  
Mi0212 “I shall most certainly assemble all of you, O Jacob; I shall surely gather the remnant of Israel. I shall bring them together like sheep in the fold [multiplying the nation]; Like a flock in the midst of its pasture. The place will swarm with many people and hum loudly with noise.  
Mi0213 “The breaker [the Messiah, who opens the way] shall go up before them [liberating them]. They will break out, pass through the gate and go out; So their King goes on before them, The LORD at their head.”  
Mi0301 And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know and administer justice?  
Mi0302 “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear the skin off my people And their flesh from their bones;  
Mi0303 You who eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones And chop them in pieces as for the pot, Like meat in a kettle.”  
Mi0304 Then they will cry to the LORD, But He will not answer them; Instead, He will even hide His face from them at that time [withholding His mercy] Because they have practiced and tolerated and ignored evil acts.  
Mi0305 Thus says the LORD concerning the [false] prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something good to bite with their teeth, They call out, “Peace,” But against the one who gives them nothing to eat, They declare a holy war.  
Mi0306 Therefore it will be night (tragedy) for you—without vision, And darkness (cataclysm) for you—without foresight. The sun shall go down on the [false] prophets, And the day shall become dark and black over them.  
Mi0307 The seers shall be ashamed And the diviners discredited and embarrassed; Indeed, they shall all cover their mouths [in shame] Because there is no answer from God.  
Mi0308 But in fact, I am filled with power, With the Spirit of the LORD, And with justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin.  
Mi0309 Now hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who hate and reject justice And twist everything that is straight,  
Mi0310 Who build Zion with blood [and extortion and murder] And Jerusalem with violent injustice.  
Mi0311 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests teach for a fee, And her prophets foretell for money; Yet they lean on the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No tragedy or distress will come on us.”  
Mi0312 Therefore, on account of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, And the mountain of the house [of the LORD] shall become like a densely wooded hill.  
Mi0401 But it shall come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD Shall be established as the highest and chief of the mountains; It shall be above the hills, And peoples shall flow [like a river] to it.  
Mi0402 And many nations shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law shall go forward from Zion, And the word of the LORD [the revelation about Him and His truth] from Jerusalem.  
Mi0403 And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for strong and distant nations. Then they shall hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks [so that the implements of war may become the tools of agriculture]; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Nor shall they ever again train for war.  
Mi0404 Each of them shall sit [in security and peace] under his vine And under his fig tree, With no one to make them afraid, For the mouth of the [omnipotent] LORD of hosts has spoken it.  
Mi0405 For all the peoples [now] walk Each in the name of his god [in a transient relationship], As for us, we shall walk [securely] In the name of the LORD our [true] God forever and ever.  
Mi0406 “In that day,” says the LORD, “I shall assemble the lame, And gather the outcasts [from foreign captivity], Even those whom I have caused pain.  
Mi0407 “I shall make the lame a [godly] remnant And the outcasts a strong nation; And the LORD shall reign over them in Mount Zion From this time on and forever.  
Mi0408 “As for you [Jerusalem], tower of the flock [of Israel], Hill and stronghold of the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem’s inhabitants), To you the former dominion shall come, The kingdom of the Daughter of Jerusalem [when the Messiah reigns in Jerusalem, and the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled].  
Mi0409 “Now, why do you cry out loudly? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished? For agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.  
Mi0410 “Writhe in pain and labor to give birth, O Daughter of Zion, Like a woman in childbirth; For now you shall go out of the city, Live in the field, And go to Babylon. There you will be rescued; There the LORD shall redeem you From the hand of your enemies.  
Mi0411 “Now many [conquering] nations are assembled against you, Who say, ‘Let her be profaned [through Gentile presence and the temple’s destruction], And let our eyes gaze on and gloat over Zion.’  
Mi0412 “But they (Gentile nations) do not know the thoughts of the LORD, Nor do they understand His purpose and plan; For He has gathered them (Gentiles) like sheaves to the threshing floor [for destruction].  
Mi0413 “Arise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion! For I will make your horn iron And I will make your hoofs bronze; That you may beat many peoples in pieces [trampling down your enemies], That you may devote to the LORD their unjust gain (pagan possessions) And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.  
Mi0501 “Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; A state of siege has been placed against us. They shall strike the ruler of Israel on the cheek with a rod (scepter).  
Mi0502 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah; From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, From ancient days.”  
Mi0503 Therefore, He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has given birth to a child. Then what is left of His kinsmen Shall return to the children of Israel.  
Mi0504 And He shall stand and shepherd and guide His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; And they shall dwell [secure in undisturbed peace], Because at that time He shall be great [extending His authority] [Even] to the ends of the earth.  
Mi0505 This One [the Messiah] shall be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land And tramples on our citadels and in our palaces, Then shall we raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princes [an overpowering force] among men.  
Mi0506 They shall devastate the land of Assyria with the sword and The land of Nimrod within her [own] gates. And He (the Messiah) shall rescue us from the Assyrian (all enemy nations) When he attacks our land And when he tramples our territory.  
Mi0507 Then the remnant of Jacob Shall be among many peoples Like dew from the LORD, Like showers on the grass [a source of blessing] Which [come suddenly and] do not wait for man Nor delay for the sons of men.  
Mi0508 The remnant of Jacob Shall be among the nations, In the midst of many peoples Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion [suddenly appearing] among the flocks of sheep Which, if he passes through, Tramples down and tears into pieces [the nations in judgment], And there is no one to rescue.  
Mi0509 Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, And all your enemies shall be cut off and destroyed.  
Mi0510 “And in that day,” says the LORD, “I will cut off your horses from among you And destroy your chariots [on which you depend].  
Mi0511 “I will cut off the cities of your land And tear down all your fortifications.  
Mi0512 “I will cut off witchcrafts and sorceries from your hand, And you shall have no more fortune- tellers.  
Mi0513 “I will also cut off your carved images And your sacred pillars from among you, So that you will no longer worship and bow down To the work of your hands.  
Mi0514 “I will root out your Asherim (symbols of the goddess Asherah) from among you And destroy your cities [which are the centers of pagan worship].  
Mi0515 “And in anger and wrath I shall execute vengeance On the nations which have not obeyed [such vengeance as they have not known before].”  
Mi0601 Hear now what the LORD is saying, “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills [as witnesses] hear your voice.  
Mi0602 “Hear, O mountains, the indictment of the LORD, And you enduring foundations of the earth, For the LORD has a case (a legal complaint) against His people, And He will dispute (challenge) Israel.  
Mi0603 “O My people, what have I done to you [since you have turned away from Me]? And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.  
Mi0604 “For I brought you up from the land of Egypt And ransomed you from the house of slavery, And I sent before you Moses [to lead you], Aaron [the high priest], and Miriam [the prophetess].  
Mi0605 “My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab devised [with his evil plan against Israel] And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him [turning the curse into blessing for Israel], [Remember what the LORD did for you] from Shittim to Gilgal, So that you may know the righteous and saving acts [displaying the power] of the LORD.”  
Mi0606 With what shall I come before the LORD [to honor Him] And bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves?  
Mi0607 Will the LORD be delighted with thousands of rams, Or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my acts of rebellion, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  
Mi0608 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?  
Mi0609 The voice of the LORD shall call to the city [of Jerusalem]— And it is sound wisdom to heed [solemnly] and fear Your name [with awe-filled reverence]; “Hear, O tribe [the rod of punishment]. Who has appointed its time?  
Mi0610 “Are there not still treasures gained by wickedness In the house of the wicked, And a short (inaccurate) measure [for grain] that is cursed?  
Mi0611 “Can I [be guiltless and] justify deceptive scales And a bag of dishonest weights?  
Mi0612 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence [of every kind]; Her inhabitants speak lies And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.  
Mi0613 “So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating and devastating you, because of your sins.  
Mi0614 “You shall eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your emptiness shall be among you; You will [try to] remove [your goods and those you love] for safekeeping But you will fail to save anything, And what you do save I shall give to the sword.  
Mi0615 “You shall sow but you shall not reap; You shall tread olives, but shall not anoint yourself with oil, And [you will extract juice from] the grapes, but you shall not drink the wine.  
Mi0616 “For [you have kept] the statutes of Omri [the idolatrous king], And all the works of the [wicked] house (dynasty) of Ahab; And you walk in their counsels and policies. Therefore, I shall hand you over for destruction and horror And your [city’s] inhabitants for ridicule, And you shall bear the rebuke and scorn of My people.”  
Mi0701 Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I am Like one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves.  
Mi0702 The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth, And there is no upright person [one with good character and moral integrity] among men. They all lie in wait to shed blood; Each hunts the other with a net.  
Mi0703 Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly; The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul. So they twist the course of justice between them.  
Mi0704 The best of them is [injurious] like a briar; The most upright is [prickly] like a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen [that is, the time predicted by the prophets] And your punishment comes; Now shall be their confusion.  
Mi0705 Do not trust in a neighbor [because of the moral corruption in the land]; Do not have confidence in a friend. Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom.  
Mi0706 For the son dishonors the father and treats him contemptuously, The daughter rises up [in hostility] against her mother, The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— A man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own household.  
Mi0707 But as for me, I will look expectantly for the LORD and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.  
Mi0708 Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy! Though I fall, I will rise; Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the LORD is a light for me.  
Mi0709 I will bear the indignation and wrath of the LORD Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will behold His [amazing] righteousness and His remarkable deliverance.  
Mi0710 Then my enemy [all the pagan nations] shall see it, And shame [for despising the LORD] will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will look on her [with satisfaction at her judgment]; Now she (unbelievers) will be trampled down Like mud of the streets.  
Mi0711 It shall be a day for building your walls, On that day the boundary [of Israel] shall be [greatly] extended.  
Mi0712 It shall be a day when the Gentiles will come to you From Assyria and from the cities of Egypt, And from Egypt even to the river Euphrates, From sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.  
Mi0713 Yet the earth [beyond the land of Israel] shall become desolate because of those who dwell in it, Because of the fruit of their deeds.  
Mi0714 Shepherd and rule Your people with Your scepter [of blessing], The flock of Your inheritance and Your possession Which dwells alone [separate and secure from attack] in the forest, In the midst of a garden land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old [the days of Moses and Elijah].  
Mi0715 “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt, I shall show you marvelous and miraculous things.”  
Mi0716 The [pagan] nations shall see [God’s omnipotence in delivering Israel] and be ashamed Of all their might [which cannot be compared to His]. They shall put their hand on their mouth [in silent astonishment]; Their ears shall be deaf.  
Mi0717 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; Like crawling things of the earth They shall come trembling out of their fortresses and hiding places. They shall turn and come with fear and dread to the LORD our God And they shall be afraid and stand in awe before You [O LORD].  
Mi0718 Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness.  
Mi0719 He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.  
Mi0720 You shall give truth to Jacob And lovingkindness and mercy to Abraham, As You have sworn to our forefathers From the days of old.  
Na0101 The oracle (a burdensome message—a pronouncement from God) concerning Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria]. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh [which he saw in spirit and prophesied].  
Na0102 The LORD is a jealous and avenging God [protecting and demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]; The LORD avenges and He is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies.  
Na0103 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power And He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust beneath His feet.  
Na0104 He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He dries up all the rivers [illustrating His judgment]. Bashan [on the east] and [Mount] Carmel [on the west] wither, And [in the north] the blossoms of Lebanon fade.  
Na0105 The mountains quake before Him And the hills melt away; Indeed the earth is shaken by His presence— Yes, the world and all that dwell in it.  
Na0106 Who can stand before His indignation [His great wrath]? And who can stand up and endure the fierceness of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire And the rocks are destroyed by Him.  
Na0107 The LORD is good, A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully] those who take refuge and trust in Him.  
Na0108 But with an overwhelming flood [of judgment through invading armies] He will make a complete destruction of its site And will pursue His enemies into darkness.  
Na0109 Whatever [plot] you [Assyrians] devise against the LORD, He will make a complete end of it; Affliction [of God’s people by the hand of Assyria] will not occur twice.  
Na0110 Like tangled thorn branches [gathered for fuel], And like those drowned in drunkenness, The people of Nineveh are consumed [through fire] Like stubble completely withered and dry [in the day of the LORD’S wrath].  
Na0111 From you [O Nineveh], One has gone forth who plotted evil against the LORD, A malevolent counselor [the king of Assyria].  
Na0112 This is what the LORD says, “Though they are at full strength and many in number, Even so, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you and caused you grief [O Jerusalem], I will afflict you no longer.  
Na0113 “Now, I will break his yoke [of taxation] off you, And I will tear off your shackles.”  
Na0114 The LORD has given a command concerning you [O king of Nineveh]: “Your name will no longer be perpetuated. I will cut off the carved idols and cast images From the temple of your gods; I will prepare your grave, For you are vile and unworthy.”  
Na0115 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news [telling of Assyria’s destruction], Who announces peace and prosperity! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; Perform your vows. For the wicked one [the king of Assyria] will never again pass through you; He is completely cut off.  
Na0201 The one who scatters has come up against you [Nineveh]. Man the fortress and ramparts, watch the road; Strengthen your back [prepare for battle], summon all your strength.  
Na0202 For the LORD will restore the splendor and majesty of Jacob Like the splendor of [ancient and united] Israel, Even though destroyers have destroyed them And ruined their vine branches.  
Na0203 The shields of his soldiers [of Media and Babylon] are colored red; The warriors are dressed in scarlet. The chariots blaze with fire of [flashing] steel When he is prepared to march, And the cypress spears are brandished [for battle].  
Na0204 The chariots race madly in the streets; They rush wildly in the broad plazas. Their appearance is like torches; They rush in various directions like forked lightning.  
Na0205 He remembers and summons his nobles; They stumble in their march [terrified because of the attack]. They hurry to the city wall, And the mantelet is prepared and firmly set up.  
Na0206 The gates of the rivers [surrounding Nineveh] are opened And the palace [of sun-dried brick] is dissolved [by the torrents].  
Na0207 It is decreed: Nineveh is stripped, and she is carried away, And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves, Beating on their breasts [in sorrow].  
Na0208 Though Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, Now her inhabitants are fleeing; “Stop! Stop!” [a few cry,] But no one turns back.  
Na0209 Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold! For there is no end to the treasure— Wealth from every precious object.  
Na0210 She is emptied! She is desolate and waste! Hearts melting [in fear] and knees knocking! Anguish is in the whole body, And the faces of all grow pale!  
Na0211 Where is the den of the lions (Assyria) And the feeding place of the young lions, Where the lion, lioness, and lion’s cub prowled With nothing to fear?  
Na0212 The lion [of Assyria] tore enough for his cubs (Assyrian citizens), Killed [enough prey] for his lionesses, And filled his lairs with prey And his dens with torn flesh.  
Na0213 “Behold, I am against you [Nineveh],” declares the LORD of hosts, “and I will burn your chariots in the smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the land, and the voice of your messengers will no longer be heard.”  
Na0301 Woe (judgment is coming) to the city of blood [guilty of murder and mayhem], completely full of lies and pillage; Her prey never departs [alive].  
Na0302 The noise of the [cracking of the] whip, The noise of the rattling of the wheel, Galloping horses And rumbling and bounding chariots [in the assault of Nineveh]!  
Na0303 Horsemen charging, Swords flashing, spears gleaming, Many slain, a mass of corpses, No end of corpses— The horsemen stumble over the corpses!  
Na0304 All because of the many acts of prostitution of [Nineveh] the prostitute, The charming and well-favored one, the mistress of sorceries, Who betrays nations by her acts of prostitution (idolatry) And families by her sorceries.  
Na0305 “Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of hosts, “And I will lift up your skirts over your face, And I will let the nations look at your nakedness [O Nineveh] And the kingdoms at your disgrace.  
Na0306 “I will throw filth on you And make you vile and treat you with contempt, And set you up as a spectacle.  
Na0307 “And it will come about that all who see you Will shrink back and run from you and say, ‘Nineveh is completely ruined! Who will grieve for her?’ Where will I seek comforters for you?”  
Na0308 Are you better than Thebes, Which was situated by the waters of the Nile, With water surrounding her, Whose defense was the sea (the Nile), Whose wall consisted of the sea?  
Na0309 Ethiopia was her strength, And Egypt too, without limits. Put and Lubim were among her helpers.  
Na0310 Yet she became an exile; She went into captivity. Her young children were dashed to pieces At the head of every street; They cast lots for her honorable men, And all her great men were bound with chains.  
Na0311 You too [Nineveh] will become drunk [with the cup of God’s wrath]; You will be hidden. You too [Nineveh] will search [in vain] for a refuge from the enemy.  
Na0312 All your fortresses are [nothing but] fig trees with ripe figs— When shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater.  
Na0313 Behold, your people are [as weak and helpless as] women in your midst! The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies; Fire consumes the bars across your gates.  
Na0314 Draw water for a [long, continued] siege! Strengthen your fortresses! Go down to the clay pits, trample the mortar! Prepare the brick kiln [to burn bricks for the rampart]!  
Na0315 But there [in the very midst of these preparations] the fire will devour you; The sword will cut you down; It will devour you as the locust does. Multiply yourself like the creeping locusts; Multiply yourself like the swarming locusts.  
Na0316 You have increased your traders more than the [visible] stars of heaven— The creeping locust strips and destroys and then flies away.  
Na0317 Your guardsmen are like the swarming locusts. Your marshals are like the hordes of grasshoppers Settling in the stone walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, And no one knows the place where they are.  
Na0318 Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down [in death]. Your people are scattered on the mountains And there is no one to gather them.  
Na0319 There is no relief and healing for your hurt; Your wound is incurable. All who hear the news about you Clap their hands over [what has happened to] you. For on whom has your [unceasing] evil not come continually?  
Hk0101 The oracle (a burdensome message—a pronouncement from God) which Habakkuk the prophet saw.  
Hk0102 O LORD, how long will I call for help And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save.  
Hk0103 Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? For destruction and violence are before me; Strife continues and contention arises.  
Hk0104 Therefore, the law is ineffective and ignored And justice is never upheld, For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice becomes perverted.  
Hk0105 [The LORD replied,] “Look among the nations! See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I am doing something in your days— You would not believe it if you were told.  
Hk0106 “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon], That fierce and impetuous nation Who march throughout the earth To take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them.  
Hk0107 “The Chaldeans are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves and are defined only by their decree.  
Hk0108 “Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than [hungry] wolves in the evening, Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from far away; They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.  
Hk0109 “They all come for violence; Their horde of faces moves [eagerly] forward, They gather prisoners like sand.  
Hk0110 “They make fun of kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They ridicule every stronghold And heap up rubble [for earth mounds] and capture it.  
Hk0111 “Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god.”  
Hk0112 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, My Holy One? We will not die. O LORD, You have appointed the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon] to execute [Your] judgment, And You, O Rock, have established them to correct and chastise.  
Hk0113 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably On those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked (Chaldean oppressors) destroy Those more righteous than they?  
Hk0114 Why do You make men like the fish of the sea, Like reptiles and creeping things that have no ruler [and are helpless against their enemies]?  
Hk0115 The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, And drag them away with a net, And gather them together in their fishing net; So they rejoice and are glad.  
Hk0116 Therefore, they offer sacrifices to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large and they live luxuriously, And their food is plentiful.  
Hk0117 Will they continue to empty their net And [mercilessly] go on destroying nations without sparing?  
Hk0201 I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved.  
Hk0202 Then the LORD answered me and said, “Write the vision And engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets So that the one who reads it will run.  
Hk0203 “For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay.  
Hk0204 “Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God].  
Hk0205 “Moreover, wine is treacherous and betrays the arrogant man, So that he does not stay at home. His appetite is large like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied. He gathers to himself all nations And collects to himself all peoples [as if he owned them].  
Hk0206 “Will all these [victims of his greed] not take up a taunting song against him, And in mocking derision against him Say, ‘Woe (judgment is coming) to him who increases that which is not his— How long [will he possess it]? And [woe to him who] makes himself wealthy with loans.’  
Hk0207 “Will your creditors not rise up suddenly, And those who collect from you awaken? Then you will become plunder for them.  
Hk0208 “Because you [king of Babylon] have looted many nations, All peoples who are left will loot you— Because of human bloodshed and for the violence done to the land, To the city and all its inhabitants.  
Hk0209 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who obtains wicked gain for his house [and thinks by so doing] To set his nest on high, That he may be rescued from the hand of evil.  
Hk0210 “You have devised a shameful thing for your house By cutting off and putting an end to many peoples; So you are sinning against your own life and forfeiting it.  
Hk0211 “For the stone will cry out from the wall [to accuse you—built in sin!] And the rafter will answer it out of the woodwork.  
Hk0212 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who builds a city with bloodshed And establishes a town by violence!  
Hk0213 “Is it not indeed from the LORD of hosts That peoples labor [only] for the fire [that will destroy their work], And nations grow weary for nothing [that is, things which have no lasting value]?  
Hk0214 “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.  
Hk0215 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you who make your neighbors drink, Who mix in your venom to make them drunk So that you may look at their nakedness!  
Hk0216 “You will be filled with disgrace instead of honor. Now drink and expose your own nakedness! The cup [of wrath] in the LORD’S right hand will come around to you [O destroyer], And utter disgrace will be on your own glory.  
Hk0217 “For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; The destruction of the animals will terrify you On account of human bloodshed and the violence done to the land, To the city and all its inhabitants.  
Hk0218 “What profit is the carved image when its maker has formed it? It is only a cast image, and a teacher of lies. For its maker trusts in his own creation [as his god] When he makes speechless idols.  
Hk0219 “Woe (judgment is coming) to him who says to the wooden image, ‘Awake!’ And to the speechless stone, ‘Arise!’ And that is your teacher? Look, it is overlaid with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all inside it.  
Hk0220 “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth hush and be silent before Him.”  
Hk0301 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild and enthusiastic music.  
Hk0302 O LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath [earnestly] remember compassion and love.  
Hk0303 God [approaching from Sinai] comes from Teman (Edom), And the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah (pause, and calmly think of that). His splendor and majesty covers the heavens And the earth is full of His praise.  
Hk0304 His brightness is like the sunlight; He has [bright] rays flashing from His hand, And there [in the sunlike splendor] is the hiding place of His power.  
Hk0305 Before Him goes the pestilence [of judgment as in Egypt], And [the burning] plague [of condemnation] follows at His feet [as in Sennacherib’s army].  
Hk0306 He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations, Yes, the eternal mountains were shattered, The ancient hills bowed low and collapsed. His ways are eternal.  
Hk0307 I [Habakkuk, in my vision] saw the tents of Cushan under distress; The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.  
Hk0308 Did the LORD rage against the rivers, Or was Your anger against the rivers, Or was Your wrath against the [Red] Sea, That You rode on Your horses, On Your chariots of salvation?  
Hk0309 Your bow was made bare; The rods of chastisement were sworn. Selah (pause, calmly think of that). You split the earth with rivers [bringing waters to dry places].  
Hk0310 The mountains saw You and [they] trembled and writhed [as if in pain]; The downpour of waters swept by [as a deluge]. The deep uttered its voice and raged, It lifted its hands high.  
Hk0311 The sun and moon stood in their places [as before Joshua]; They went away at the light of Your [swift] arrows, At the radiance and gleam of Your glittering spear.  
Hk0312 In indignation You marched through the earth; In anger You trampled and threshed the nations.  
Hk0313 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation and rescue of Your anointed [people Israel]. You struck the head from the house of the wicked To lay him open from the thigh to the neck. Selah (pause, and calmly think of that).  
Hk0314 With the enemy’s own spears, You pierced The head of his hordes. They stormed out to scatter us, Rejoicing like those Who secretly devour the oppressed [of Israel].  
Hk0315 You have trampled on the sea with Your horses, On the surge of many waters.  
Hk0316 I heard and my whole inner self trembled; My lips quivered at the sound. Decay and rottenness enter my bones, And I tremble in my place. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade and attack us.  
Hk0317 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls,  
Hk0318 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the LORD; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation!  
Hk0319 The Lord GOD is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.  
Zp0101 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah:  
Zp0102 “I will completely consume and sweep away all things From the face of the earth [in judgment],” says the LORD.  
Zp0103 “I will consume and sweep away man and beast; I will consume and sweep away the birds of the air And the fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks (idols) along with the wicked; And I will cut off and destroy man from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.  
Zp0104 “I will also stretch out My hand [in judgment] against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off and destroy the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names and remembrance of the idolatrous priests along with the [false] priests,  
Zp0105 And those who bow down and worship the host of heaven [the sun, the moon, and the stars] on their housetops And those who bow down and swear [oaths] to [and pretend to worship] the LORD and [yet also] swear by [the pagan god called] Milcom [god of the Ammonites],  
Zp0106 And those who have turned back from following the LORD, And those who have not sought the LORD [as their most important need] or inquired of Him.”  
Zp0107 [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord GOD [there is no acceptable excuse to offer]! For the day [of the vengeance] of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice (Judah), He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation [the Chaldeans who rule Babylon].  
Zp0108 “Then it will come about on the day of the LORD’S sacrifice That I will punish the princes and the king’s sons And all who are clothed in [lavish] foreign apparel [reflecting their paganism].  
Zp0109 “On that day I will also punish all those who leap over the temple threshold, Who fill their [pagan] lord’s temple with violence and deceit.  
Zp0110 “On that day,” declares the LORD, “There will be the sound of crying from the Fish (Damascus) Gate [in the northern wall of Jerusalem where invaders enter] And wailing from the Second Quarter [of the city], And a loud crash from the hills.  
Zp0111 “Wail [in anguish], you inhabitants of the Mortar (Valley of Siloam), For all the merchants of Canaan will be silenced and destroyed; All who weigh out silver will be cut off.  
Zp0112 “It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps And I will punish the men Who [like old wine] are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil.’  
Zp0113 “Furthermore, their wealth will become plunder And their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses but not live in them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine.”  
Zp0114 The great [judgment] day of the LORD is near, Near and coming very quickly. Listen! The [voice of the] day of the LORD! The warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee].  
Zp0115 That day is a day of [the outpouring of the] wrath [of God], A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and devastation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness,  
Zp0116 A day of trumpet and the battle cry [of invaders] Against the fortified cities And against the high corner towers (battlements).  
Zp0117 I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind [unable to find a way of escape], Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood will be poured out like dust [and trampled underfoot], And their flesh like dung.  
Zp0118 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to rescue them On the day of the LORD’S indignation and wrath. And the whole earth will be consumed In the fire of His jealous wrath, For He shall make a full and complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.  
Zp0201 Gather yourselves together [in repentance], yes, gather [in submission], O nation without shame,  
Zp0202 Before the decree takes effect [and the time for repentance is lost]— The day passes like the chaff [whirled by the wind]— Before the burning and fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the wrath of the LORD comes upon you.  
Zp0203 Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and regard Him as the foremost necessity of your life], All you humble of the land Who have practiced His ordinances and have kept His commandments; Seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the LORD’S anger.  
Zp0204 For [this is the fate of the Philistines:] Gaza will be abandoned And Ashkelon a desolation; [The people of] Ashdod will be driven out at noon [in broad daylight] And Ekron will be uprooted and destroyed.  
Zp0205 Woe (judgment is coming) to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites [in Philistia]! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; I will destroy you So that no inhabitant will be left.  
Zp0206 So the [depopulated] seacoast shall be pastures, With [deserted] meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.  
Zp0207 The seacoast will belong To the remnant of the house of Judah; They will pasture [their flocks] on it. In the [deserted] houses of Ashkelon [in Philistia] they [of Judah] will lie down and rest in the evening, For the LORD their God will care for them; And restore their fortune [permitting them to occupy the land].  
Zp0208 “I have heard the taunting of Moab And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And become arrogant against their territory [by violating Israel’s boundary and trying to seize its land].  
Zp0209 “Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, “Moab will in fact become like Sodom And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah, A land possessed by nettles and salt pits, And a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people will plunder them And what is left of My nation will inherit them [as their own].”  
Zp0210 This they shall have in return for their pride, because they have taunted and become arrogant against the people of the LORD of hosts.  
Zp0211 The LORD will be terrifying and awesome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down and worship Him, everyone from his own place.  
Zp0212 “You also, O Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword.”  
Zp0213 And the LORD will stretch out His hand against the north And destroy Assyria, And He will make Nineveh a desolation [a wasteland], Parched as the desert.  
Zp0214 Flocks will lie down in her midst, All the animals which range in herds; Both the pelican and the short-eared owl Will roost on the top of Nineveh’s pillars. Birds will sing in the window, Desolation will be on the threshold; For He has uncovered the cedar paneling.  
Zp0215 This is the joyous city Which dwells carelessly [feeling so secure], Who says in her heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” What a desolation she has become, A lair for [wild] animals! Everyone who passes by her will hiss [in scorn] And wave his hand in contempt.  
Zp0301 Woe (judgment is coming) to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city [Jerusalem]!  
Zp0302 She did not listen and heed the voice [of God]; She accepted no correction. She did not trust in the LORD [but trusted her own power]; She did not draw near to her God [but to the pagan gods of Baal or Molech].  
Zp0303 Her officials within her are roaring lions; Her judges are [as hungry as] the wolves at evening, They leave nothing for the morning.  
Zp0304 Her prophets are reckless and treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary; They have done violence to the law [by pretending their word is God’s word].  
Zp0305 The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust person knows no shame.  
Zp0306 “I [the LORD] have cut off and destroyed nations [as a warning to Judah]; Their corner towers (battlements) are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate So that no one passes by; Their cities are destroyed So that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.  
Zp0307 “I said, ‘Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me; Accept correction.’ So Jerusalem’s dwelling will not be cut off In accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her [punishment], But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt.  
Zp0308 “Therefore [you of the godly remnant of Judah, patiently] wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness [against the nations]. For it is My decision and My right to gather the nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All [the heat of] My burning anger; For [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed By the fire of My zeal.  
Zp0309 “Then I will give to the peoples [clear and pure speech from] purified lips [which reflect their purified hearts], That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder (united).  
Zp0310 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, [the descendants of] My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.  
Zp0311 “On that day you [Israel] will feel no shame Because of all your acts By which you have rebelled and sinned against Me; Then I will remove from among you Your rejoicing ones who delight in their pride; And you will never again behave arrogantly On My holy mountain [Mount Zion].  
Zp0312 “But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge and trust confidently in the name of the LORD.  
Zp0313 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong Nor speak lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will eat and lie down With no one to make them tremble and feel afraid.”  
Zp0314 Shout for joy, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem [in that day]!  
Zp0315 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, even the LORD [Himself], is in your midst; You will no longer fear disaster.  
Zp0316 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.  
Zp0317 “The LORD your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.  
Zp0318 “I will gather those [Israelites in captivity] who grieve about the appointed feasts— They came from you, [O Zion]; On whom the reproach [of exile] is a burden.  
Zp0319 “Behold, at that time I am going to deal With all your oppressors; I will save the lame And gather the scattered, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In every land [where they have suffered].  
Zp0320 “At that time I will bring you in, Yes, at the time I gather you together; For I will make you a name and a praise Among all the peoples of the earth When I restore your fortunes [and freedom] before your eyes,” Says the LORD.  
Hg0101 In the second year of Darius the king [of Persia], on the first day of the sixth month (Aug 29, 520 B.C.), the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,  
Hg0102 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘These people say, “The time has not come that the LORD’S house (temple) should be rebuilt.”’”  
Hg0103 Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,  
Hg0104 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your [expensive] paneled houses while this house [of the LORD] lies in ruins?”  
Hg0105 Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect on your conduct!  
Hg0106 You have planted much, but you harvest little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have enough to be intoxicated; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns wages earns them just to put them in a bag with holes in it [because God has withheld His blessing].”  
Hg0107 Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways and thoughtfully reflect on your conduct!  
Hg0108 Go up to the hill country, bring lumber and rebuild My house (temple), that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD [accepting it as done for My glory].  
Hg0109 “You look for much [harvest], but it comes to little; and even when you bring that home, I blow it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house, which lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house [eager to enjoy it].  
Hg0110 Therefore, because of you [that is, your sin and disobedience] the heavens withhold the dew and the earth withholds its produce.  
Hg0111 I called for a drought on the land and the hill country, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands.”  
Hg0112 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people [who had returned from exile], listened carefully and obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, since the LORD their God had sent him. And the people [reverently] feared the LORD.  
Hg0113 Then Haggai, the LORD’S messenger, spoke the LORD’S message to the people saying, “‘I am with you,’ declares the LORD.”  
Hg0114 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,  
Hg0115 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month (Sept 21, 520 B.C.) in the second year of Darius the king.  
Hg0201 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month (Oct 17, 520 B.C., the second year of Darius king of Persia), the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying,  
Hg0202 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,  
Hg0203 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house (temple) in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?  
Hg0204 But now be courageous, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, ‘be courageous also, Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and be courageous, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of hosts.  
Hg0205 ‘As for the promise which I made with you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit stands [firm and immovable] and continues with you; do not fear!’  
Hg0206 For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  
Hg0207 I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the desirable and precious things of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory and splendor,’ says the LORD of hosts.  
Hg0208 ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts.  
Hg0209 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and in this place I shall give [the ultimate] peace and prosperity,’ declares the LORD of hosts.”  
Hg0210 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (Dec 18, 520 B.C.), in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,  
Hg0211 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Ask the priests for a ruling:  
Hg0212 If a man carries meat that is holy [because it has been offered in sacrifice to God] in the fold of his garment, and he touches bread, or cooked food, or wine, or oil, or any [kind of] food with this fold, does what he touches become holy [dedicated exclusively to God’s service]?’” And the priests answered, “No!” [Holiness is not transferrable.]  
Hg0213 Then Haggai said, “If one who is [ceremonially] unclean because of [contact with] a corpse touches any of these [articles of food], will it be unclean?” And the priests answered, “It will be unclean.” [Ceremonial uncleanness, like sin, is infectious.]  
Hg0214 Then Haggai answered, “‘So is this people. And so is this nation before Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there [on the altar] is unclean [because they who offer it are unclean].  
Hg0215 But now, do consider [what will happen] from this day forward: before one stone was placed on another in the temple of the LORD,  
Hg0216 from that time when one came to a grain heap expecting twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures, there would be only twenty.  
Hg0217 I struck you and the work of your hands with scorching wind, mildew, and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the LORD.  
Hg0218 ‘Do consider from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month; from the day when the temple of the LORD was founded, consider:  
Hg0219 Is the seed still in the barn? As to the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree—they have not produced. Yet from this day on I will bless you [in the harvest of your crops].’”  
Hg0220 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month (Dec 18, 520 B.C.), saying,  
Hg0221 “Speak to Zerubbabel governor of Judah, saying, ‘I am going to shake the heavens and the earth.  
Hg0222 I will [in the distant future] overthrow the thrones of kingdoms and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the [ungodly] nations; and I will overthrow the chariots and those who ride in them, and the horses and their riders will go down, every one by the sword of his brother [annihilating one another].  
Hg0223 On that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you [through the Messiah, your descendant] like a signet ring, for I have chosen you [as the one with whom to renew My covenant to David’s line],’” declares the LORD of hosts.  
Zc0101 In the eighth month of the second year [of the reign] of Darius [the king of Persia], the word of the LORD came to Zechariah (the LORD remembers) the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,  
Zc0102 “The LORD was extremely angry with your fathers.  
Zc0103 Therefore say to the Jews, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts (armies), “Return to Me,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and I shall return to you.  
Zc0104 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Repent [that is, change your way of thinking] and return now from your evil way [of life] and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the LORD.  
Zc0105 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?  
Zc0106 But did not My words (warnings) and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts planned to do to us [in discipline and punishment], in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so has He dealt with us.’”’”  
Zc0107 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (Feb 15, 519 B.C.), which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of [the reign of] Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:  
Zc0108 In the night I saw [a vision] and behold, a Man was riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine; and behind Him were horses: red, sorrel (reddish-brown), and white.  
Zc0109 Then I said, “O my lord, what are these?” And the angel who was speaking with me said, “I will show you what these are.”  
Zc0110 And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth and patrol it.”  
Zc0111 And the men on the horses answered the Angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle trees and said, “We have gone throughout the earth [patrolling it] and behold, all the earth sits at rest [in peace and free from war].”  
Zc0112 Then the Angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will You withhold mercy and compassion from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignation and anger these seventy years [of the Babylonian captivity]?”  
Zc0113 And the LORD answered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious and comforting words.  
Zc0114 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I am jealous [with a burning, fiery passion] for Jerusalem and for Zion [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine] with a great jealousy.  
Zc0115 But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease and feel secure; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster [against the people of Israel].”  
Zc0116 Therefore, thus says the LORD, “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy and compassion. My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and a measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’  
Zc0117 Proclaim again, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD shall again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’”  
Zc0118 Then I looked up, and saw four horns (powers)!  
Zc0119 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns [the powerful Gentile nations] that have scattered Judah (the Southern Kingdom), Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).”  
Zc0120 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.  
Zc0121 I asked, “What are these [horns and craftsmen] coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns (powers) that have scattered Judah so that no man raised up his head [because of the suffering inflicted by the Gentile nations]. But these craftsmen have come to terrify them and make them panic, and throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”  
Zc0201 And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.  
Zc0202 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.”  
Zc0203 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him,  
Zc0204 and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it.  
Zc0205 For I,’ declares the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’”  
Zc0206 “Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the LORD.  
Zc0207 “Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!”  
Zc0208 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.  
Zc0209 Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.  
Zc0210 Sing for joy and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the LORD.  
Zc0211 “Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.  
Zc0212 The LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.  
Zc0213 “Be still before the LORD, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”  
Zc0301 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him.  
Zc0302 And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Even the LORD, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a log snatched and rescued from the fire?”  
Zc0303 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the LORD].  
Zc0304 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clothe and beautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].”  
Zc0305 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.  
Zc0306 And the Angel of the LORD [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying,  
Zc0307 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.  
Zc0308 Now listen, Joshua, the high priest, you and your colleagues who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol [of what is to come]—for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch [in Messianic glory].  
Zc0309 For behold, the stone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickedness and guilt of this land in a single day.  
Zc0310 In that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and his fig tree [enjoying peace and prosperity in the kingdom].’”  
Zc0401 And the angel who was speaking with me came back and awakened me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.  
Zc0402 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of it and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it.  
Zc0403 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side [supplying it continuously with oil].”  
Zc0404 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”  
Zc0405 Then the angel who was speaking with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”  
Zc0406 Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the LORD of hosts.  
Zc0407 ‘What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple] you will become a plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”  
Zc0408 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  
Zc0409 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know (recognize, understand fully) that the LORD of hosts has sent me [as His messenger] to you.  
Zc0410 Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For these seven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD which roam throughout the earth.”  
Zc0411 Then I said to him [who was speaking with me], “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on its left?”  
Zc0412 And a second time I said to him, “What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes by which the golden oil is emptied?”  
Zc0413 And he answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”  
Zc0414 Then he said, “These are the two sons of fresh oil [Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince of Judah] who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth [as His anointed ones].”  
Zc0501 Again I looked up, and I saw a scroll flying in the air!  
Zc0502 And the angel said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits (thirty feet) and its width is ten cubits (fifteen feet).”  
Zc0503 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals will be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears [oaths falsely] shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side.  
Zc0504 I will send the curse out,” declares the LORD of hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night in that house and consume it, both its timber and its stones.”  
Zc0505 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and said to me, “Now look up and see what this is going forth.”  
Zc0506 And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah (grain basket) going forth. This,” he continued, “is their appearance throughout the land  
Zc0507 (and behold, a [round, flat] lead cover was lifted up); and there sat a woman inside the ephah.”  
Zc0508 Then he said, “This is Wickedness (Godlessness)!” And he threw her back down into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead cover on its opening.  
Zc0509 Then I looked up, and there were two women coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.  
Zc0510 I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?”  
Zc0511 And he said to me, “To the land of Shinar (Babylon) to build a temple for her; and when it is prepared, she shall be set there on her own pedestal.”  
Zc0601 Now again I looked up, and four chariots were coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of [firm, immovable] bronze (divine judgment).  
Zc0602 The first chariot had red horses (war, bloodshed), the second chariot had black horses (famine, death),  
Zc0603 the third chariot had white horses (victory), and the fourth chariot had strong dappled horses (death through judgment).  
Zc0604 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”  
Zc0605 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth,  
Zc0606 with the chariot with the black horses going toward the north country; then the one with the white horses follows after them [because there are two northern powers to overcome], and the chariot with the dappled horses goes toward the south country.”  
Zc0607 When the strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And the LORD said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth [watching and protecting it].  
Zc0608 Then He called out to me and said to me, “See, those who are going to the north country have quieted My Spirit [of wrath] in the north country.”  
Zc0609 The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,  
Zc0610 “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah [as representatives]; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.  
Zc0611 Take silver and gold [from them], and make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.  
Zc0612 Then say to Joshua, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold (look, keep in sight, watch), a Man (Messiah) whose name is Branch, for He shall branch out from His place (Israel, the Davidic line); and He shall build the [ultimate] temple of the LORD.  
Zc0613 Yes, [you are to build a temple of the LORD, but] it is He who shall build the [ultimate] temple of the LORD, and He shall bear the honor and majesty [as the only begotten of the Father] and sit and rule on His throne. And He shall be a Priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two offices [Priest and King].”’  
Zc0614 Now the crown shall become a reminder in the temple of the LORD to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.  
Zc0615 And those who are far away will come and [help] build the temple of the LORD.” Then you shall know [without any doubt] that the LORD of hosts sent me (Zechariah) to you. And it will come about if you will diligently obey the [voice of the] LORD your God.  
Zc0701 In the fourth year of [the reign of] King Darius [of Persia], the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev (Dec 7, 518 B.C.).  
Zc0702 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to seek the favor of the LORD,  
Zc0703 speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the LORD of hosts and to the prophets, saying, “[Now that I am returned from exile] shall I weep in the fifth month [mourning the destruction of the temple], and fast as I have done these many years [in Babylon]?”  
Zc0704 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me (Zechariah), saying,  
Zc0705 “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years [that you were in exile], was it actually for Me that you fasted?  
Zc0706 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves [to satisfy your own needs]?  
Zc0707 Should you not hear the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with her cities around her, and the South (the Negev) and the foothills were inhabited?’”  
Zc0708 Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying,  
Zc0709 “Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other;  
Zc0710 and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’  
Zc0711 But they refused to listen and pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder [stiffening themselves in resistance] and stopped up their ears.  
Zc0712 They made their hearts [hard] like flint, so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.  
Zc0713 And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the LORD of hosts;  
Zc0714 “but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after they had gone, so that no one passed through or returned, for they [by their sins] had made the pleasant land desolate and deserted.”  
Zc0801 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came [to me], saying,  
Zc0802 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], and I am jealous for her with great wrath [against her enemies].’  
Zc0803 Thus says the LORD, ‘I shall return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the [faithful] City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’  
Zc0804 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets (public places) of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of his advanced age.  
Zc0805 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’  
Zc0806 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days [in which this comes to pass], will it also be difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.  
Zc0807 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the east country and from the west,  
Zc0808 and I will bring them home and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth (faithfulness) and in righteousness.’  
Zc0809 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouths of the prophets who, on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, foretold that the temple might be rebuilt.  
Zc0810 For before those days there were no wages for man or animal; nor was there any peace or success for him who went out or came in because of his enemies, for I set all men against one another.  
Zc0811 But now [in this time since you began to build] I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts.  
Zc0812 ‘For there the seed will produce peace and prosperity; the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit and possess all these things.  
Zc0813 And as you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and house of Israel (Northern Kingdom), so I will save you, that you may be a blessing. Fear not; let your hands be strong.’  
Zc0814 “For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Just as I planned to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and I did not relent,  
Zc0815 so I have again planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear!  
Zc0816 These are the things which you should do: speak the truth with one another; judge with truth and pronounce the judgment that brings peace in [the courts at] your gates.  
Zc0817 And let none of you devise or even imagine evil in your heart against another, and do not love lying or half-truths; for all these things I hate,’ declares the LORD.”  
Zc0818 Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me (Zechariah), saying,  
Zc0819 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth [month to mourn the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls], the fast of the fifth [month to mourn the temple’s destruction], the fast of the seventh [month to mourn Gedaliah’s assassination], and the fast of the tenth [month to mourn the siege of Jerusalem] will become times of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so [to bring this about] love truth and peace.’  
Zc0820 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will come to pass that peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come [to Jerusalem].  
Zc0821 The inhabitants of one [city] will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to ask the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts. I will go also.”  
Zc0822 So many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to ask the LORD for His favor.’  
Zc0823 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men [as representatives] from all the nations will grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”  
Zc0901 The oracle (a burdensome message) of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach [in Syria], with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD),  
Zc0902 And Hamath also, which borders on it (Damascus), Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.  
Zc0903 For Tyre built herself an [impregnable] stronghold [on an island offshore], And she has heaped up silver like dust And gold like the mire of the streets.  
Zc0904 Behold, the Lord will dispossess her And throw her wealth into the sea; And Tyre will be devoured by fire.  
Zc0905 Ashkelon will see it and fear; Gaza will writhe in pain, And Ekron, for her hope and expectation, has been ruined. The king will perish from Gaza, And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.  
Zc0906 And a mongrel race will live in Ashdod, And I will put an end to the pride and arrogance of the Philistines.  
Zc0907 I will take the blood from their mouths And their detestable things from between their teeth [those repulsive, idolatrous sacrifices eaten with the blood]. Then they too will be a remnant for our God, And be like a clan in Judah, And Ekron will be like one of the Jebusites.  
Zc0908 Then I will camp around My house [as a guard] because of an army, Because of him who passes by and returns; And no oppressor will again overrun them (Israel), For now My eyes are upon them [providentially protecting them].  
Zc0909 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation, Humble and unassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on a donkey, Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.  
Zc0910 I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim And the [war] horse from Jerusalem, And the bow of war will be cut off. And He will speak [words of] peace to the nations, And His dominion shall be from sea to sea [absolutely endless], And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.  
Zc0911 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you [My chosen people, the covenant that was sealed with blood] I have freed your prisoners from the waterless pit.  
Zc0912 Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], O prisoners who have the hope; Even today I am declaring that I will restore double [your former prosperity] to you [as firstborn among nations].  
Zc0913 For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fit the bow with Ephraim [as My arrow]. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, And will make you [Israel] like the sword of a warrior.  
Zc0914 Then the LORD will be seen [hovering] over them [protecting His people], And His arrow will go forth like lightning; And the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet And will march in the windstorms of the south.  
Zc0915 The LORD of hosts shall defend and protect them; And they will devour [the enemy] and trample down the slingstones [that have missed their mark], And they will drink [of victory] and be boisterous as with wine; And they shall be filled like sacrificial bowls [used to catch the blood], Drenched like the corners of the [sacrificial] altar.  
Zc0916 And the LORD their God shall save them on that day As the flock of His people; For they are like the [precious] jewels of a crown, Displayed and glittering in His land.  
Zc0917 For how great is God’s goodness and how great is His beauty! And how great [He will make Israel’s] goodliness and [Israel’s] beauty! Grain and new wine will make the young men and virgins flourish.  
Zc1001 Ask for rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain. It is the LORD who makes the thunder clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field to everyone.  
Zc1002 For the teraphim (household idols) speak wickedness (emptiness, worthlessness), And the diviners see lying visions And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, They are afflicted and suffer because there is no shepherd.  
Zc1003 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds [who are not true shepherds], And I shall punish the male goats (leaders); For the LORD of hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah (the Southern Kingdom), And will make them like His beautiful and majestic horse in the battle.  
Zc1004 “From them (Judah) shall come the Cornerstone, From them the tent peg, From them the bow of battle, From them every ruler, all of them together.  
Zc1005 “They will be like mighty men Trampling down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle; And they will fight because the LORD is with them, And the [enemies’] riders on horses will be shamed.  
Zc1006 “I will strengthen the house of Judah [making it superior], And I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back [and allow them to live securely], Because I have had compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God, and I will listen and answer them.  
Zc1007 “Then Ephraim will be like a mighty warrior, And their heart will rejoice as if from wine; Yes, their children will see it and rejoice; Their heart will rejoice and shout triumphantly in the LORD.  
Zc1008 “I will whistle for them and gather them together, For I have redeemed them; And they will increase [again] as they have increased before [in Egypt].  
Zc1009 “When I scatter them among the nations, They will remember Me in far countries, And with their children they will live and come back [to Me and the land I gave them].  
Zc1010 “I will bring them (all Israel) back home again from the land of Egypt And gather them from Assyria, And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon [the land on the east and on the west of the Jordan] Until no room can be found for them.  
Zc1011 “And they will pass through the sea of distress and anxiety [with the LORD leading His people, as at the Red Sea] And He will strike the waves in the sea, So that all the depths of the Nile will dry up; And the pride of Assyria will be brought down And the scepter [of the taskmasters] of Egypt will pass away.  
Zc1012 “And I will strengthen Israel in the LORD, And they will walk [and glory] in His name,” declares the LORD.  
Zc1101 Open your doors, O Lebanon, That fire may devour your cedars.  
Zc1102 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the magnificent trees have been destroyed; Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the inaccessible forest [on the steep mountainside] has come down.  
Zc1103 There is a sound of the shepherds’ wail, For their splendor (grazing land) is ruined; There is a sound of the young lions’ roar, For the pride of the Jordan is ruined.  
Zc1104 Thus says the LORD my God, “Pasture the flock doomed for slaughter,  
Zc1105 whose buyers slay them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich!’ And their own shepherds have no pity on them nor protect them [from the wolves].  
Zc1106 For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD; “but behold, I will cause the men to fall, each into the hand of another and into the hands of his [foreign] king. And the enemy will strike the land, and I will not rescue the people from their hand.”  
Zc1107 So I [Zechariah] pastured the flock doomed for slaughter, truly [as the name implies] the most miserable of sheep. And I took two [shepherd’s] staffs, the one I called Favor (Grace) and the other I called Union (Bonds); so I pastured the flock.  
Zc1108 Then I eliminated the three [incompetent, unfit] shepherds [the civil rulers, the priests, and the prophets] in one month, for I was impatient with them, and they also were tired of me and despised me.  
Zc1109 So I said, “I will not pasture you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed; and let the survivors devour one another’s flesh.”  
Zc1110 I took my staff, Favor, and broke it in pieces, breaking the covenant which I had made with all the peoples.  
Zc1111 So the covenant was broken on that day, and thus the most wretched of the flock who were watching me realized that it was the word of the LORD.  
Zc1112 I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, do not.” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver as my wages.  
Zc1113 Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter [as if to the dogs]—that magnificent sum at which I am valued by them!” So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.  
Zc1114 Then I broke my second staff, Union, into pieces to break the brotherhood between Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom).  
Zc1115 The LORD said to me, “Take again for yourself the equipment [of a shepherd, but this time] of a foolish shepherd.  
Zc1116 For behold, I am going to raise up a [false] shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or feed the healthy; but will eat the flesh of the fat ones and tear off their hoofs [to consume everything].  
Zc1117 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the worthless and foolish shepherd Who deserts the flock! The sword will strike his arm And his right eye! His arm shall be totally withered And his right eye completely blinded.”  
Zc1201 The oracle (a burdensome message) of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him:  
Zc1202 “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling (staggering) to all the surrounding peoples; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.  
Zc1203 And in that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will come and be gathered against it.  
Zc1204 In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will strike every horse with panic and his rider with madness; but I will open My eyes and watch over the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the [opposing] nations with blindness.  
Zc1205 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are our strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.’  
Zc1206 “In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, and like a flaming torch among sheaves [of grain]. They will devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left; and the people of Jerusalem will again live [securely] in their own place, in Jerusalem.  
Zc1207 The LORD shall save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah.  
Zc1208 In that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, and the one who is impaired among them in that day [of persecution] will become [strong and noble] like David; and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD [who is] before them.  
Zc1209 And in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  
Zc1210 “I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace (unmerited favor) and supplication. And they will look at Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him as one who weeps bitterly over a firstborn.  
Zc1211 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of [the city of] Hadadrimmon in the Valley of Megiddo [over beloved King Josiah].  
Zc1212 The land will mourn, every family by itself; the [royal] family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan [David’s son] by itself and their wives by themselves;  
Zc1213 the [priestly] family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei [grandson of Levi] by itself and their wives by themselves;  
Zc1214 all the families that remain, each by itself, and their wives by themselves [each with an overwhelming individual regret for having blindly rejected their Messiah].  
Zc1301 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the people of Jerusalem for [cleansing from] sin and impurity.  
Zc1302 “In that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the [false] prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.  
Zc1303 And if anyone still [appears as a prophet and falsely] prophesies, then his father and his mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you have spoken lies in the name of the LORD’; and his father and his mother who gave birth to him shall pierce him through when he prophesies.  
Zc1304 And in that day the [false] prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not wear a hairy robe [of true prophets] in order to deceive,  
Zc1305 but he will [deny his identity and] say, ‘I am no prophet. I work the ground, because a man sold me as a slave in my youth.’  
Zc1306 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those wounds I received in the house of my friends.’  
Zc1307 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the Man, My Associate,” Declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd so that the sheep [of the flock] may be scattered; And I will turn My hand and stretch it out against the little ones [of the flock].  
Zc1308 “It will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “Two parts in it will be cut off and perish, But the third will be left alive.  
Zc1309 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will listen and answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”  
Zc1401 Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you (Jerusalem) will be divided in your midst.  
Zc1402 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured and the houses plundered and the women ravished; and half of the city will be exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.  
Zc1403 Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle.  
Zc1404 In that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from the east to the west by a very large valley, and half of the mountain will move toward the north and half of it toward the south.  
Zc1405 You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; and you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones (believers, angels) with Him.  
Zc1406 In that day there will be no light; the glorious ones (heavenly bodies) shall be darkened.  
Zc1407 But it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD—not day and not night, but at evening time there will be light.  
Zc1408 And in that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea (Dead Sea) and half of them to the western sea (the Mediterranean); it will be in summer as well as in winter.  
Zc1409 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD shall be the only one [worshiped], and His name the only one.  
Zc1410 All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon, [the Rimmon that is] south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem will rise and remain [lifted up] on its site from Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.  
Zc1411 It will be inhabited, for there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security.  
Zc1412 Now this will be the plague with which the LORD shall strike all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.  
Zc1413 In that day a great panic and dismay from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other.  
Zc1414 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered together—gold and silver and garments in great abundance.  
Zc1415 So like this plague [on men] there will be the plague on the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the livestock in those camps.  
Zc1416 Then everyone who is left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).  
Zc1417 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.  
Zc1418 If the family of Egypt does not go up [to Jerusalem] and present themselves, then no rain will fall on them. It will be the plague with which the LORD will strike the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).  
Zc1419 This will be the [consequent] punishment [for the sin] of Egypt, and the [consequent] punishment [for the sin] of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles).  
Zc1420 In that day there will be written on the little bells on the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” And the cooking pots in the LORD’S house will be [holy to the LORD] like the bowls before the altar.  
Zc1421 Every cooking pot in [all the houses in] Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the LORD of hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take them and boil [their sacrifices] in them. And in that day there will no longer be a Canaanite [that is, any godless or spiritually unclean person, whether Jew or Gentile] in the house of the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0101 The oracle (burdensome message) of the word of the LORD to Israel through [My messenger] Malachi.  
Ma0102 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How and in what way have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I loved Jacob (Israel);  
Ma0103 but [in comparison with My love for Jacob] I have hated Esau (Edom), and I have made his mountains a wasteland, and have given his inheritance to the jackals of the wilderness.”  
Ma0104 Though [impoverished] Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins.” Thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the Wicked Territory, the people against whom the LORD is indignant forever.”  
Ma0105 Your own eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD is great and shall be magnified beyond the border of Israel!”  
Ma0106 “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is the [reverent] fear and respect due Me?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise My name. But you say, ‘How and in what way have we despised Your name?’  
Ma0107 You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By thinking that the table of the LORD is contemptible and may be despised.  
Ma0108 When you [priests] present the blind [animals] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer such a thing [as a blind or lame or sick animal] to your governor [as a gift or as payment for your taxes]. Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you graciously?” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0109 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering from your hand [as an imperfect animal for sacrifice], will He show favor to any of you?” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0110 “Oh, that there were even one among you [whose duty it is to minister to Me] who would shut the gates, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar uselessly [with an empty, worthless pretense]! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from your hand.  
Ma0111 For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations. In every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name shall be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0112 “But you [priests] profane it when you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’  
Ma0113 You also say, ‘How tiresome this is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery, and the lame or the sick [animals]; this you bring as an offering! Should I receive it with pleasure from your hand?” says the LORD.  
Ma0114 “But cursed is the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows [to offer] it, but sacrifices to the Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King,” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is to be [reverently and greatly] feared among the nations.”  
Ma0201 “Now, O priests, this commandment is for you.  
Ma0202 If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.  
Ma0203 Behold, I am going to rebuke your seed, and I will spread the refuse on your faces, the refuse from the festival offerings; and you will be taken away with it [in disgrace].  
Ma0204 Then you will know [without any doubt] that I have sent this [new] commandment to you (priests), that My covenant may continue with Levi [the priestly tribe],” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0205 “My covenant with Levi was [one of] life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he [and the priests] feared Me and stood in reverent awe of My name.  
Ma0206 True instruction was in Levi’s mouth and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from wickedness.  
Ma0207 For the lips of the priest should guard and preserve knowledge [of My law], and the people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0208 But as for you [priests], you have turned from the way and you have caused many to stumble by your instruction [in the law]. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0209 “So I have also made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality [to people] in [your administration of] the law.”  
Ma0210 Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers [with God]?  
Ma0211 Judah has been treacherous (disloyal), and a repulsive act has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD which He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.  
Ma0212 As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob to the last man those who do this [evil thing], awake and aware, even the one who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0213 This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with [your own] weeping and sighing, because the LORD no longer regards your offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.  
Ma0214 But you say, “Why [does He reject it]?” Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously. Yet she is your marriage companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your vows].  
Ma0215 But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.  
Ma0216 “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with wrong and violence,” says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore keep watch on your spirit, so that you do not deal treacherously [with your wife].”  
Ma0217 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them,” or [by asking], “Where is the God of justice?”  
Ma0301 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare and clear the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0302 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].  
Ma0303 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi [the priests], and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD [grain] offerings in righteousness.  
Ma0304 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in ancient years.  
Ma0305 “Then I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, and against those who oppress the laborer in his wages and widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn away the alien [from his right], and those who do not fear Me [with awe-filled reverence],” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0306 “For I am the LORD, I do not change [but remain faithful to My covenant with you]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.  
Ma0307 “Yet from the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’  
Ma0308 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld].  
Ma0309 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation!  
Ma0310 Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.  
Ma0311 Then I will rebuke the devourer (insects, plague) for your sake and he will not destroy the fruits of the ground, nor will your vine in the field drop its grapes [before harvest],” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0312 “All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0313 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the LORD. “But you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’  
Ma0314 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. What profit is it if we keep His ordinances, and walk around like mourners before the LORD of hosts?  
Ma0315 So now we call the arrogant happy and blessed. Evildoers are exalted and prosper; and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].’”  
Ma0316 Then those who feared the LORD [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the LORD paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who fear the LORD [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name.  
Ma0317 “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on that day when I publicly recognize them and openly declare them to be My own possession [that is, My very special treasure]. And I will have compassion on them and spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”  
Ma0318 Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve Him.  
Ma0401 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant (proud, self- righteous, haughty), and every evildoer shall be stubble; and the day that is coming shall set them on fire,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.  
Ma0402 But for you who fear My name [with awe-filled reverence] the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go forward and leap [joyfully] like calves [released] from the stall.  
Ma0403 You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the LORD of hosts.  
Ma0404 “Remember [with thoughtful concern] the Law of Moses My servant, the statutes and the ordinances which I commanded him on [Mount] Horeb [to give] to all Israel.  
Ma0405 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  
Ma0406 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance], so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse [of complete destruction].”  
Mt0101 The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son (descendant) of David, the son (descendant) of Abraham:  
Mt0102 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers [who became the twelve tribes of Israel].  
Mt0103 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.  
Mt0104 Ram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.  
Mt0105 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.  
Mt0106 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.  
Mt0107 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.  
Mt0108 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah.  
Mt0109 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.  
Mt0110 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.  
Mt0111 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah [also called Coniah and Jehoiachin] and his brothers, at the time of the deportation (exile) to Babylon.  
Mt0112 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.  
Mt0113 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.  
Mt0114 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.  
Mt0115 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.  
Mt0116 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah (Christ).  
Mt0117 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen; from David to the Babylonian deportation (exile), fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian deportation to the Messiah, fourteen generations.  
Mt0118 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit.  
Mt0119 And Joseph her [promised] husband, being a just and righteous man and not wanting to expose her publicly to shame, planned to send her away and divorce her quietly.  
Mt0120 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  
Mt0121 She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins.”  
Mt0122 All this happened in order to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet [Isaiah]:  
Mt0123 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL”—which, when translated, means, “GOD WITH US.”  
Mt0124 Then Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and he took Mary [to his home] as his wife,  
Mt0125 but he kept her a virgin until she had given birth to a Son [her firstborn child]; and he named Him Jesus (The LORD is salvation).  
Mt0201 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,  
Mt0202 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”  
Mt0203 When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  
Mt0204 So he called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and [anxiously] asked them where the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to be born.  
Mt0205 They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:  
Mt0206 ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, ARE NOT IN ANY WAY LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR FROM YOU SHALL COME A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”  
Mt0207 Then Herod secretly sent for the magi and learned from them the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared.  
Mt0208 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”  
Mt0209 After hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way] until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was.  
Mt0210 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  
Mt0211 And after entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  
Mt0212 And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.  
Mt0213 Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him.”  
Mt0214 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.  
Mt0215 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Hosea]: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.”  
Mt0216 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been tricked by the magi, was extremely angry, and he sent [soldiers] and put to death all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that area who were two years old and under, according to the date which he had learned from the magi.  
Mt0217 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:  
Mt0218 “A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”  
Mt0219 But when Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,  
Mt0220 “Get up! Take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”  
Mt0221 Then Joseph got up, and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  
Mt0222 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod [the Great], he was afraid to go there. Then being warned by God in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee,  
Mt0223 and went and settled in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”  
Mt0301 In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying,  
Mt0302 “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  
Mt0303 This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE ROAD FOR THE LORD, MAKE HIS HIGHWAYS STRAIGHT (level, direct)!’”  
Mt0304 Now this same John had clothing made of camel’s hair and a [wide] leather band around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  
Mt0305 At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;  
Mt0306 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.  
Mt0307 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the [divine] wrath and judgment to come?  
Mt0308 So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin];  
Mt0309 and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham.  
Mt0310 And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Mt0311 “As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment).  
Mt0312 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”  
Mt0313 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him.  
Mt0314 But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”  
Mt0315 But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.  
Mt0316 After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus),  
Mt0317 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well- pleased and delighted!”  
Mt0401 Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  
Mt0402 After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry.  
Mt0403 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  
Mt0404 But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”  
Mt0405 Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple.  
Mt0406 And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’; and ‘THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”  
Mt0407 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT TEST THE LORD YOUR GOD.’”  
Mt0408 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them;  
Mt0409 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”  
Mt0410 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”  
Mt0411 Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him].  
Mt0412 Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee.  
Mt0413 And leaving Nazareth, He went and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali.  
Mt0414 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:  
Mt0415 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE [in the district] OF THE GENTILES—  
Mt0416 THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN [spiritual] DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE SITTING (living) IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF [spiritual and moral] DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.”  
Mt0417 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  
Mt0418 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He noticed two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  
Mt0419 And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Mt0420 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Mt0421 And going on [further] from there He noticed two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets; and He called them [to follow Him as His disciples].  
Mt0422 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Mt0423 And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people [demonstrating and revealing that He was indeed the promised Messiah].  
Mt0424 So the news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them.  
Mt0425 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and the other side of the Jordan.  
Mt0501 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.  
Mt0502 Then He began to teach them, saying,  
Mt0503 “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].  
Mt0504 “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].  
Mt0505 “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.  
Mt0506 “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied.  
Mt0507 “Blessed [content, sheltered by God’s promises] are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  
Mt0508 “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.  
Mt0509 “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.  
Mt0510 “Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].  
Mt0511 “Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me.  
Mt0512 Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  
Mt0513 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].  
Mt0514 “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  
Mt0515 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  
Mt0516 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.  
Mt0517 “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  
Mt0518 For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke [of the pen] will pass from the Law until all things [which it foreshadows] are accomplished.  
Mt0519 So whoever breaks one of the least [important] of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  
Mt0520 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness (uprightness, moral essence) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Mt0521 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be guilty before the court.’  
Mt0522 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, ‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fiery hell.  
Mt0523 So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you,  
Mt0524 leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering.  
Mt0525 Come to terms quickly [at the earliest opportunity] with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way [to court], so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison.  
Mt0526 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid the last cent.  
Mt0527 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’;  
Mt0528 but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  
Mt0529 If your right eye makes you stumble and leads you to sin, tear it out and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  
Mt0530 If your right hand makes you stumble and leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.  
Mt0531 “It has also been said, ‘WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE IS TO GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’;  
Mt0532 but I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on grounds of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been divorced commits adultery.  
Mt0533 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT YOU SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD [as a religious duty].’  
Mt0534 But I say to you, do not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God;  
Mt0535 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.  
Mt0536 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black.  
Mt0537 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.  
Mt0538 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH [punishment that fits the offense].’  
Mt0539 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person [who insults you or violates your rights]; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other toward him also [simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity, your self-respect, your poise].  
Mt0540 If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also [for the Lord repays the offender].  
Mt0541 And whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.  
Mt0542 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.  
Mt0543 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’  
Mt0544 But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
Mt0545 so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him].  
Mt0546 For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  
Mt0547 And if you greet only your brothers [wishing them God’s blessing and peace], what more [than others] are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles [who do not know the Lord] do that?  
Mt0548 You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.  
Mt0601 “Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven.  
Mt0602 “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.  
Mt0603 But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],  
Mt0604 so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.  
Mt0605 “Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.  
Mt0606 But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.  
Mt0607 “And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  
Mt0608 So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.  
Mt0609 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  
Mt0610 ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.  
Mt0611 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.  
Mt0612 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].  
Mt0613 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’  
Mt0614 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  
Mt0615 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.  
Mt0616 “And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they put on a sad and dismal face [like actors, discoloring their faces with ashes or dirt] so that their fasting may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.  
Mt0617 But when you fast, put oil on your head [as you normally would to groom your hair] and wash your face  
Mt0618 so that your fasting will not be noticed by people, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.  
Mt0619 “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
Mt0620 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;  
Mt0621 for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.  
Mt0622 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive], your whole body will be full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts].  
Mt0623 But if your eye is bad [spiritually blind], your whole body will be full of darkness [devoid of God’s precepts]. So if the [very] light inside you [your inner self, your heart, your conscience] is darkness, how great and terrible is that darkness!  
Mt0624 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].  
Mt0625 “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?  
Mt0626 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?  
Mt0627 And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life?  
Mt0628 And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing],  
Mt0629 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these.  
Mt0630 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!  
Mt0631 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’  
Mt0632 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  
Mt0633 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.  
Mt0634 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  
Mt0701 “Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].  
Mt0702 For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you.  
Mt0703 Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?  
Mt0704 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me get the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye?  
Mt0705 You hypocrite (play-actor, pretender), first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  
Mt0706 “Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.  
Mt0707 “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.  
Mt0708 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.  
Mt0709 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will [instead] give him a stone?  
Mt0710 Or if he asks for a fish, will [instead] give him a snake?  
Mt0711 If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.  
Mt0712 “So then, in everything treat others the same way you want them to treat you, for this is [the essence of] the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets.  
Mt0713 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it.  
Mt0714 But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.  
Mt0715 “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  
Mt0716 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?  
Mt0717 Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit.  
Mt0718 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  
Mt0719 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
Mt0720 Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].  
Mt0721 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.  
Mt0722 Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’  
Mt0723 And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME [you are banished from My presence], YOU WHO ACT WICKEDLY [disregarding My commands].’  
Mt0724 “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far- sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock.  
Mt0725 And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  
Mt0726 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand.  
Mt0727 And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great and complete was its fall.”  
Mt0728 When Jesus had finished [speaking] these words [on the mountain], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed at His teaching;  
Mt0729 for He was teaching them as one who had authority [to teach entirely of His own volition], and not as their scribes [who relied on others to confirm their authority].  
Mt0801 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.  
Mt0802 And a leper came up to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).”  
Mt0803 Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  
Mt0804 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest [for inspection] and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony (evidence) to them [of your healing].”  
Mt0805 As Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came up to Him, begging Him [for help],  
Mt0806 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, with intense and terrible, tormenting pain.”  
Mt0807 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”  
Mt0808 But the centurion replied to Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.  
Mt0809 For I also am a man subject to authority [of a higher rank], with soldiers subject to me; and I say to one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”  
Mt0810 When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following Him, “I tell you truthfully, I have not found such great faith [as this] with anyone in Israel.  
Mt0811 I say to you that many [Gentiles] will come from east and west, and will sit down [to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises] with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven [because they accepted Me as Savior],  
Mt0812 while the sons and heirs of the kingdom [the descendants of Abraham who will not recognize Me as Messiah] will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place [which is farthest removed from the kingdom] there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger].”  
Mt0813 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was restored to health at that very hour.  
Mt0814 When Jesus went into Peter’s house [in Capernaum], He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.  
Mt0815 He touched her hand and the fever left her; and she got up and served Him.  
Mt0816 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all who were sick [exhibiting His authority as Messiah],  
Mt0817 so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”  
Mt0818 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to cast off for the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  
Mt0819 Then [on His way to board the boat] a scribe [who was a respected and authoritative interpreter of the Law] came and said to Him, “Master, I will accompany You [as Your student] wherever You go.”  
Mt0820 Jesus replied to him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  
Mt0821 Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father (collect my inheritance).”  
Mt0822 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me [believing in Me as Master and Teacher], and allow the [spiritually] dead to bury their own dead.”  
Mt0823 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.  
Mt0824 And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.  
Mt0825 And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!”  
Mt0826 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].  
Mt0827 The men wondered in amazement, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”  
Mt0828 When He arrived at the other side in the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming out of the tombs met Him. They were so extremely fierce and violent that no one could pass by that way.  
Mt0829 And they screamed out, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time [of judgment]?”  
Mt0830 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was grazing.  
Mt0831 The demons began begging Him, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”  
Mt0832 And He said to them, “Go!” So they came out [of the men] and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the water.  
Mt0833 The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the men under the power of demons.  
Mt0834 And the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.  
Mt0901 And Jesus, getting into a boat, crossed over the Sea of Galilee and came to [Capernaum] His own city.  
Mt0902 They brought to Him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], Jesus said to the paralytic, “Do not be afraid, son; your sins are forgiven [the penalty is paid, the guilt removed, and you are declared to be in right standing with God].”  
Mt0903 And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes [by claiming the rights and prerogatives of God]!”  
Mt0904 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?  
Mt0905 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven and the penalty paid,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? [Both are possible for God; both are impossible for man.]  
Mt0906 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and the power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”  
Mt0907 And he got up and went home [healed and forgiven].  
Mt0908 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God and praised Him, who had given such authority and power to men.  
Mt0909 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew (Levi) sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].” And Matthew got up and followed Him.  
Mt0910 Then as Jesus was reclining at the table in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] came and ate with Him and His disciples.  
Mt0911 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  
Mt0912 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick.  
Mt0913 Go and learn what this [Scripture] means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION [for those in distress], AND NOT [animal] SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call [to repentance] the [self- proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to change], but sinners [those who recognize their sin and actively seek forgiveness].”  
Mt0914 Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?”  
Mt0915 And Jesus replied to them, “Can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.  
Mt0916 But no one puts a piece of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results.  
Mt0917 Nor is new wine put into old wineskins [that have lost their elasticity]; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the [fermenting] wine spills and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, so both are preserved.”  
Mt0918 While He was saying these things to them, a ruler (synagogue official) entered [the house] and kneeled down and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just now died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”  
Mt0919 Jesus got up and began to accompany the ruler, with His disciples.  
Mt0920 Then a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the [tassel] fringe of His outer robe;  
Mt0921 for she had been saying to herself, “If I only touch His outer robe, I will be healed.”  
Mt0922 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Take courage, daughter; your [personal trust and confident] faith [in Me] has made you well.” And at once the woman was [completely] healed.  
Mt0923 When Jesus came to the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players [who were professional, hired mourners] and the [grieving] crowd making an uproar,  
Mt0924 He said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead, but is sleeping.” And they laughed and jeered at Him.  
Mt0925 But when the crowd had been sent outside, Jesus went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.  
Mt0926 And the news about this spread throughout all that district.  
Mt0927 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David (Messiah)!”  
Mt0928 When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”  
Mt0929 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.”  
Mt0930 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows this!”  
Mt0931 But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.  
Mt0932 While they were going away, a mute, demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus.  
Mt0933 And when the demon was driven out [by Jesus], the mute man spoke; and the crowds wondered in amazement, saying, “Never before has anything like this [miracle] been seen in Israel.”  
Mt0934 But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by [the power of] the ruler of demons.”  
Mt0935 Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages [in Galilee], teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (gospel) of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness [His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship].  
Mt0936 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd.  
Mt0937 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few.  
Mt0938 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  
Mt1001 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.  
Mt1002 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;  
Mt1003 Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot);  
Mt1004 Simon the Cananaean (Zealot), and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.  
Mt1005 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them: “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not go into a city of the Samaritans;  
Mt1006 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  
Mt1007 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  
Mt1008 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  
Mt1009 Do not take gold, or silver, or [even] copper money in your money belt,  
Mt1010 or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support.  
Mt1011 Whatever city or village you enter, ask who in it is worthy [who welcomes you and your message], and stay at his house until you leave [that city].  
Mt1012 As you go into the house, give it your greeting [that is, ‘Peace be to this house’].  
Mt1013 If [the family living in] the house is worthy [welcoming you and your message], give it your [blessing of] peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God]. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.  
Mt1014 Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties].  
Mt1015 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].  
Mt1016 “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].  
Mt1017 Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues;  
Mt1018 and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  
Mt1019 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour;  
Mt1020 for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  
Mt1021 “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put to death.  
Mt1022 And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.  
Mt1023 “When they persecute you in one city [because of your faith in Me], flee to the next; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.  
Mt1024 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master.  
Mt1025 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil of] the members of his household.  
Mt1026 “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment].  
Mt1027 What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people].  
Mt1028 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  
Mt1029 Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  
Mt1030 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge].  
Mt1031 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.  
Mt1032 “Therefore, the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven.  
Mt1033 But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.  
Mt1034 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].  
Mt1035 For I have come to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;  
Mt1036 and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS [own] HOUSEHOLD [when one believes and another does not].  
Mt1037 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  
Mt1038 And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.  
Mt1039 Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].  
Mt1040 “He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  
Mt1041 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.  
Mt1042 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”  
Mt1101 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and to preach in their [Galilean] cities.  
Mt1102 Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples  
Mt1103 and asked Him, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else [who will be the promised One]?”  
Mt1104 Jesus answered, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:  
Mt1105 the BLIND RECEIVE [their] SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed [by healing] and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.  
Mt1106 And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”  
Mt1107 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind [which is commonplace]?  
Mt1108 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh desert]? Those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings!  
Mt1109 But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one [more eminent, more remarkable, and] far more than a prophet [who foretells the future].  
Mt1110 This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi], ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’  
Mt1111 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in privilege] than he.  
Mt1112 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].  
Mt1113 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied up until John.  
Mt1114 And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is [the fulfillment of] Elijah [as the messenger] who was to come [before the kingdom].  
Mt1115 He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.  
Mt1116 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others,  
Mt1117 and say ‘We piped the flute for you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we wailed sad dirges [playing funeral], and you did not mourn and cry aloud.’  
Mt1118 For John came neither eating nor drinking [with others], and they say, ‘He has a demon!’  
Mt1119 The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds [in the lives of those who respond to Me].”  
Mt1120 Then He began to denounce [the people in] the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent [and change their hearts and lives].  
Mt1121 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [cities of the Gentiles], they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes [their hearts would have been changed and they would have expressed sorrow for their sin and rebellion against God].  
Mt1122 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for [the pagan cities of] Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.  
Mt1123 And you, Capernaum, are you to be exalted to heaven [for your apathy and unresponsiveness]? You will descend to Hades (the realm of the dead); for if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  
Mt1124 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”  
Mt1125 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].  
Mt1126 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.  
Mt1127 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son [deliberately] wills to reveal Him.  
Mt1128 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].  
Mt1129 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST (renewal, blessed quiet) FOR YOUR SOULS.  
Mt1130 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”  
Mt1201 At that particular time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.  
Mt1202 But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”  
Mt1203 He said to them, “Have you not read [in the Scriptures] what David did when he was hungry, he and those who accompanied him—  
Mt1204 how he went into the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests only?  
Mt1205 Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break [the sanctity of] the Sabbath and yet are innocent?  
Mt1206 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.  
Mt1207 And if you had only known what this statement means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION [for those in distress], AND NOT [animal] SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.  
Mt1208 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  
Mt1209 Leaving there, He went into their synagogue.  
Mt1210 A man was there whose hand was withered. And they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful and permissible to heal on the Sabbath?”—they asked this so that they might accuse Him and bring charges into court.  
Mt1211 But He said to them, “What man is there among you who, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?  
Mt1212 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and permissible to do good on the Sabbath.”  
Mt1213 Then He said to the man, “Reach out your hand!” The man reached out and it was restored, as normal and healthy as the other.  
Mt1214 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, discussing how they could destroy Him.  
Mt1215 Being aware of this, Jesus left there. Many followed Him, and He healed all of them [who were sick],  
Mt1216 and warned them not to tell [publicly] who He was.  
Mt1217 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:  
Mt1218 “BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE WILL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS.  
Mt1219 “HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT LOUDLY; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.  
Mt1220 “A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT EXTINGUISH, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.  
Mt1221 “AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES (all the nations of the world) WILL HOPE [with confidence].”  
Mt1222 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw.  
Mt1223 All the people wondered in amazement, and said, “Could this be the Son of David (the Messiah)?”  
Mt1224 But the Pharisees heard it and said, “This man casts out demons only by [the help of] Beelzebul (Satan) the prince of the demons.”  
Mt1225 Knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand.  
Mt1226 If Satan casts out Satan [that is, his demons], he has become divided against himself and disunited; how then will his kingdom stand?  
Mt1227 If I cast out the demons by [the help of] Beelzebul (Satan), by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.  
Mt1228 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it].  
Mt1229 Or how can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up the strong man? Then he will ransack and rob his house.  
Mt1230 He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.  
Mt1231 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven.  
Mt1232 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.  
Mt1233 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is recognized and judged by its fruit.  
Mt1234 You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  
Mt1235 The good man, from his [inner] good treasure, brings out good things; and the evil man, from his [inner] evil treasure, brings out evil things.  
Mt1236 But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak.  
Mt1237 For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.”  
Mt1238 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign (attesting miracle) from You [proving that You are what You claim to be].”  
Mt1239 But He replied and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation [that is morally unfaithful to God] craves and demands a [miraculous] sign; but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah;  
Mt1240 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  
Mt1241 The men of Nineveh will stand up [as witnesses] at the judgment against this generation, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now, something greater than Jonah is here.  
Mt1242 The Queen of the South (Sheba) will stand up [as a witness] at the judgment against this generation, and will condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and now, something greater than Solomon is here.  
Mt1243 “Now when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through waterless (dry, arid) places in search of rest, but it does not find it.  
Mt1244 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, and put in order.  
Mt1245 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So will it also be with this wicked generation.”  
Mt1246 While He was still talking to the crowds, it happened that His mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him.  
Mt1247 Someone said to Him, “Look! Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to You.”  
Mt1248 But Jesus replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”  
Mt1249 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples [and all His other followers], He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  
Mt1250 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven [by believing in Me, and following Me] is My brother and sister and mother.”  
Mt1301 That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea [of Galilee].  
Mt1302 But such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat there [positioning Himself as a teacher], while the whole crowd stood on the shore.  
Mt1303 He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field];  
Mt1304 and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it.  
Mt1305 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.  
Mt1306 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  
Mt1307 Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out.  
Mt1308 Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.  
Mt1309 He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”  
Mt1310 Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?”  
Mt1311 Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.  
Mt1312 For whoever has [spiritual wisdom because he is receptive to God’s word], to him more will be given, and he will be richly and abundantly supplied; but whoever does not have [spiritual wisdom because he has devalued God’s word], even what he has will be taken away from him.  
Mt1313 This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].  
Mt1314 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL HEAR and KEEP ON HEARING, BUT NEVER UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL LOOK and KEEP ON LOOKING, BUT NEVER COMPREHEND;  
Mt1315 FOR THIS NATION’S HEART HAS GROWN HARD, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY HARDLY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE [tightly] CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND TURN [to Me] AND I WOULD HEAL THEM [spiritually].’  
Mt1316 But blessed [spiritually aware, and favored by God] are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.  
Mt1317 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, many prophets and righteous men [who were honorable and in right standing with God] longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.  
Mt1318 “Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower:  
Mt1319 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.  
Mt1320 The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy;  
Mt1321 yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation].  
Mt1322 And the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit.  
Mt1323 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.”  
Mt1324 Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  
Mt1325 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away.  
Mt1326 So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also.  
Mt1327 The servants of the owner came to him and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’  
Mt1328 He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’  
Mt1329 But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.  
Mt1330 Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”  
Mt1331 He gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field;  
Mt1332 and of all the seeds [planted in the region] it is the smallest, but when it has grown it is the largest of the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR FIND SHELTER IN ITS BRANCHES.”  
Mt1333 He told them another parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and worked into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”  
Mt1334 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables, and He said nothing to them without [using] a parable.  
Mt1335 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS [unknown and unattainable] THAT HAVE BEEN HIDDEN [from mankind] SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”  
Mt1336 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him saying, “Explain [clearly] to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”  
Mt1337 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,  
Mt1338 and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one;  
Mt1339 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.  
Mt1340 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.  
Mt1341 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin],  
Mt1342 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].  
Mt1343 Then THE RIGHTEOUS [those who seek the will of God] WILL SHINE FORTH [radiating the new life] LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.  
Mt1344 “The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself].  
Mt1345 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,  
Mt1346 and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.  
Mt1347 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet which was lowered into the sea, and gathered fish of every kind,  
Mt1348 and when it was full, they dragged it up on the beach; and they sat down and sorted out the good fish into baskets, but the worthless ones they threw away.  
Mt1349 So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous  
Mt1350 and throw the wicked into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].  
Mt1351 “Have you understood all these things [in the lessons of the parables]?” They said to Jesus, “Yes.”  
Mt1352 He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things that are new and fresh and things that are old and familiar.”  
Mt1353 When Jesus had finished these parables, He left there.  
Mt1354 And after coming to [Nazareth] His hometown, He began teaching them in their synagogue, and they were astonished, and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers [what is the source of His authority]?  
Mt1355 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And are not His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?  
Mt1356 And His sisters, are they not [living here] among us? Where then did this Man get all this [wisdom and power]?”  
Mt1357 And they took offense at Him [refusing to believe in Him]. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”  
Mt1358 And He did not do many miracles there [in Nazareth] because of their unbelief.  
Mt1401 At that time Herod [Antipas], the tetrarch [who governed a portion of Palestine including Galilee and Perea], heard the reports about Jesus,  
Mt1402 and said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and that is why the miraculous powers are at work in him.”  
Mt1403 For Herod had John arrested and bound him and put him in prison [at the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Jordan, to keep him away] because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,  
Mt1404 for John had said to him, “It is not lawful (morally right) for you to have her [living with you as your wife].”  
Mt1405 Although Herod wished to have him put to death, he feared the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.  
Mt1406 But when Herod’s birthday came, [his niece Salome], the daughter of Herodias danced [immodestly] before them and pleased and fascinated Herod,  
Mt1407 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.  
Mt1408 She, being coached by her mother [Herodias], said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”  
Mt1409 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests, he ordered it to be given her.  
Mt1410 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  
Mt1411 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother [Herodias].  
Mt1412 And John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.  
Mt1413 When Jesus heard about John, He left there privately in a boat and went to a secluded place. But when the crowds heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  
Mt1414 When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt [profound] compassion for them and healed their sick.  
Mt1415 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”  
Mt1416 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!”  
Mt1417 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”  
Mt1418 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”  
Mt1419 Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and He took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people,  
Mt1420 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up twelve full baskets of the leftover broken pieces.  
Mt1421 There were about 5,000 men who ate, besides women and children.  
Mt1422 Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away.  
Mt1423 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone.  
Mt1424 But the boat [by this time] was already a long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them.  
Mt1425 And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  
Mt1426 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  
Mt1427 But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”  
Mt1428 Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.”  
Mt1429 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  
Mt1430 But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  
Mt1431 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  
Mt1432 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  
Mt1433 Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”  
Mt1434 When they had crossed over [the sea], they went ashore at Gennesaret.  
Mt1435 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word throughout all the surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick;  
Mt1436 and they begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His robe; and all who touched it were perfectly restored.  
Mt1501 Then some Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus and said,  
Mt1502 “Why do Your disciples violate the tradition (religious laws) handed down by the [Jewish] elders? For Your disciples do not [ceremonially] wash their hands before they eat.”  
Mt1503 He replied to them, “Why also do you violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders]?  
Mt1504 For God said [through Moses], ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF or INSULTS or TREATS IMPROPERLY FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’  
Mt1505 But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “Whatever [money or resource that] I have that would help you is [already dedicated and] given to God,”  
Mt1506 he is not to honor his father or his mother [by helping them with their need].’ So by this you have invalidated the word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect] for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders].  
Mt1507 You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,  
Mt1508 ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.  
Mt1509 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, FOR THEY TEACH AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”  
Mt1510 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said, “Listen and understand this:  
Mt1511 It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”  
Mt1512 Then the disciples came and said to Jesus, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard you say this?”  
Mt1513 He answered, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be torn up by the roots.  
Mt1514 Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”  
Mt1515 Peter asked Him, “Explain this parable [about what defiles a person] to us.”  
Mt1516 And He said, “Are you still so dull [and unable to put things together]?  
Mt1517 Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?  
Mt1518 But whatever [word] comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man.  
Mt1519 For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming).  
Mt1520 These are the things which defile and dishonor the man; but eating with [ceremonially] unwashed hands does not defile the man.”  
Mt1521 After leaving there, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  
Mt1522 And a Canaanite woman from that district came out and began to cry out [urgently], saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David (Messiah); my daughter is cruelly possessed by a demon.”  
Mt1523 But He did not say a word in answer to her. And His disciples came and asked Him [repeatedly], “Send her away, because she keeps shouting out after us.”  
Mt1524 He answered, “I was commissioned by God and sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  
Mt1525 But she came and began to kneel down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”  
Mt1526 And He replied, “It is not good (appropriate, fair) to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs.”  
Mt1527 She said, “Yes, Lord; but even the pet dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters’ table.”  
Mt1528 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in My power] is great; it will be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.  
Mt1529 Jesus went on from there and passed along by [the eastern shore of] the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on the hillside and was sitting there.  
Mt1530 And great crowds came to Him, bringing with them the lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they put them down at His feet; and He healed them.  
Mt1531 So the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they praised and glorified the God of Israel.  
Mt1532 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing [left] to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, because they might faint [from exhaustion] on the way [home].”  
Mt1533 The disciples said to Him, “Where are we to get enough bread in this isolated place to feed so large a crowd?”  
Mt1534 And Jesus asked them, “How many loaves [of bread] do you have?” They replied, “Seven, and a few small fish.”  
Mt1535 He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground,  
Mt1536 and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and when He had given thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the people.  
Mt1537 And they all ate and were satisfied, and they gathered up seven full baskets of the broken pieces that were left over.  
Mt1538 [Among] those who ate were 4,000 men, not counting women and children.  
Mt1539 Then Jesus sent the crowds away, got into the boat and went to the district of Magadan.  
Mt1601 Now the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus [to get something to use against Him], they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven [which would support His divine authority].  
Mt1602 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  
Mt1603 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and has a threatening look.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but cannot interpret the signs of the times?  
Mt1604 An evil and [morally] unfaithful generation craves a [miraculous] sign; but no sign will be given to it, except the sign of [the prophet] Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.  
Mt1605 When the disciples reached the other side of the sea, they realized that they had forgotten to bring bread.  
Mt1606 Jesus said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  
Mt1607 They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring bread.”  
Mt1608 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves that you have no bread?  
Mt1609 Do you still not understand or remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up?  
Mt1610 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large baskets you picked up?  
Mt1611 How is it that you fail to understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  
Mt1612 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the [false] teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  
Mt1613 Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  
Mt1614 And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.”  
Mt1615 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  
Mt1616 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.”  
Mt1617 Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  
Mt1618 And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ].  
Mt1619 I will give you the keys (authority) of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven.”  
Mt1620 Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Mt1621 From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples [clearly] that He must go to Jerusalem, and endure many things at the hands of the elders and the chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be killed, and be raised [from death to life] on the third day.  
Mt1622 Peter took Him aside [to speak to Him privately] and began to reprimand Him, saying, “May God forbid it! This will never happen to You.”  
Mt1623 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on things of God, but on things of man.”  
Mt1624 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].  
Mt1625 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].  
Mt1626 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  
Mt1627 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angels, and THEN HE WILL REPAY EACH ONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE.  
Mt1628 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  
Mt1701 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  
Mt1702 And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.  
Mt1703 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus.  
Mt1704 Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good and delightful and auspicious that we are here; if You wish, I will put up three [sacred] tents here—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  
Mt1705 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!”  
Mt1706 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified.  
Mt1707 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”  
Mt1708 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.  
Mt1709 And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  
Mt1710 The disciples asked Him, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  
Mt1711 He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things;  
Mt1712 but I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wished. The Son of Man is also going to suffer at their hands.”  
Mt1713 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.  
Mt1714 When they approached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, kneeling before Him and saying,  
Mt1715 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic (moonstruck) and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.  
Mt1716 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they were not able to heal him.”  
Mt1717 And Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”  
Mt1718 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed at once.  
Mt1719 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why could we not drive it out?”  
Mt1720 He answered, “Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  
Mt1721 [But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]”  
Mt1722 When they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies];  
Mt1723 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised [from death to life] on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved and distressed.  
Mt1724 When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel [temple tax] went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel?”  
Mt1725 Peter answered, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”  
Mt1726 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt [from taxation].  
Mt1727 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them [to pay the temple tax] for you and Me.”  
Mt1801 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  
Mt1802 He called a little child and set him before them,  
Mt1803 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Mt1804 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  
Mt1805 Whoever receives and welcomes one child like this in My name receives Me;  
Mt1806 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.  
Mt1807 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!  
Mt1808 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.  
Mt1809 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.  
Mt1810 “See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.  
Mt1811 [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]  
Mt1812 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?  
Mt1813 And if it turns out that he finds it, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost.  
Mt1814 So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.  
Mt1815 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.  
Mt1816 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that EVERY WORD MAY BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.  
Mt1817 If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector.  
Mt1818 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.  
Mt1819 “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  
Mt1820 For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”  
Mt1821 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?”  
Mt1822 Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.  
Mt1823 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.  
Mt1824 When he began the accounting, one who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him.  
Mt1825 But because he could not repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.  
Mt1826 So the slave fell on his knees and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’  
Mt1827 And his master’s heart was moved with compassion and he released him and forgave him [canceling] the debt.  
Mt1828 But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’  
Mt1829 So his fellow slave fell on his knees and begged him earnestly, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’  
Mt1830 But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.  
Mt1831 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and they went and reported to their master [with clarity and in detail] everything that had taken place.  
Mt1832 Then his master called him and said to him, ‘You wicked and contemptible slave, I forgave all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me.  
Mt1833 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave [who owed you little by comparison], as I had mercy on you?’  
Mt1834 And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all that he owed.  
Mt1835 My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  
Mt1901 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;  
Mt1902 and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there.  
Mt1903 And Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”  
Mt1904 He replied, “Have you never read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,  
Mt1905 and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED INSEPARABLY TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?  
Mt1906 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  
Mt1907 The Pharisees said to Him, “Why then did Moses command us to GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND HER AWAY?”  
Mt1908 He said to them, “Because your hearts were hard and stubborn Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.  
Mt1909 I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”  
Mt1910 The disciples said to Jesus, “If the relationship of a man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.”  
Mt1911 But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.  
Mt1912 For there are eunuchs who have been born that way from their mother’s womb [making them incapable of consummating a marriage]; and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men [for royal service]; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves so for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”  
Mt1913 Then children were brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them [for a blessing] and pray; but the disciples reprimanded them.  
Mt1914 But He said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  
Mt1915 After placing His hands on them [for a blessing], He went on from there.  
Mt1916 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what [essentially] good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?”  
Mt1917 Jesus answered, “Why are you asking Me about what is [essentially] good? There is only One who is [essentially] good; but if you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.”  
Mt1918 He said to Jesus, “Which commandments?” And Jesus answered, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT GIVE FALSE TESTIMONY;  
Mt1919 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].  
Mt1920 The young man said to Him, “I have kept all these things [from my youth]; what do I still lack?”  
Mt1921 Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”  
Mt1922 But when the young man heard this, he left grieving and distressed, for he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God].  
Mt1923 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven.  
Mt1924 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”  
Mt1925 When the disciples heard this, they were completely astonished and bewildered, saying, “Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?”  
Mt1926 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  
Mt1927 Then Peter answered Him, saying, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]; what then will there be for us?”  
Mt1928 Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, in the renewal [that is, the Messianic restoration and regeneration of all things] when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you [who have followed Me, becoming My disciples] will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  
Mt1929 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.  
Mt1930 But many who are first [in this world] will be last [in the world to come]; and the last, first.  
Mt2001 “For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.  
Mt2002 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.  
Mt2003 And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place;  
Mt2004 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right (an appropriate wage).’ And they went.  
Mt2005 He went out about the sixth hour (noon) and the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), and did the same thing.  
Mt2006 And about the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’  
Mt2007 They answered him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He told them, ‘You go into the vineyard also.’  
Mt2008 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last [to be hired] and ending with the first [to be hired].’  
Mt2009 Those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) came and received a denarius each [a day’s wage].  
Mt2010 Now when the first [to be hired] came, they thought they would get more; but each of them also received a denarius.  
Mt2011 When they received it, they protested and grumbled at the owner of the estate,  
Mt2012 saying, ‘These men who came last worked [only] one hour, and yet you have made them equal [in wages] to us who have carried [most of] the burden and [worked in] the scorching heat of the day.’  
Mt2013 But the owner of the estate replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  
Mt2014 Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you.  
Mt2015 Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’  
Mt2016 So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.”  
Mt2017 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve [disciples] aside, and along the way He said to them,  
Mt2018 “Listen carefully: we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and they will [judicially] condemn Him and sentence Him to death,  
Mt2019 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles (Roman authorities) to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and He will be raised [to life] on the third day.”  
Mt2020 Then [Salome] the mother of Zebedee’s children [James and John] came up to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down [in respect], asked a favor of Him.  
Mt2021 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit [in positions of honor and authority] one on Your right and one on Your left.”  
Mt2022 But Jesus replied, “You do not realize what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup [of suffering] that I am about to drink?” They answered, “We are able.”  
Mt2023 He said to them, “You will drink My cup [of suffering]; but to sit on My right and on My left this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”  
Mt2024 And when the [other] ten heard this, they were resentful and angry with the two brothers.  
Mt2025 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them].  
Mt2026 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,  
Mt2027 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your [willing and humble] slave;  
Mt2028 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin].”  
Mt2029 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.  
Mt2030 And two blind men were sitting by the road, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David (Messiah)!”  
Mt2031 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David (Messiah) have mercy on us!”  
Mt2032 Jesus stopped and called them, and asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  
Mt2033 They answered Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”  
Mt2034 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him [as His disciples].  
Mt2101 When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead],  
Mt2102 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.  
Mt2103 If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you].”  
Mt2104 This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:  
Mt2105 “TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION (the people of Jerusalem), ‘BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’”  
Mt2106 Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them,  
Mt2107 and they brought the donkey and the colt, and placed their coats on them; and Jesus sat on the coats.  
Mt2108 Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road [as before a king], while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.  
Mt2109 The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah); BLESSED [praised, glorified] IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”  
Mt2110 When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was trembling [with excitement], saying, “Who is this?”  
Mt2111 And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  
Mt2112 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].  
Mt2113 Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”  
Mt2114 And the blind and the lame came to Him in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple area, and He healed them.  
Mt2115 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus had done, and heard the boys who were shouting in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah),” they became indignant  
Mt2116 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus replied to them, “Yes; have you never read [in the Scripture], ‘OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED and PROVIDED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?”  
Mt2117 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.  
Mt2118 Now early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry.  
Mt2119 Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, “Never again will fruit come from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.  
Mt2120 When the disciples saw it, they were astonished and asked, “How is it that the fig tree has withered away all at once?”  
Mt2121 Jesus replied to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God wills it].  
Mt2122 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  
Mt2123 When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what [kind of] authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority [to exercise this power]?”  
Mt2124 Jesus replied to them, “I will also ask you a question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  
Mt2125 The baptism of John—from where did it come? From heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men?” And they began debating among themselves [considering the implications of their answer], saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe John?’  
Mt2126 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.”  
Mt2127 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what [kind of] authority I do these things.”  
Mt2128 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’  
Mt2129 And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and changed his mind and went.  
Mt2130 Then the man came to the second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go.  
Mt2131 Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.  
Mt2132 For John came to you [walking] in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even change your mind afterward and believe him [accepting what he proclaimed to you].  
Mt2133 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to tenant farmers and went on a journey [to another country].  
Mt2134 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his [share of the] fruit.  
Mt2135 But the tenants took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.  
Mt2136 Again he sent other servants, more than the first time; and they treated them the same way.  
Mt2137 Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son and have regard for him.’  
Mt2138 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This [man] is the heir; come on, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’  
Mt2139 So they took the son and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  
Mt2140 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants?”  
Mt2141 They said to Him, “He will put those despicable men to a miserable end, and rent out the vineyard to other tenants [of good character] who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”  
Mt2142 Jesus asked them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED and THREW AWAY, HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE; THIS IS THE LORD’S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS and WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES’?  
Mt2143 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to [another] people who will produce the fruit of it.  
Mt2144 And he who falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces; but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”  
Mt2145 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was talking about them.  
Mt2146 And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the people, because they regarded Jesus as a prophet.  
Mt2201 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,  
Mt2202 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  
Mt2203 And he sent his servants to call those who had [previously] been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.  
Mt2204 Then he sent out some other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened calves are butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’  
Mt2205 But they paid no attention [they disregarded the invitation, treating it with contempt] and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  
Mt2206 The rest [of the invited guests] seized his servants and mistreated them [insulting and humiliating them] and killed them.  
Mt2207 The king was enraged [when he heard this], and sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.  
Mt2208 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding [feast] is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.  
Mt2209 So go to the main highways that lead out of the city, and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’  
Mt2210 Those servants went out into the streets and gathered together all the people they could find, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests [sitting at the banquet table].  
Mt2211 “But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed [appropriately] in wedding clothes,  
Mt2212 and he said, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?’ And the man was speechless and without excuse.  
Mt2213 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’  
Mt2214 For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”  
Mt2215 Then the Pharisees went and conspired together plotting how to trap Him by [distorting] what He said.  
Mt2216 They sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about [what] anyone [thinks or says of Your teachings]; for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor [and You treat all people alike, regardless of status].  
Mt2217 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”  
Mt2218 But Jesus, aware of their malice, asked, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?  
Mt2219 Show me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius [a day’s wage].  
Mt2220 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  
Mt2221 They said, “[The Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”  
Mt2222 When they heard this, they were caught off guard, and they left Him and went away.  
Mt2223 On that day some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead], came to Him and asked Him a question,  
Mt2224 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘IF A MAN DIES, LEAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIDOW, AND RAISE CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.’  
Mt2225 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.  
Mt2226 The second also [died childless], and the third, down to the seventh.  
Mt2227 Last of all, the woman died.  
Mt2228 So in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”  
Mt2229 But Jesus replied to them, “You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead].  
Mt2230 For in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven [who do not marry nor produce children].  
Mt2231 But as to the resurrection of the dead—have you not read [in the Scripture] what God said to you:  
Mt2232 ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”  
Mt2233 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.  
Mt2234 Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced (muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together.  
Mt2235 One of them, a lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law], asked Jesus a question, to test Him:  
Mt2236 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  
Mt2237 And Jesus replied to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  
Mt2238 This is the first and greatest commandment.  
Mt2239 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’  
Mt2240 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”  
Mt2241 Now while the Pharisees were [still] gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:  
Mt2242 “What do you [Pharisees] think of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.”  
Mt2243 Jesus asked them, “How is it then that David by the inspiration of the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord,’ saying,  
Mt2244 ‘THE LORD (the Father) SAID TO MY LORD (the Son, the Messiah), “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES UNDER YOUR FEET”’?  
Mt2245 So then, if David calls Him (the Son, the Messiah) ‘Lord,’ how is He David’s son?”  
Mt2246 No one was able to say a word to Him in answer, nor from that day on did anyone dare to question Him again.  
Mt2301 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,  
Mt2302 saying: “The scribes and Pharisees have seated themselves in Moses’ chair [of authority as teachers of the Law];  
Mt2303 so practice and observe everything they tell you, but do not do as they do; for they preach [things], but do not practice them.  
Mt2304 The scribes and Pharisees tie up heavy loads [that are hard to bear] and place them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger [to make them lighter].  
Mt2305 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries (tefillin) wide [to make them more conspicuous] and make their tassels long.  
Mt2306 They love the place of distinction and honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues [those on the platform near the scrolls of the Law, facing the congregation],  
Mt2307 and to be greeted [with respect] in the market places and public forums, and to have people call them Rabbi.  
Mt2308 But do not be called Rabbi (Teacher); for One is your Teacher, and you are all [equally] brothers.  
Mt2309 Do not call anyone on earth [who guides you spiritually] your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.  
Mt2310 Do not let yourselves be called leaders or teachers; for One is your Leader (Teacher), the Christ.  
Mt2311 But the greatest among you will be your servant.  
Mt2312 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be raised to honor.  
Mt2313 “But woe (judgment is coming) to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are [in the process of] entering to do so.  
Mt2314 [Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]  
Mt2315 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert to Judaism), and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.  
Mt2316 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding); but whoever swears [an oath] by the gold of the temple is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’  
Mt2317 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that sanctified the gold?  
Mt2318 And [you scribes and Pharisees say], ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding), but whoever swears [an oath] by the offering on it, he is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’  
Mt2319 You [spiritually] blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?  
Mt2320 Therefore, whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, swears both by it and by everything [offered] on it.  
Mt2321 And whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells within it.  
Mt2322 And whoever swears [an oath] by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.  
Mt2323 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others.  
Mt2324 You [spiritually] blind guides, who strain out a gnat [consuming yourselves with miniscule matters] and swallow a camel [ignoring and violating God’s precepts]!  
Mt2325 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed).  
Mt2326 You [spiritually] blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate [examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts], so that the outside [your public life and deeds] may be clean also.  
Mt2327 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  
Mt2328 So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  
Mt2329 “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate and adorn the monuments of the righteous,  
Mt2330 and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’  
Mt2331 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.  
Mt2332 Fill up, then, the [allotted] measure of the guilt of your fathers’ sins.  
Mt2333 You serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell?  
Mt2334 “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city,  
Mt2335 so that on you will come the guilt of all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  
Mt2336 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation.  
Mt2337 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I wanted to gather your children together [around Me], as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.  
Mt2338 Listen carefully: your house is being left to you desolate [completely abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]!  
Mt2339 For I say to you, you will not see Me again [ministering to you publicly] until you say, ‘BLESSED [to be celebrated with praise] IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”  
Mt2401 Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the [magnificent and massive] buildings of the temple.  
Mt2402 And He said to them, “Do you see all these things? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, not one stone here will be left on another, which will not be torn down.”  
Mt2403 While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”  
Mt2404 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error].  
Mt2405 For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many.  
Mt2406 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age].  
Mt2407 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  
Mt2408 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble].  
Mt2409 “Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  
Mt2410 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another.  
Mt2411 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many.  
Mt2412 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold.  
Mt2413 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.  
Mt2414 This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.  
Mt2415 “So when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION [the appalling sacrilege that astonishes and makes desolate], spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand),  
Mt2416 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [for refuge].  
Mt2417 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things that are in his house [because there will not be enough time].  
Mt2418 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.  
Mt2419 And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  
Mt2420 Pray that your flight [from persecution and suffering] will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath [when Jewish laws prohibit travel].  
Mt2421 For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again].  
Mt2422 And if those days [of tribulation] had not been cut short, no human life would be saved; but for the sake of the elect (God’s chosen ones) those days will be shortened.  
Mt2423 Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it.  
Mt2424 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).  
Mt2425 Listen carefully, I have told you in advance.  
Mt2426 So if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms [of a house],’ do not believe it.  
Mt2427 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming [in glory] of the Son of Man [everyone will see Him clearly].  
Mt2428 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will flock together.  
Mt2429 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT PROVIDE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  
Mt2430 And at that time the sign of the Son of Man [coming in His glory] will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth [and especially Israel] will mourn [regretting their rebellion and rejection of the Messiah], and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory [in brilliance and splendor].  
Mt2431 And He will send His angels with A LOUD TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  
Mt2432 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its young shoots become tender and it puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near;  
Mt2433 so you, too, when you see all these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right at the door.  
Mt2434 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.  
Mt2435 Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  
Mt2436 “But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.  
Mt2437 For the coming of the Son of Man (the Messiah) will be just like the days of Noah.  
Mt2438 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark,  
Mt2439 and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment].  
Mt2440 At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.  
Mt2441 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.  
Mt2442 “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming.  
Mt2443 But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  
Mt2444 Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.  
Mt2445 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?  
Mt2446 Blessed is that [faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so.  
Mt2447 I assure you and most solemnly say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  
Mt2448 But if that servant is evil and says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time [he will not return for a long while],’  
Mt2449 and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards;  
Mt2450 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware,  
Mt2451 and will cut him in two and put him with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].  
Mt2501 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  
Mt2502 Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible].  
Mt2503 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them,  
Mt2504 but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps.  
Mt2505 Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep.  
Mt2506 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’  
Mt2507 Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them].  
Mt2508 But the foolish virgins said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’  
Mt2509 But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’  
Mt2510 But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked.  
Mt2511 Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’  
Mt2512 But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’  
Mt2513 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].  
Mt2514 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions.  
Mt2515 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey.  
Mt2516 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more.  
Mt2517 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more.  
Mt2518 But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.  
Mt2519 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  
Mt2520 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.’  
Mt2521 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’  
Mt2522 “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.’  
Mt2523 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’  
Mt2524 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed.  
Mt2525 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’  
Mt2526 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed.  
Mt2527 Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest.  
Mt2528 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’  
Mt2529 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away.  
Mt2530 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].  
Mt2531 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory and majesty and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  
Mt2532 All the nations will be gathered before Him [for judgment]; and He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;  
Mt2533 and He will put the sheep on His right [the place of honor], and the goats on His left [the place of rejection].  
Mt2534 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  
Mt2535 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  
Mt2536 I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me [with help and ministering care]; I was in prison, and you came to Me [ignoring personal danger].’  
Mt2537 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?  
Mt2538 And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  
Mt2539 And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’  
Mt2540 The King will answer and say to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it for Me.’  
Mt2541 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);  
Mt2542 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;  
Mt2543 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me [with help and ministering care].’  
Mt2544 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’  
Mt2545 Then He will reply to them, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these [my followers], you did not do it for Me.’  
Mt2546 Then these [unbelieving people] will go away into eternal (unending) punishment, but those who are righteous and in right standing with God [will go, by His remarkable grace] into eternal (unending) life.”  
Mt2601 When Jesus had finished this discourse, He said to His disciples,  
Mt2602 “You know that the Passover is coming in two days, and the Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.”  
Mt2603 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the [elegant home of the Jewish] high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,  
Mt2604 and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.  
Mt2605 But they said, “It must not be during the festival (Passover), otherwise there might be a riot among the people.”  
Mt2606 Now when Jesus was [back] in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper,  
Mt2607 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume and she poured it on Jesus’ head as He reclined at the table.  
Mt2608 But when the disciples saw it they were indignant and angry, saying, “Why all this waste [of money]?  
Mt2609 For this perfume might have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”  
Mt2610 But Jesus, aware [of the malice] of this [remark], said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? She has done a good thing to Me.  
Mt2611 For you always have the poor with you; but you will not always have Me.  
Mt2612 When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.  
Mt2613 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever this gospel [of salvation] is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her [for her act of love and devotion].”  
Mt2614 Then one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests  
Mt2615 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver.  
Mt2616 And from that moment Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.  
Mt2617 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread (Passover Week) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  
Mt2618 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time [to suffer and atone for sin] is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”  
Mt2619 [Accordingly] the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.  
Mt2620 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.  
Mt2621 And as they were eating, He said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me.”  
Mt2622 Being deeply grieved and extremely distressed, each one of them began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”  
Mt2623 Jesus answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the bowl with Me [as a pretense of friendship] will betray Me.  
Mt2624 The Son of Man is to go [to the cross], just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”  
Mt2625 And Judas, the betrayer, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”  
Mt2626 Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  
Mt2627 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;  
Mt2628 for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins.  
Mt2629 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”  
Mt2630 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  
Mt2631 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night [disillusioned about Me, confused, and some even ashamed of Me], for it is written [in the Scriptures], ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.’  
Mt2632 But after I am raised [to life], I will go ahead of you [leading the way] to Galilee.”  
Mt2633 Peter replied to Him, “Though they all fall away because of You [and doubt and disown You], I will never fall away!”  
Mt2634 Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this night, before a rooster crows, you will [completely] deny Me three times.”  
Mt2635 Peter said to Jesus, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.  
Mt2636 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane (olive-press), and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  
Mt2637 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], He began to be grieved and greatly distressed.  
Mt2638 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.”  
Mt2639 And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”  
Mt2640 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?  
Mt2641 Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  
Mt2642 He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  
Mt2643 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  
Mt2644 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words once more.  
Mt2645 Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Listen, the hour [of My sacrifice] is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners [whose way and nature is to oppose God].  
Mt2646 Get up, let us go. Look, My betrayer is near!”  
Mt2647 As Jesus was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot], one of the twelve [disciples], came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, [who came as representatives] from the chief priests and elders of the people.  
Mt2648 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”  
Mt2649 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Greetings (rejoice), Rabbi!” And he kissed Him [in a deliberate act of betrayal].  
Mt2650 Jesus said to Judas, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then they came and seized Jesus and arrested Him.  
Mt2651 And one of those who were with Jesus reached out and drew his sword, and struck [Malchus] the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.  
Mt2652 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword.  
Mt2653 Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  
Mt2654 How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”  
Mt2655 At that moment Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Day after day I used to sit in the porches and courts of the temple teaching, and you did not arrest Me.  
Mt2656 But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.  
Mt2657 Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) had gathered [illegally] together.  
Mt2658 But Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the [elegant home of the Jewish] high priest, and went inside, and sat with the guards to see the outcome.  
Mt2659 Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death.  
Mt2660 They found none, even though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward,  
Mt2661 and testified, “This man said, ‘I am able to tear down the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”  
Mt2662 The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Have You no answer to give? What is it that these men are testifying against You?”  
Mt2663 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I call on You to swear a binding oath by the living God, that you tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  
Mt2664 Jesus said to him, “You have [in fact] said it; but more than that I tell you [regardless of what you do with Me now], in the future you will see [Me revealed as] THE SON OF MAN SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”  
Mt2665 Then the high priest tore his robes [in mock horror] and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed [by making Himself God’s equal]! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy.  
Mt2666 What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves to be put to death.”  
Mt2667 Then they spat in His face and struck Him with their fists; and some slapped Him,  
Mt2668 saying, “Prophesy to us, You Christ (Messiah, Anointed); who was it that struck You?”  
Mt2669 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”  
Mt2670 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”  
Mt2671 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”  
Mt2672 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”  
Mt2673 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them too; for even your [Galilean] accent gives you away.”  
Mt2674 Then he began to curse [that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself] and swear [an oath], “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed.  
Mt2675 And Peter remembered the [prophetic] words of Jesus, when He had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly [in repentance].  
Mt2701 When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) conferred together against Jesus, [plotting how] to put Him to death [since under Roman rule they had no power to execute anyone];  
Mt2702 so they bound Him, and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor [of Judea, who had the authority to condemn prisoners to death].  
Mt2703 When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was gripped with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,  
Mt2704 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!”  
Mt2705 And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and hanged himself.  
Mt2706 The chief priests, picking up the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put these in the treasury [of the temple], because it is the price of blood.”  
Mt2707 So after consultation they used the money to buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers.  
Mt2708 Therefore that piece of ground has been called the Field of Blood to this day.  
Mt2709 Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF HIM ON WHOM A PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel;  
Mt2710 AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”  
Mt2711 Now Jesus stood before [Pilate] the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [In affirmation] Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”  
Mt2712 But when the charges were brought against Him by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer.  
Mt2713 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?”  
Mt2714 But Jesus did not reply to him, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor was greatly astonished.  
Mt2715 Now at the feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner whom the people chose.  
Mt2716 And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner [guilty of insurrection and murder], called Barabbas.  
Mt2717 So when they had assembled [for this purpose], Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”  
Mt2718 For Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.  
Mt2719 While he was seated on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous and innocent Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.”  
Mt2720 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.  
Mt2721 The governor said to them, “Which of the two do you wish me to set free for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”  
Mt2722 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all replied, “Let Him be crucified!”  
Mt2723 And he said, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they continued shouting all the louder, “Let Him be crucified!”  
Mt2724 So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”  
Mt2725 And all the people answered, “Let [the responsibility for] His blood be on us and on our children!”  
Mt2726 So he set Barabbas free for them; but after having Jesus severely whipped (scourged), he handed Him over to be crucified.  
Mt2727 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and they gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.  
Mt2728 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on Him [as a king’s robe].  
Mt2729 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand [as a scepter]. Kneeling before Him, they ridiculed Him, saying, “Hail (rejoice), King of the Jews!”  
Mt2730 They spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him repeatedly on the head.  
Mt2731 After they finished ridiculing Him, they stripped Him of the scarlet robe and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.  
Mt2732 Now as they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced into service to carry the cross of Jesus.  
Mt2733 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull,  
Mt2734 they offered Him wine mixed with gall (myrrh, a bitter-tasting narcotic) to drink; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.  
Mt2735 And when they had crucified Him, they divided His clothes among them by casting lots.  
Mt2736 Then sitting down there, they began to keep watch over Him [to guard against any rescue attempt].  
Mt2737 And above His head they put the accusation against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  
Mt2738 At the same time two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and one on the left.  
Mt2739 Those who passed by were hurling abuse at Him and jeering at Him, wagging their heads [in scorn and ridicule],  
Mt2740 and they said [tauntingly], “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself [from death]! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”  
Mt2741 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying,  
Mt2742 “He saved others [from death]; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him and acknowledge Him.  
Mt2743 HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”  
Mt2744 The robbers who had been crucified with Him also began to insult Him in the same way.  
Mt2745 Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.).  
Mt2746 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”  
Mt2747 When some of the bystanders there heard it, they began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.”  
Mt2748 Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, soaked it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.  
Mt2749 But the rest said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him [from death].”  
Mt2750 And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice, and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan].  
Mt2751 And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart.  
Mt2752 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life];  
Mt2753 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people.  
Mt2754 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  
Mt2755 There were also many women there looking on from a distance, who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him.  
Mt2756 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and [Salome] the mother of Zebedee’s sons [James and John].  
Mt2757 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.  
Mt2758 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus [so that he might bury Him], and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  
Mt2759 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth (burial wrapping),  
Mt2760 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock; and he rolled a large stone over the entrance of the tomb and went away.  
Mt2761 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.  
Mt2762 The next day, that is, the day after the [day of] preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate,  
Mt2763 and said, “Sir, we have remembered that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise [from the dead].’  
Mt2764 Therefore, give orders to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception [the reporting of His resurrection] will be worse than the first [the reporting that He is the Messiah].”  
Mt2765 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard [of soldiers]; go [with them], make the tomb as secure as you know how.”  
Mt2766 So they went and made the tomb secure, and along with [stationing] a guard of soldiers [to be on watch] they set a seal on the stone.  
Mt2801 Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  
Mt2802 And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb], and sat on it.  
Mt2803 The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow.  
Mt2804 The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile].  
Mt2805 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  
Mt2806 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said [He would]. Come! See the place where He was lying.  
Mt2807 Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee [as He promised]. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”  
Mt2808 So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell [the good news to] the disciples.  
Mt2809 And as they went, suddenly, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” And they went to Him and took hold of His feet [in homage] and worshiped Him [as the Messiah].  
Mt2810 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me [just as I promised].”  
Mt2811 While they were on their way, some of the [Roman] guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  
Mt2812 And when the chief priests had gathered with the elders and had consulted together [to develop a plan of deception], they gave a sufficient sum of money [as a bribe] to the soldiers,  
Mt2813 and said, “You say this, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’  
Mt2814 And if the governor (Pilate) hears about it, we will calm him down and keep you out of trouble.”  
Mt2815 So they took the money [they were paid for lying] and did as they were instructed; and this [fabricated] story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to the present day.  
Mt2816 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.  
Mt2817 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He].  
Mt2818 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  
Mt2819 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  
Mt2820 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”  
Mk0101 The beginning of the [facts regarding the] good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  
Mk0102 As it is written and forever remains in the [writings of the] prophet Isaiah: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY—  
Mk0103 A VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!’”  
Mk0104 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [that is, requiring a change of one’s old way of thinking, turning away from sin and seeking God and His righteousness].  
Mk0105 And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were continually going out to him; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.  
Mk0106 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a [wide] leather band around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  
Mk0107 And he was preaching, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the straps of His sandals [even as His slave].  
Mk0108 As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit.”  
Mk0109 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  
Mk0110 Immediately coming up out of the water, he (John) saw the heavens torn open, and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him (Jesus);  
Mk0111 and a voice came out of heaven saying: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well- pleased and delighted!”  
Mk0112 Immediately the [Holy] Spirit forced Him out into the wilderness.  
Mk0113 He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted [to do evil] by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered continually to Him.  
Mk0114 Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God,  
Mk0115 and saying, “The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].”  
Mk0116 As Jesus was walking by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon [Peter] and Simon’s brother, Andrew, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  
Mk0117 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.”  
Mk0118 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Mk0119 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending and cleaning the nets.  
Mk0120 Immediately Jesus called to them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, and went away to follow Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Mk0121 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.  
Mk0122 They were completely amazed at His teaching; because He was teaching them as one having [God-given] authority, and not as the scribes.  
Mk0123 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out [terribly from the depths of his throat],  
Mk0124 saying, “What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  
Mk0125 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet (muzzled, silenced), and come out of him!”  
Mk0126 The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, and screeching with a loud voice, came out of him.  
Mk0127 They were all so amazed that they debated and questioned each other, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits (demons), and they obey Him.”  
Mk0128 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee.  
Mk0129 And immediately they left the synagogue and went into the house of Simon [Peter] and Andrew, accompanied by James and John.  
Mk0130 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they told Him about her.  
Mk0131 Jesus went to her, and taking her by the hand, raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began to serve them [as her guests].  
Mk0132 Now when evening came, after the sun had set [and the Sabbath Day had ended, in a steady stream] they were bringing to Him all who were sick and those who were under the power of demons,  
Mk0133 until the whole city had gathered together at the door.  
Mk0134 And Jesus healed many who were suffering with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him [recognizing Him as the Son of God].  
Mk0135 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there.  
Mk0136 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him,  
Mk0137 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!”  
Mk0138 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].”  
Mk0139 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching [the gospel] in their synagogues and casting out demons.  
Mk0140 And a leper came to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You are able to make me clean.”  
Mk0141 Moved with compassion [for his suffering], Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  
Mk0142 The leprosy left him immediately and he was cleansed [completely healed and restored to health].  
Mk0143 And Jesus [deeply moved] admonished him sternly and sent him away immediately,  
Mk0144 saying to him, “See that you tell no one anything [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your purification what Moses commanded, as proof to them [that you are really healed].”  
Mk0145 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news [of his healing], to such an extent that Jesus could no longer openly enter a city [where He was known], but stayed out in the unpopulated places; yet people were still coming to Him from everywhere.  
Mk0201 Jesus returned to Capernaum, and a few days later the news went out that He was at home.  
Mk0202 So many people gathered together that there was no longer room [for them], not even near the door; and Jesus was discussing with them the word [of God].  
Mk0203 Then they came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four men.  
Mk0204 When they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and when they had dug out an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.  
Mk0205 When Jesus saw their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  
Mk0206 But some of the scribes were sitting there debating in their hearts [the implication of what He had said],  
Mk0207 “Why does this man talk that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins [remove guilt, nullify sin’s penalty, and assign righteousness] except God alone?”  
Mk0208 Immediately Jesus, being fully aware [of their hostility] and knowing in His spirit that they were thinking this, said to them, “Why are you debating and arguing about these things in your hearts?  
Mk0209 Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your mat and walk’?  
Mk0210 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has the authority and power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man,  
Mk0211 “I say to you, get up, pick up your mat and go home.”  
Mk0212 And he got up and immediately picked up the mat and went out before them all, so that they all were astonished and they glorified and praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”  
Mk0213 Jesus went out again along the [Galilean] seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.  
Mk0214 As He was passing by, He saw Levi (Matthew) the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax collector’s booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].” And he got up and followed Him [becoming His disciple, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Mk0215 And it happened that Jesus was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, and many tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were eating with Him and His disciples; for there were many of them and they were following Him.  
Mk0216 When the scribes [belonging to the sect] of the Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with the sinners [including non-observant Jews] and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  
Mk0217 When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek forgiveness].”  
Mk0218 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting [as a ritual]; and they came and asked Jesus, “Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?”  
Mk0219 Jesus answered, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast while the bridegroom is [still] with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.  
Mk0220 But the days will come when the bridegroom is [forcefully] taken away from them, and they will fast at that time.  
Mk0221 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse.  
Mk0222 No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wineskins. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”  
Mk0223 One Sabbath He was walking along [with His disciples] through the grainfields, and as they went along, His disciples began picking the heads of grain.  
Mk0224 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”  
Mk0225 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read [in the Scriptures] what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and his companions;  
Mk0226 how he went into the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and how he also gave it to the men who were with him?”  
Mk0227 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  
Mk0228 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath [and He has authority over it].”  
Mk0301 Again Jesus went into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered.  
Mk0302 The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him [in the Jewish high court].  
Mk0303 He said to the man whose hand was withered, “Get up and come forward!”  
Mk0304 He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.  
Mk0305 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness and arrogance of their hearts, He told the man, “Hold out your hand.” And he held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored.  
Mk0306 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians [to plot] against Him, as to how they might [fabricate some legal grounds to] put Him to death.  
Mk0307 Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a large crowd from Galilee followed Him; and also people from Judea,  
Mk0308 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and [from the region] beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon; a vast number of people came to Him because they were hearing about all [the things] that He was doing.  
Mk0309 And He told His disciples to have a small boat stand ready for Him because of the many people, so that they would not crowd Him;  
Mk0310 for He had healed many, and as a result all who had diseases pressed around Him to touch Him.  
Mk0311 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and screamed out, “You are the Son of God!”  
Mk0312 Jesus sternly warned them [again and again] not to tell who He was.  
Mk0313 He went up on the hillside and called those whom He Himself wanted and chose; and they came to Him.  
Mk0314 And He appointed twelve [disciples], so that they would be with Him [for instruction] and so that He could send them out to preach [the gospel as apostles—that is, as His special messengers, personally chosen representatives],  
Mk0315 and to have authority and power to cast out demons.  
Mk0316 He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),  
Mk0317 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”);  
Mk0318 and [He also appointed] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew (Nathanael), and Matthew (Levi the tax collector), and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas the son of James), and Simon the Zealot;  
Mk0319 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.  
Mk0320 Then He came to a house [in Capernaum], and a crowd formed again, so [many people] that Jesus and His disciples could not even eat a meal [together].  
Mk0321 When His own family heard this they went to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He is out of His mind.”  
Mk0322 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul (Satan),” and “He is driving out the demons by the [power of the] ruler of the demons.”  
Mk0323 So He called them to Himself and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan?  
Mk0324 If a kingdom is divided [split into factions and rebelling] against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  
Mk0325 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  
Mk0326 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.  
Mk0327 But no one can go into a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up the strong man, and then he will ransack and rob his house.  
Mk0328 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and all the abusive and blasphemous things they say;  
Mk0329 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit and His power [by attributing the miracles done by Me to Satan] never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin [a sin which is unforgivable in this present age as well as in the age to come]”—  
Mk0330 [Jesus said this] because the scribes and Pharisees were [attributing His miracles to Satan by] saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”  
Mk0331 Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called for Him.  
Mk0332 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Look! Your mother and Your brothers are outside asking for You.”  
Mk0333 And He replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”  
Mk0334 Looking at those who were sitting in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  
Mk0335 For whoever does the will of God [by believing in Me, and following Me], he is My brother and sister and mother.”  
Mk0401 Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea [of Galilee]. And a very large crowd gathered around Him, so He got into a boat [anchoring it a short distance out] on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.  
Mk0402 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them,  
Mk0403 “Listen! A sower went out to sow seed;  
Mk0404 and as he was sowing, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it up.  
Mk0405 Other seed fell on rocks where there was not much soil; and immediately a plant sprang up because the soil had no depth.  
Mk0406 And when the sun came up, the plant was scorched; and because it had no root, it dried up and withered away.  
Mk0407 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.  
Mk0408 And other seed fell into good soil, and as the plants grew and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundred times [as much as had been sown].”  
Mk0409 And He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”  
Mk0410 As soon as He was alone, those who were around Him, together with the twelve [disciples], began asking Him about [the interpretation of] the parables.  
Mk0411 He said to them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you [who have teachable hearts], but those who are outside [the unbelievers, the spiritually blind] get everything in parables,  
Mk0412 so that THEY WILL CONTINUALLY LOOK BUT NOT SEE, AND THEY WILL CONTINUALLY HEAR BUT NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT TURN [from their rejection of the truth] AND BE FORGIVEN.”  
Mk0413 Then He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand and grasp the meaning of all the parables?  
Mk0414 The sower sows the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation].  
Mk0415 These [in the first group] are the ones along the road where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.  
Mk0416 In a similar way these [in the second group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy [but accept it only superficially];  
Mk0417 and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they [are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and] stumble and fall away.  
Mk0418 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word,  
Mk0419 but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  
Mk0420 And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].”  
Mk0421 He said to them, “A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand?  
Mk0422 For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been kept secret, but that it would come to light [that is, things are hidden only temporarily, until the appropriate time comes for them to be known].  
Mk0423 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”  
Mk0424 Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.  
Mk0425 For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”  
Mk0426 Then He said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who throws seed on the ground;  
Mk0427 and he goes to bed at night and gets up every day, and [in the meantime] the seed sprouts and grows; how [it does this], he does not know.  
Mk0428 The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head [of grain], then the mature grain in the head.  
Mk0429 But when the crop ripens, he immediately puts in the sickle [to reap], because [the time for] the harvest has come.”  
Mk0430 And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it?  
Mk0431 It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground, even though it is smaller than all the [other] seeds that are [sown] on the soil,  
Mk0432 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden herbs; and it puts out large branches, so that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY are able to MAKE NESTS and LIVE UNDER ITS SHADE.”  
Mk0433 With many such parables, Jesus spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear and understand it;  
Mk0434 and He did not say anything to them without [using] a parable; He did, however, explain everything privately to His own disciples.  
Mk0435 On that [same] day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee].”  
Mk0436 So leaving the crowd, they took Him with them, just as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him.  
Mk0437 And a fierce windstorm began to blow, and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already being swamped.  
Mk0438 But Jesus was in the stern, asleep [with His head] on the [sailor’s leather] cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?”  
Mk0439 And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness].  
Mk0440 Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith and confidence [in Me]?”  
Mk0441 They were filled with great fear, and said to each other, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”  
Mk0501 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.  
Mk0502 When Jesus got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him,  
Mk0503 and the man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with chains.  
Mk0504 For he had often been bound with shackles [for the feet] and with chains, and he tore apart the chains and broke the shackles into pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue and tame him.  
Mk0505 Night and day he was constantly screaming and shrieking among the tombs and on the mountains, and cutting himself with [sharp] stones.  
Mk0506 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him [in homage];  
Mk0507 and screaming with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have in common with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God [swear to me], do not torment me!”  
Mk0508 For Jesus had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”  
Mk0509 He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”  
Mk0510 And he began begging Him repeatedly not to send them out of the region.  
Mk0511 Now there was a large herd of pigs grazing there on the mountain.  
Mk0512 And the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the pigs so that we may go into them!”  
Mk0513 Jesus gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out [of the man] and entered the pigs. The herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea; and they were drowned [one after the other] in the sea.  
Mk0514 The herdsmen [tending the pigs] ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what had happened.  
Mk0515 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had [previously] had the “legion” [of demons]; and they were frightened.  
Mk0516 Those who had seen it described [in detail] to the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and [told them all] about the pigs.  
Mk0517 So the people began to beg with Jesus to leave their region.  
Mk0518 As He was stepping into the boat, the [Gentile] man who had been demon-possessed was begging with Him [asking] that he might go with Him [as a disciple].  
Mk0519 Jesus did not let him [come], but [instead] He said to him, “Go home to your family and tell them all the great things that the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”  
Mk0520 So he [obeyed and] went away and began to publicly proclaim in Decapolis [the region of the ten Hellenistic cities] all the great things that Jesus had done for him; and all the people were astonished.  
Mk0521 When Jesus had again crossed over in the boat to the other side [of the sea], a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore.  
Mk0522 One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up; and seeing Him, fell at His feet  
Mk0523 and begged anxiously with Him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; [please] come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”  
Mk0524 And Jesus went with him; and a large crowd followed Him and pressed in around Him [from all sides].  
Mk0525 A woman [in the crowd] had [suffered from] a hemorrhage for twelve years,  
Mk0526 and had endured much [suffering] at the hands of many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse.  
Mk0527 She had heard [reports] about Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His outer robe.  
Mk0528 For she thought, “If I just touch His clothing, I will get well.”  
Mk0529 Immediately her flow of blood was dried up; and she felt in her body [and knew without any doubt] that she was healed of her suffering.  
Mk0530 Immediately Jesus, recognizing in Himself that power had gone out from Him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My clothes?”  
Mk0531 His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in around You [from all sides], and You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’”  
Mk0532 Still He kept looking around to see the woman who had done it.  
Mk0533 And the woman, though she was afraid and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  
Mk0534 Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has restored you to health; go in peace and be [permanently] healed from your suffering.”  
Mk0535 While He was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue official’s house, saying [to Jairus], “Your daughter has died; why bother the Teacher any longer?”  
Mk0536 Overhearing what was being said, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].”  
Mk0537 And He allowed no one to go with Him [as witnesses], except Peter and James and John the brother of James.  
Mk0538 They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He looked [with understanding] at the uproar and commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing [in mourning].  
Mk0539 When He had gone in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is sleeping.”  
Mk0540 They began laughing [scornfully] at Him [because they knew the child was dead]. But He made them all go outside, and took along the child’s father and mother and His own [three] companions, and entered the room where the child was.  
Mk0541 Taking the child’s hand, He said [tenderly] to her, “Talitha kum!”—which translated [from Aramaic] means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”  
Mk0542 The little girl immediately got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they [who witnessed the child’s resurrection] were overcome with great wonder and utter amazement.  
Mk0543 He gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.  
Mk0601 Jesus left there and came to His hometown [Nazareth]; and His disciples followed Him.  
Mk0602 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things [this knowledge and spiritual insight]? What is this wisdom [this confident understanding of the Scripture] that has been given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?  
Mk0603 Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are His sisters not here with us?” And they were [deeply] offended by Him [and their disapproval blinded them to the fact that He was anointed by God as the Messiah].  
Mk0604 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor (respect) except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”  
Mk0605 And He could not do a miracle there at all [because of their unbelief] except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  
Mk0606 He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around in the villages teaching.  
Mk0607 And He called the twelve [disciples] and began to send them out [as His special messengers] two by two, and gave them authority and power over the unclean spirits.  
Mk0608 He told them to take nothing for the journey except a mere walking stick—no bread, no [traveler’s] bag, no money in their belts—  
Mk0609 but to wear sandals; and [He told them] not to wear two tunics.  
Mk0610 And He told them, “Wherever you go into a house, stay there until you leave that town.  
Mk0611 Any place that does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them [breaking all ties with them because they rejected My message].”  
Mk0612 So they went out and preached that men should repent [that is, think differently, recognize sin, turn away from it, and live changed lives].  
Mk0613 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many who were sick, and healing them.  
Mk0614 King Herod [Antipas] heard about this, for Jesus’ name and reputation had become well known. People were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.”  
Mk0615 But others were saying, “He is Elijah!” And others were saying, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets [of old].”  
Mk0616 But when Herod heard [of it], he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen [from the dead]!”  
Mk0617 For Herod himself had sent [guards] and had John arrested and shackled in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his [half-] brother Philip, because he (Herod) had married her.  
Mk0618 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful [under Mosaic Law] for you to have your brother’s wife.”  
Mk0619 Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not,  
Mk0620 because Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he continually kept him safe. When he heard John [speak], he was very perplexed; but he enjoyed listening to him.  
Mk0621 But an opportune time [finally] came [for Herodias]. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his officials (nobles, courtiers) and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  
Mk0622 Now [Salome] the daughter of Herodias came in and danced [for the men]. She pleased and beguiled Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”  
Mk0623 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”  
Mk0624 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And Herodias replied, “The head of John the Baptist!”  
Mk0625 And she rushed back to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter!”  
Mk0626 The king was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests [who might have regarded him as weak], he was unwilling to [break his word and] refuse her.  
Mk0627 So the king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring back John’s head. And he went and had John beheaded in the prison,  
Mk0628 and brought back his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.  
Mk0629 When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away John’s body and laid it in a tomb.  
Mk0630 The apostles [who had been sent out on a mission] gathered together with Jesus and told Him everything that they had done and taught.  
Mk0631 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while”—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.  
Mk0632 And they went away by themselves in the boat to a secluded place.  
Mk0633 Many [people] saw them leaving, and recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the [surrounding] cities, and got there ahead of them.  
Mk0634 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd [waiting], and He was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd [lacking guidance]; and He began to teach them many things.  
Mk0635 When the day was nearly gone, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place, and it is already late;  
Mk0636 send the crowds away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  
Mk0637 But He replied, “You give them something to eat!” And they asked Him, “Shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”  
Mk0638 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five [loaves], and two fish.”  
Mk0639 Then Jesus commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass.  
Mk0640 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties [so that the crowd resembled an orderly arrangement of colorful garden plots].  
Mk0641 Taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing [of praise and thanksgiving to the Father]. Then He broke the loaves and [repeatedly] gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and He divided up the two fish among them all.  
Mk0642 They all ate and were satisfied.  
Mk0643 And the disciples picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces [of the loaves], and of the fish.  
Mk0644 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men [not counting the women and children].  
Mk0645 Jesus immediately insisted that His disciples get into the boat and go ahead [of Him] to the other side to Bethsaida, while He was dismissing the crowd.  
Mk0646 And after He said goodbye to them, He went to the mountain to pray.  
Mk0647 Now when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land.  
Mk0648 Seeing the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) He came to them, walking on the sea. And [acted as if] He intended to pass by them.  
Mk0649 But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out [in horror];  
Mk0650 for they all saw Him and were shaken and terrified. But He immediately spoke with them and said, “Take courage! It is I (I AM)! Stop being afraid.”  
Mk0651 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased [as if exhausted by its own activity]; and they were completely overwhelmed,  
Mk0652 because they had not understood [the miracle of] the loaves [how it revealed the power and deity of Jesus]; but [in fact] their heart was hardened [being oblivious and indifferent to His amazing works].  
Mk0653 When they had crossed over [the sea], they reached the land of Gennesaret and anchored at the shore.  
Mk0654 They got out of the boat and immediately people recognized Him,  
Mk0655 and ran throughout that surrounding countryside and began to carry around on their mats those who were sick, to any place where they heard He was.  
Mk0656 And wherever He came into villages, or cities, or the countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places and pleading with Him [to allow them] just to touch the fringe (tassel with a blue cord) of His robe; and all who touched it were healed.  
Mk0701 Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him,  
Mk0702 and they had seen that some of His disciples ate their bread with [ceremonially] impure hands, that is, unwashed [and defiled according to Jewish religious ritual].  
Mk0703 (For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, holding firmly to the traditions of the elders;  
Mk0704 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves [completely according to ritual]; and there are many other things [oral, man-made laws and traditions handed down to them] which they follow diligently, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper utensils.)  
Mk0705 So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples not live their lives according to the tradition of the elders, but [instead] eat their bread with [ceremonially] unwashed hands?”  
Mk0706 He replied, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture], ‘THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.  
Mk0707 ‘THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense], TEACHING THE PRECEPTS OF MEN AS DOCTRINES [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’  
Mk0708 You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling [faithfully] to the tradition of men.”  
Mk0709 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations.  
Mk0710 For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER [with respect and gratitude]’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF HIS FATHER OR MOTHER MUST BE PUT TO DEATH’;  
Mk0711 but you [Pharisees and scribes] say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you is Corban, (that is to say, already a gift to God),”’  
Mk0712 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother [since helping them would violate his vow of Corban];  
Mk0713 so you nullify the [authority of the] word of God [acting as if it did not apply] because of your tradition which you have handed down [through the elders]. And you do many things such as that.”  
Mk0714 After He called the people to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen [carefully] to Me, all of you, [hear] and understand [what I am saying]:  
Mk0715 there is nothing outside a man [such as food] which by going into him can defile him [morally or spiritually]; but the things which come out of [the heart of] a man are what defile and dishonor him.  
Mk0716 [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]  
Mk0717 When Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples asked Him about the parable.  
Mk0718 And He said to them, “Are you, too, so foolish and lacking in understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile and dishonor him,  
Mk0719 since it does not enter his heart, but [only] his stomach, and [from there it] is eliminated?” (By this, He declared all foods ceremonially clean.)  
Mk0720 And He said, “Whatever comes from [the heart of] a man, that is what defiles and dishonors him.  
Mk0721 For from within, [that is] out the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries,  
Mk0722 acts of greed and covetousness, wickedness, deceit, unrestrained conduct, envy and jealousy, slander and profanity, arrogance and self-righteousness and foolishness (poor judgment).  
Mk0723 All these evil things [schemes and desires] come from within and defile and dishonor the man.”  
Mk0724 Jesus got up and left there and went to the region of Tyre [and Sidon, the coastal area of Phoenicia]. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know about it; but it was impossible for Him to be hidden [from the public].  
Mk0725 Instead, after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.  
Mk0726 Now the woman was a Gentile (Greek), a Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept pleading with Him to drive the demon out of her daughter.  
Mk0727 He was saying to her, “First let the children [of Israel] be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs (non-Jews).”  
Mk0728 But she replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the pet dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”  
Mk0729 And He said to her, “Because of this answer [reflecting your humility and faith], go [knowing that your request is granted]; the demon has left your daughter [permanently].”  
Mk0730 And returning to her home, she found the child lying on the couch [relaxed and resting], the demon having gone.  
Mk0731 Soon after this Jesus left the region of Tyre, and passed through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of Decapolis [the ten Hellenistic cities].  
Mk0732 They brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.  
Mk0733 Jesus, taking him aside by himself, away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, He touched the man’s tongue [with the saliva];  
Mk0734 and looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to the man, “Ephphatha,” which [in Aramaic] means, “Be opened and released!”  
Mk0735 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he began speaking plainly.  
Mk0736 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.  
Mk0737 They were thoroughly astounded and completely overwhelmed, saying, “He has done everything well! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”  
Mk0801 In those days, when there was again a large crowd [gathered before Him] and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and told them,  
Mk0802 “I feel compassion for the crowd; they have been with Me now for three days and have nothing [left] to eat.  
Mk0803 If I send them away to their homes hungry, they will faint [from exhaustion] on the road; because some of them have come a long way.”  
Mk0804 His disciples replied to Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this isolated place to feed these people?”  
Mk0805 He asked them, “How many loaves [of bread] do you have?” They said, “Seven.”  
Mk0806 He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and [repeatedly] gave them to His disciples to set before them, and they served the crowd.  
Mk0807 They also had a few small fish; and when Jesus had blessed them [and given thanks], He ordered these [fish] to be set before them as well.  
Mk0808 And the people ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.  
Mk0809 About four thousand [men] were there [besides women and children]; and He sent them away.  
Mk0810 Then immediately He got into the boat with His disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.  
Mk0811 The Pharisees came out and began to argue [contentiously and debate] with Him, demanding from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him [because of their unbelief].  
Mk0812 He groaned and sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, no sign will be given to this generation!”  
Mk0813 Leaving them, He again boarded the boat and left for the other side.  
Mk0814 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  
Mk0815 Jesus repeatedly ordered them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”  
Mk0816 They began discussing this with one another, saying, “It is because we have no bread [that He said this].”  
Mk0817 Jesus, aware of this [discussion], said to them, “Why are you discussing [the fact] that you have no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  
Mk0818 THOUGH YOU HAVE EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND THOUGH YOU HAVE EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR and LISTEN [to what I have said]? And do you not remember,  
Mk0819 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They answered, “Twelve.”  
Mk0820 “And [when I broke] the seven [loaves] for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they answered, “Seven.”  
Mk0821 And He was saying to them, “Do you still not understand?”  
Mk0822 Then they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch him.  
Mk0823 Taking the blind man by the hand, He led him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”  
Mk0824 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.”  
Mk0825 Then again Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and [his sight] was [completely] restored, and he began to see everything clearly.  
Mk0826 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”  
Mk0827 Then Jesus and His disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  
Mk0828 They answered Him, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”  
Mk0829 And He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied to Him, “You [in contrast to the others] are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).”  
Mk0830 Then Jesus strictly warned them not to tell anyone about Him.  
Mk0831 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and must be put to death, and after three days rise [from death to life].  
Mk0832 He was stating the matter plainly [not holding anything back]. Then Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him.  
Mk0833 But turning around [with His back to Peter] and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for your mind is not set on God’s will or His values and purposes, but on what pleases man.”  
Mk0834 Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].  
Mk0835 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].  
Mk0836 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?  
Mk0837 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?  
Mk0838 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  
Mk0901 And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste (experience) death before they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”  
Mk0902 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured (changed in form) before them [and began to shine brightly with divine and regal glory];  
Mk0903 and His clothes became radiant and dazzling, intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.  
Mk0904 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were having a conversation with Jesus.  
Mk0905 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi (Master), it is good for us to be here; let us make three [sacred] tents—one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  
Mk0906 For he did not [really] know what to say because they were terrified [and stunned by the miraculous sight].  
Mk0907 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him and obey Him!”  
Mk0908 Suddenly they looked around and no longer saw anyone with them, except Jesus alone.  
Mk0909 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus expressly ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  
Mk0910 So they [carefully and faithfully] kept the matter to themselves, discussing and questioning [with one another] what it meant to rise from the dead.  
Mk0911 They asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first [before the Messiah comes]?”  
Mk0912 He answered them, “Elijah does come first and restores and reestablishes all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things [grief and physical distress] and be treated with contempt [utterly despised and rejected]?  
Mk0913 But I say to you that Elijah has in fact come [already], and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written [in Scripture] of him.”  
Mk0914 When they came [back] to the [other nine] disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes questioning and arguing with them.  
Mk0915 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Jesus, they were startled and began running up to greet Him.  
Mk0916 He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”  
Mk0917 One of the crowd replied to Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him unable to speak;  
Mk0918 and whenever it seizes him [intending to do harm], it throws him down, and he foams [at the mouth], and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. I told Your disciples to drive it out, and they could not do it.”  
Mk0919 He replied, “O unbelieving (faithless) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”  
Mk0920 They brought the boy to Him. When the [demonic] spirit saw Him, immediately it threw the boy into a convulsion, and falling to the ground he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.  
Mk0921 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he answered, “Since childhood.  
Mk0922 The demon has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”  
Mk0923 Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”  
Mk0924 Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.”  
Mk0925 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering [around them], He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”  
Mk0926 After screaming out and throwing him into a terrible convulsion, it came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse [so still and pale] that many [of the spectators] said, “He is dead!”  
Mk0927 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he stood up.  
Mk0928 When He had gone indoors, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?”  
Mk0929 He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].”  
Mk0930 They went on from there and began to go through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it,  
Mk0931 because He was teaching His disciples [and preparing them for the future]. He told them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies], and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise [from the dead] three days later.”  
Mk0932 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him [what He meant].  
Mk0933 They arrived at Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing and arguing about on the road?”  
Mk0934 But they kept quiet, because on the road they had discussed and debated with one another which one [of them] was the greatest.  
Mk0935 Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.”  
Mk0936 Taking a child, He set him before them; and taking him in His arms, He said to them,  
Mk0937 “Whoever receives and welcomes one child such as this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives not [only] Me, but Him who sent Me.”  
Mk0938 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us [as Your disciple].”  
Mk0939 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.  
Mk0940 For he who is not against us is for us.  
Mk0941 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will not lose his reward.  
Mk0942 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe and trust in Me to stumble [that is, to sin or lose faith], it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [one requiring a donkey’s strength to turn it] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  
Mk0943 If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,  
Mk0944 [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.]  
Mk0945 If your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell,  
Mk0946 [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.]  
Mk0947 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,  
Mk0948 where THEIR WORM [that feeds on the dead] DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.  
Mk0949 “For everyone will be salted with fire.  
Mk0950 Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”  
Mk1001 Getting up, He left there (Capernaum) and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; and crowds gathered around Him again and accompanied Him, and as was His custom, He once more began to teach them.  
Mk1002 Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him [intending to trick Him into saying something wrong], and asked Him, “Is it lawful [according to Scripture] for a man to divorce his wife and send her away?”  
Mk1003 He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”  
Mk1004 They said, “Moses allowed a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND TO SEND HER AWAY.”  
Mk1005 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of hearts [your callousness and insensitivity toward your wives and the provision of God] he wrote you this precept.  
Mk1006 But from the beginning of creation God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.  
Mk1007 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER [to establish a home with his wife],  
Mk1008 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so that they are no longer two, but [are united as] one flesh.  
Mk1009 Therefore, what God has united and joined together, man must not separate [by divorce].”  
Mk1010 In the house the disciples began questioning Him again about this.  
Mk1011 And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;  
Mk1012 and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”  
Mk1013 People were bringing children to Him so that He would touch and bless them, but the disciples reprimanded them and discouraged them [from coming].  
Mk1014 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and He said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  
Mk1015 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  
Mk1016 And He took the children [one by one] in His arms and blessed them [with kind, encouraging words], placing His hands on them.  
Mk1017 As He was leaving on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, “Good Teacher [You who are essentially good and morally perfect], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?”  
Mk1018 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone.  
Mk1019 You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT TESTIFY FALSELY, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’”  
Mk1020 And he replied to Him, “Teacher, I have [carefully] kept all these [commandments] since my youth.”  
Mk1021 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love (high regard, compassion) for him, and He said to him, “You lack one thing: go and sell all your property and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”  
Mk1022 But the man was saddened at Jesus’ words, and he left grieving, because he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God].  
Mk1023 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who are wealthy [and cling to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of God!”  
Mk1024 The disciples were amazed and bewildered by His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is [for those who place their hope and confidence in riches] to enter the kingdom of God!  
Mk1025 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.”  
Mk1026 They were completely and utterly astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?”  
Mk1027 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”  
Mk1028 Peter started saying to Him, “Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord].”  
Mk1029 Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,  
Mk1030 who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.  
Mk1031 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”  
Mk1032 Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were perplexed [at what Jesus had said], and those who were following were alarmed and afraid. And again He took the twelve [disciples] aside and began telling them what was going to happen to Him,  
Mk1033 saying, “Listen very carefully: we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Gentiles (Romans).  
Mk1034 They will mock and ridicule Him and spit on Him, and whip (scourge) Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise [from the dead].”  
Mk1035 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.”  
Mk1036 And He replied to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  
Mk1037 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit [with You], one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory [Your majesty and splendor in Your kingdom].”  
Mk1038 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism [of suffering and death] with which I am baptized?”  
Mk1039 And they replied to Him, “We are able.” Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.  
Mk1040 But to sit on My right or left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared [by My Father].”  
Mk1041 Hearing this, the [other] ten became indignant with James and John.  
Mk1042 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their powerful men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them].  
Mk1043 But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,  
Mk1044 and whoever wishes to be first and most important among you must be slave of all.  
Mk1045 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  
Mk1046 Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road [as was his custom].  
Mk1047 When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say, “Jesus, Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!”  
Mk1048 Many sternly rebuked him, telling him to keep still and be quiet; but he kept on shouting out all the more, “Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!”  
Mk1049 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, telling him, “Take courage, get up! He is calling for you.”  
Mk1050 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped up and came to Jesus.  
Mk1051 And Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni (my Master), let me regain my sight.”  
Mk1052 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith [and confident trust in My power] has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road.  
Mk1101 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples,  
Mk1102 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a [donkey’s] colt tied, which has never been ridden by anyone; untie it and bring it here.  
Mk1103 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it’; and immediately he will send it here.”  
Mk1104 So they went away [to the village] and found a colt tied outside at a gate in the street, and they untied it.  
Mk1105 Some of the people who were standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”  
Mk1106 They replied to them just as Jesus had directed, and they allowed them to go.  
Mk1107 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it, and He sat on it.  
Mk1108 And many [of the people] spread their coats on the road [as an act of tribute and homage before a new king], and others [scattered a layer of] leafy branches which they had cut from the fields [honoring Him as Messiah].  
Mk1109 Those who went in front and those who were following [Him] were shouting [in joy and praise], “Hosanna (Save, I pray)! BLESSED (praised, glorified) IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!  
Mk1110 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”  
Mk1111 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple [enclosure]; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve [disciples], because it was already late [in the day].  
Mk1112 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He was hungry.  
Mk1113 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if He would find anything on it. But He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.  
Mk1114 He said to it, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening [to what He said].  
Mk1115 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple [grounds] and began driving out [with force] the people who were selling and buying [animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the seats of those who were selling doves;  
Mk1116 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise or household wares through the temple [grounds, using the temple area irreverently as a shortcut].  
Mk1117 He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”  
Mk1118 The chief priests and the scribes heard this and began searching for a way to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, since the entire crowd was struck with astonishment at His teaching.  
Mk1119 When evening came, Jesus and His disciples would leave the city.  
Mk1120 In the morning, as they were passing by, the disciples saw that the fig tree had withered away from the roots up.  
Mk1121 And remembering, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi (Master), look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered!”  
Mk1122 Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly].  
Mk1123 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].  
Mk1124 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.  
Mk1125 Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and wrongdoings [against Him and others].  
Mk1126 [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]  
Mk1127 They came again to Jerusalem. And as Jesus was walking in the [courts and porches of the] temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him,  
Mk1128 and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”  
Mk1129 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.  
Mk1130 Was the baptism of John [the Baptist] from heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men? Answer Me.”  
Mk1131 They began discussing it with each other, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  
Mk1132 But shall we say, ‘From men?’” —they were afraid [to answer because] of the crowd, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.  
Mk1133 So they replied to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”  
Mk1201 Jesus began to speak to them [the chief priests, scribes and elders who were questioning Him] in parables: “A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A PIT FOR THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER; and he rented it out to tenant farmers and left the country.  
Mk1202 When the harvest season came he sent a servant to the tenants, in order to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.  
Mk1203 They took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  
Mk1204 Again he sent them another servant, and they [threw stones and] wounded him in the head, and treated him disgracefully.  
Mk1205 And he sent another, and that one they killed; then many others—some they beat and some they killed.  
Mk1206 He still had one man left to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’  
Mk1207 But those tenants said to each other, ‘This man is the heir! Come on, let us kill him [and destroy the evidence], and his inheritance will be ours!’  
Mk1208 So they took him and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard.  
Mk1209 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.  
Mk1210 Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REGARDED AS UNWORTHY and REJECTED, THIS [very stone] HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE  
Mk1211 THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS and WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES’?”  
Mk1212 And they were looking for a way to seize Him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they knew that He spoke this parable in reference to [and as a charge against] them. And so they left Him and went away.  
Mk1213 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in order to trap Him into making a statement [that they could use against Him].  
Mk1214 They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and have no personal bias toward anyone; for You are not influenced by outward appearances or social status, but in truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay the poll- tax to [Tiberius] Caesar, or not?  
Mk1215 Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a coin (denarius) to look at.”  
Mk1216 So they brought one. Then He asked them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”  
Mk1217 Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were greatly amazed at Him.  
Mk1218 Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him, and began questioning Him, saying,  
Mk1219 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law] that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES and leaves a wife BUT LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER IS TO MARRY THE WIDOW AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.  
Mk1220 There were seven brothers; the first [one] took a wife, and died leaving no children.  
Mk1221 The second brother married her, and died leaving no children; and the third likewise;  
Mk1222 and so all seven [married her and died, and] left no children. Last of all the woman died also.  
Mk1223 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven [brothers] were married to her.”  
Mk1224 Jesus said to them, “Is this not why you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures [that teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [who is able to raise the dead]?  
Mk1225 For when they rise from the dead, they do not marry nor are they given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.  
Mk1226 But concerning the raising of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’?  
Mk1227 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken and you are deceiving yourselves!”  
Mk1228 Then one of the scribes [an expert in Mosaic Law] came up and listened to them arguing [with one another], and noticing that Jesus answered them well, asked Him, “Which commandment is first and most important of all?”  
Mk1229 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;  
Mk1230 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL (life), AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND (thought, understanding), AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’  
Mk1231 This is the second: ‘YOU SHALL [unselfishly] LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  
Mk1232 The scribe said to Him, “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO OTHER BUT HIM;  
Mk1233 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO [unselfishly] LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS ONESELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”  
Mk1234 When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions.  
Mk1235 Jesus began to say, as He taught in [a portico or court of] the temple, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?  
Mk1236 David himself said [when inspired] by the Holy Spirit, ‘THE LORD (the Father) SAID TO MY LORD (the Son, the Messiah), “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES UNDER YOUR FEET.”’  
Mk1237 David himself calls Him (the Son, the Messiah) ‘Lord’; so how can it be that He is David’s Son?” The large crowd enjoyed hearing Jesus and listened to Him with delight.  
Mk1238 In [the course of] His teaching He was saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and like to receive respectful greetings in the market places,  
Mk1239 and [they love] the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of distinction and honor at banquets,  
Mk1240 [these scribes] who devour (confiscate) widows’ houses, and offer long prayers for appearance’s sake [to impress others]. These men will receive greater condemnation.”  
Mk1241 And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums.  
Mk1242 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite.  
Mk1243 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in [proportionally] more than all the contributors to the treasury.  
Mk1244 For they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.”  
Mk1301 As He was coming out of the temple [grounds], one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”  
Mk1302 Jesus replied to him, “You see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down!”  
Mk1303 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately,  
Mk1304 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?”  
Mk1305 Jesus began to say to them, “Be careful and see to it that no one misleads you.  
Mk1306 Many will come in My name [misusing My name or claiming to be the Messiah], saying, ‘I am He!’ and will deceive and mislead many.  
Mk1307 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed (frightened, troubled); these things must take place, but the end is not yet.  
Mk1308 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These things are the beginning of the birth pangs [the intolerable anguish and suffering].  
Mk1309 “But be on your guard; they will turn you over to courts, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand [as accused] before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.  
Mk1310 The gospel [that is, the good news regarding the way of salvation] must first be preached to all the [Gentile] nations.  
Mk1311 When they take you and turn you over [to the court], do not worry beforehand about what to say, but say whatever is given to you [by God] in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit [who will speak through you].  
Mk1312 Brother will betray brother to [be put to] death, and a father [will hand over] his child; and children will rise up and take a stand against parents and have them put to death.  
Mk1313 You will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but the one who [patiently perseveres empowered by the Holy Spirit and] endures to the end, he will be saved.  
Mk1314 “But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing [in the temple sanctuary] where it ought not to be (let the reader understand) then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.  
Mk1315 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down [to enter the house], or go inside to take anything out of his house;  
Mk1316 whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.  
Mk1317 And woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  
Mk1318 Pray that it will not occur in winter,  
Mk1319 for at that time there will be such tribulation as has not occurred, from the beginning of the creation which God made, until now—and never will [be again].  
Mk1320 And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose [for Himself], He shortened the days.  
Mk1321 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it;  
Mk1322 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will provide signs and wonders in order to deceive, if [such a thing were] possible, even the elect [those God has chosen for Himself].  
Mk1323 But be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.  
Mk1324 “But in those days, after [the suffering and distress of] that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT,  
Mk1325 AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken.  
Mk1326 Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory [in royal majesty and splendor].  
Mk1327 And then He will send out the angels, and will gather together His elect [those He has chosen for Himself] from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.  
Mk1328 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and it puts out its leaves, you recognize that summer is near.  
Mk1329 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, know [for certain] that He is near, right at the door.  
Mk1330 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place.  
Mk1331 Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  
Mk1332 But of that [exact] day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.  
Mk1333 “Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.  
Mk1334 It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert.  
Mk1335 Therefore, be continually on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  
Mk1336 [stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared.  
Mk1337 What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’”  
Mk1401 It was now two days before the Passover and [the festival of] Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were searching for a deceitful way to arrest Jesus and kill Him;  
Mk1402 but they were saying, “Not during the festival, for the people might riot.”  
Mk1403 While He was in Bethany [as a guest] at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster vial of very costly and precious perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.  
Mk1404 But there were some who were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?  
Mk1405 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer’s wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.  
Mk1406 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me.  
Mk1407 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do something good to them; but you will not always have Me.  
Mk1408 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.  
Mk1409 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever the good news [regarding salvation] is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”  
Mk1410 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples], went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  
Mk1411 When they heard this they were delighted, and promised to give him money. And he began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.  
Mk1412 On the first day [of the festival] of Unleavened Bread, when [as was customary] they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  
Mk1413 And He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him;  
Mk1414 and say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’  
Mk1415 He will show you a large upstairs room, furnished and ready [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare [the supper] for us there.”  
Mk1416 The disciples left and went to the city and found everything just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.  
Mk1417 When it was evening, He came with the twelve [disciples].  
Mk1418 While they were reclining at the table, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.”  
Mk1419 They began to be grieved and deeply distressed and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?”  
Mk1420 And He replied, “It is one of the twelve [disciples], one who is dipping bread in the bowl with Me.  
Mk1421 For the Son of Man goes [to the cross] just as it is written [in Scripture] of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”  
Mk1422 While they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it [giving thanks and praise], and He broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take it. This is My body.”  
Mk1423 And when He had taken a cup [of wine] and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  
Mk1424 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the [new] covenant, [My blood] which is being poured out for many [for the forgiveness of sins].  
Mk1425 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”  
Mk1426 After they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  
Mk1427 Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away [and be ashamed and be afraid to be associated with Me as disciples], because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP WILL BE SCATTERED.’  
Mk1428 But after I have been raised [from the dead], I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”  
Mk1429 But Peter said to Him, “Even if they all fall away [and desert You, ashamed and afraid of being associated with You], yet I will not [do so]!”  
Mk1430 Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny [that you even know] Me three times.”  
Mk1431 But Peter kept saying insistently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing as well.  
Mk1432 Then they went to a place called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit down here until I have prayed.”  
Mk1433 He took Peter and James and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled [extremely anguished at the prospect of what was to come].  
Mk1434 And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.”  
Mk1435 After going a little farther, He fell to the ground [distressed by the weight of His spiritual burden] and began to pray that if it were possible [in the Father’s will], the hour [of suffering and death for the sins of mankind] might pass from Him.  
Mk1436 He was saying, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgment] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.”  
Mk1437 And He came back and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Were you unable to keep watch for one hour?  
Mk1438 Keep [actively] watching and praying so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”  
Mk1439 He went away again and prayed, saying the same words.  
Mk1440 And again He came back and found them sleeping, because their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know how to answer Him.  
Mk1441 He came back a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough [of that]! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  
Mk1442 Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near!”  
Mk1443 And at once, while He was still speaking, Judas [Iscariot], one of the twelve [disciples], came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders [of the Sanhedrin].  
Mk1444 Now the betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away safely [under guard].”  
Mk1445 When Judas came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi (Master)!” and he kissed Him [forcefully].  
Mk1446 They laid hands on Him and seized Him.  
Mk1447 But one of the bystanders [Simon Peter] drew his sword and struck [Malchus] the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.  
Mk1448 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber?  
Mk1449 Day after day I was with you, teaching in the [courts and porches of the] temple, and you did not seize Me; but this has happened so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”  
Mk1450 Then all of His disciples abandoned Him and fled.  
Mk1451 A young man was following Him, wearing [only] a linen sheet over his naked body; and some men seized him.  
Mk1452 But pulling free of the linen sheet, he escaped [from them] naked.  
Mk1453 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) gathered together.  
Mk1454 Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers [guards and servants] and warming himself at the fire.  
Mk1455 Now the chief priests and the entire Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus [which they could use] to have Him [condemned and] executed, but they were not finding any.  
Mk1456 For many [people] were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimonies were not consistent.  
Mk1457 Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him, saying,  
Mk1458 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple (sanctuary) that was made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”  
Mk1459 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.  
Mk1460 The high priest stood up and came forward and asked Jesus, “Have You no answer to give [in response] to what these men are testifying against You?”  
Mk1461 But Jesus kept silent and gave no answer at all. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the Blessed One?”  
Mk1462 Jesus said, “I am; and you will [all] see THE SON OF MAN SEATED [with authority] AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER (the Father), and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”  
Mk1463 Then tearing his robe [to express his indignation], the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?  
Mk1464 You have heard the blasphemy [that is, His claim to be the Son of God]. What is your decision?” And they all condemned Him to be [guilty and] deserving of death.  
Mk1465 And some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy [by telling us who hit you]!” Then the officers took custody of Him and struck him in the face.  
Mk1466 While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came,  
Mk1467 and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You were with Jesus the Nazarene, too.”  
Mk1468 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” Then he went out [of the courtyard] to the porch, [and a rooster crowed.]  
Mk1469 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to tell the bystanders, “This [man] is one of them.”  
Mk1470 But again he denied it. After a little while, the bystanders again said to Peter, “You are in fact one of them, for [it is clear from your accent, that] you are a Galilean, too.”  
Mk1471 But he began to invoke a curse [on himself] and to swear [an oath], “I do not know this man you are talking about!”  
Mk1472 Immediately a rooster crowed the second time. And Peter remembered what Jesus said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And thinking of this, he began weeping [in anguish].  
Mk1501 Early in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), immediately consulted together; and they bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate.  
Mk1502 Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He replied to him, “It is as you say.”  
Mk1503 The chief priests began accusing Him of many things.  
Mk1504 Then Pilate again asked Him, “Have You no answer [to give]? See how many charges they are bringing against You!”  
Mk1505 But Jesus gave no further answer; so Pilate was perplexed.  
Mk1506 Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.  
Mk1507 The man called Barabbas was imprisoned with the insurrectionists (revolutionaries) who had committed murder in the civil rebellion.  
Mk1508 The crowd came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them.  
Mk1509 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to set free for you the King of the Jews?”  
Mk1510 For he was aware that the chief priests had turned Jesus over to him because of envy and resentment.  
Mk1511 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release Barabbas for them instead.  
Mk1512 Again Pilate answered, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”  
Mk1513 They screamed back, “Crucify Him!”  
Mk1514 But Pilate asked them, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” But they screamed all the more, “Crucify Him!”  
Mk1515 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over [to his soldiers] to be crucified.  
Mk1516 The soldiers led Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the entire [Roman] battalion [of 600 soldiers].  
Mk1517 They dressed Him up in [a ranking Roman officer’s robe of] purple, and after twisting [together] a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him;  
Mk1518 and they began saluting and mocking Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”  
Mk1519 They kept beating Him on the head with a reed and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing in [mock] homage to Him.  
Mk1520 After they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.  
Mk1521 They forced into service a passer-by coming in from the countryside, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.  
Mk1522 Then they brought Him to the place [called] Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.  
Mk1523 They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh [to dull the pain], but He would not take it.  
Mk1524 And they crucified Him, and divided up His clothes among themselves, casting lots for them to see who should take what.  
Mk1525 It was the third hour (9:00 a.m.) when they crucified Him.  
Mk1526 The inscription of the accusation against Him had been written [above Him]: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  
Mk1527 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.  
Mk1528 [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was counted with the transgressors.”]  
Mk1529 Those who were passing by were insulting Him with abusive and insolent language, wagging their heads [as a sign of contempt], and saying, “Ha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in [only] three days,  
Mk1530 save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”  
Mk1531 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were ridiculing and mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others [from death]; He cannot save Himself!  
Mk1532 Let the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe and trust [in Him]!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.  
Mk1533 When the sixth hour (noon) came, darkness covered the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.).  
Mk1534 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?”—which is translated, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”  
Mk1535 Some of the bystanders heard Him and said, “Look! He is calling for Elijah!”  
Mk1536 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah is coming to take Him down.”  
Mk1537 But Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His last [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan].  
Mk1538 And the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  
Mk1539 When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last [being fully in control], he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”  
Mk1540 Now some women also were watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome.  
Mk1541 When Jesus was in Galilee, they used to accompany him and minister to Him; and there were also many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.  
Mk1542 When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,  
Mk1543 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent and respected member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God—and he courageously dared to go in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.  
Mk1544 Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time [only six hours after being crucified], and he summoned the centurion and asked him whether He was already dead.  
Mk1545 And when he learned from the centurion [that Jesus was in fact dead], he gave the body to Joseph [by granting him permission to remove it].  
Mk1546 So Joseph purchased a [fine] linen cloth [for wrapping the body], and after taking Jesus down [from the cross], he wrapped Him in the linen cloth and placed Him in a tomb which had been cut out of rock. Then he rolled a [large, wheel-shaped] stone against the entrance of the tomb.  
Mk1547 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were [carefully] watching to see where He was laid.  
Mk1601 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome purchased [sweet-smelling] spices, so that they might go and anoint Him.  
Mk1602 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.  
Mk1603 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  
Mk1604 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, though it was extremely large.  
Mk1605 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, wearing a [long, stately] white robe; and they were amazed and bewildered.  
Mk1606 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See, [here is] the place where they laid Him.  
Mk1607 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there, just as He told you.’”  
Mk1608 They went out and fled from the tomb, for they were seized with trembling and astonishment; and they said nothing [about it] to anyone, because they were afraid.  
Mk1609 [Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.  
Mk1610 She went and reported it to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.  
Mk1611 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.  
Mk1612 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking along the way to the country.  
Mk1613 They returned [to Jerusalem] and told the others, but they did not believe them either.  
Mk1614 Later, Jesus appeared to the eleven [disciples] themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He called them to account for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen [from death].  
Mk1615 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  
Mk1616 He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.  
Mk1617 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues;  
Mk1618 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”  
Mk1619 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.  
Mk1620 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed.]  
Lk0101 Since [as is well known] many have undertaken to compile an orderly account of the things which have been fulfilled among us [by God],  
Lk0102 exactly as they were handed down to us by those [with personal experience] who from the beginning [of Christ’s ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [that is, of the teaching concerning salvation through faith in Christ],  
Lk0103 it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus;  
Lk0104 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].  
Lk0105 In the days of Herod [the Great], king of Judea, there was a certain priest whose name was Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron [the first high priest of Israel], and her name was Elizabeth.  
Lk0106 They both were righteous (approved) in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.  
Lk0107 But they were childless, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.  
Lk0108 Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,  
Lk0109 as was the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense [on the altar of incense].  
Lk0110 And all the congregation was praying outside [in the court of the temple] at the hour of the incense offering.  
Lk0111 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.  
Lk0112 When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear.  
Lk0113 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.  
Lk0114 You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth,  
Lk0115 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.  
Lk0116 He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God.  
Lk0117 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”  
Lk0118 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I be certain of this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in age.”  
Lk0119 The angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand and minister in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent [by Him] to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  
Lk0120 Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”  
Lk0121 The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about his long delay in the temple.  
Lk0122 But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.  
Lk0123 When his time of priestly service was finished, he returned to his home.  
Lk0124 Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,  
Lk0125 “This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor on me, to take away my disgrace among men.”  
Lk0126 Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,  
Lk0127 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  
Lk0128 And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  
Lk0129 But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.  
Lk0130 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  
Lk0131 Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.  
Lk0132 He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;  
Lk0133 and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”  
Lk0134 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”  
Lk0135 Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.  
Lk0136 And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.  
Lk0137 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.”  
Lk0138 Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.  
Lk0139 Now at this time Mary arose and hurried to the hill country, to a city of Judah (Judea),  
Lk0140 and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  
Lk0141 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him.  
Lk0142 And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  
Lk0143 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?  
Lk0144 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  
Lk0145 And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her [by the angel sent] from the Lord.”  
Lk0146 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord,  
Lk0147 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  
Lk0148 “For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant; For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!  
Lk0149 “For He who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is His name [to be worshiped in His purity, majesty, and glory].  
Lk0150 “AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO [stand in great awe of God and] FEAR HIM.  
Lk0151 “He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.  
Lk0152 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And exalted those who were humble.  
Lk0153 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent the rich away empty-handed.  
Lk0154 “He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,  
Lk0155 Just as He promised to our fathers, To Abraham and to his descendants forever.”  
Lk0156 And Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and then returned to her home.  
Lk0157 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.  
Lk0158 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.  
Lk0159 It happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child [as required by the Law], and they intended to name him Zacharias, after his father;  
Lk0160 but his mother answered, “No indeed; instead he will be called John.”  
Lk0161 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by that name.”  
Lk0162 Then they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.  
Lk0163 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.  
Lk0164 At once Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking, praising and blessing and thanking God.  
Lk0165 Then fear came on all their neighbors; and all these things were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea.  
Lk0166 All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].  
Lk0167 Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,  
Lk0168 “Blessed (praised, glorified) be the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He has visited us and brought redemption to His people,  
Lk0169 And He has raised up a horn of salvation [a mighty and valiant Savior] for us In the house of David His servant—  
Lk0170 Just as He promised by the mouth of His holy prophets from the most ancient times—  
Lk0171 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;  
Lk0172 To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],  
Lk0173 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,  
Lk0174 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,  
Lk0175 In holiness [being set apart] and righteousness [being upright] before Him all our days.  
Lk0176 “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD (the Messiah) TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;  
Lk0177 To give His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,  
Lk0178 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise (the Messiah) from on high will dawn and visit us,  
Lk0179 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet [in a straight line] into the way of peace and serenity.”  
Lk0180 The child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel [as John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah].  
Lk0201 Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be registered [in a census].  
Lk0202 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  
Lk0203 And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city.  
Lk0204 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,  
Lk0205 in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.  
Lk0206 While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth,  
Lk0207 and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn.  
Lk0208 In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  
Lk0209 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened.  
Lk0210 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.  
Lk0211 For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah).  
Lk0212 And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.”  
Lk0213 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying,  
Lk0214 “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well- pleased.”  
Lk0215 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  
Lk0216 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger.  
Lk0217 And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child,  
Lk0218 and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them.  
Lk0219 But Mary treasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart.  
Lk0220 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.  
Lk0221 At the end of eight days, when He was to be circumcised, He was named Jesus, the name given [to Him] by the angel [Gabriel] before He was conceived in the womb.  
Lk0222 And when the time for their purification came [that is, the mother’s purification and the baby’s dedication] according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [set apart as the Firstborn]  
Lk0223 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY [set apart and dedicated] TO THE LORD)”  
Lk0224 and [they came also] to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord [to be appropriate for a family of modest means], “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”  
Lk0225 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
Lk0226 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Lk0227 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him the custom required by the Law,  
Lk0228 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,  
Lk0229 “Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace, According to Your word;  
Lk0230 For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,  
Lk0231 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,  
Lk0232 A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES [to disclose what was previously unknown], And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”  
Lk0233 And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him.  
Lk0234 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is to be opposed—  
Lk0235 and a sword [of deep sorrow] will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  
Lk0236 There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,  
Lk0237 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the [area of the] temple, but was serving and worshiping night and day with fastings and prayers.  
Lk0238 She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.  
Lk0239 And when they had done everything [in connection with Jesus’ birth] according to the Law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.  
Lk0240 And the Child continued to grow and become strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.  
Lk0241 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast.  
Lk0242 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the Feast;  
Lk0243 and as they were returning [to Nazareth], after spending the required number of days [at the Feast], the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,  
Lk0244 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and traveled a day’s journey; and [then] they began searching [anxiously] for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.  
Lk0245 When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him [everywhere].  
Lk0246 Three days later they found Him in the [court of the] temple, sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  
Lk0247 All who heard Him were amazed by His intelligence and His understanding and His answers.  
Lk0248 When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, Your father and I have been [greatly distressed and] anxiously looking for You.”  
Lk0249 And He answered, “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”  
Lk0250 But they did not understand what He had said to them.  
Lk0251 He went down to Nazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.  
Lk0252 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.  
Lk0301 Now in the fifteenth year of [Emperor] Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene—  
Lk0302 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [his son-in-law], the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.  
Lk0303 And he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin;  
Lk0304 as it is written and forever remains written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.  
Lk0305 ‘EVERY RAVINE SHALL BE FILLED UP, AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE LEVELED; AND THE CROOKED [places] SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH;  
Lk0306 AND ALL MANKIND SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’”  
Lk0307 So he began saying to the crowds who were coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath [of God that is] to come?  
Lk0308 Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient].  
Lk0309 Even now the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; so every tree that does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.”  
Lk0310 The crowds asked him, “Then what are we to do?”  
Lk0311 And John replied, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do the same.”  
Lk0312 Even some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked, “Teacher, what are we to do?”  
Lk0313 And he told them, “Collect no more than the fixed amount you have been ordered to [collect].”  
Lk0314 Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us, what are we to do?” And he replied to them, “Do not extort money from anyone or harass or blackmail anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”  
Lk0315 Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Lk0316 John answered them all by saying, “As for me, I baptize you [only] with water; but One who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I is coming, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals [even as His slave]. He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire.  
Lk0317 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom); but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”  
Lk0318 So with many other appeals and various admonitions John preached the good news (gospel) to the people.  
Lk0319 But when Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch was repeatedly reprimanded [and convicted by John’s disapproval] for having Herodias, his brother’s wife [as his own], and for all the wicked things that Herod had done,  
Lk0320 he also added this to them all: he locked up John in prison.  
Lk0321 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, the [visible] heaven was opened,  
Lk0322 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are My Son, My Beloved, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”  
Lk0323 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son [by marriage] of Eli,  
Lk0324 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,  
Lk0325 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai,  
Lk0326 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,  
Lk0327 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,  
Lk0328 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,  
Lk0329 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,  
Lk0330 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,  
Lk0331 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,  
Lk0332 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,  
Lk0333 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,  
Lk0334 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,  
Lk0335 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah,  
Lk0336 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,  
Lk0337 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,  
Lk0338 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.  
Lk0401 Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness  
Lk0402 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they ended, He was hungry.  
Lk0403 Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to turn into bread.”  
Lk0404 Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE.’”  
Lk0405 Then he led Jesus up [to a high mountain] and displayed before Him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth [and their magnificence] in the twinkling of an eye.  
Lk0406 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this realm and its glory [its power, its renown]; because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  
Lk0407 Therefore if You worship before me, it will all be Yours.”  
Lk0408 Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE ONLY HIM.’”  
Lk0409 Then he led Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple, and said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here;  
Lk0410 for it is written and forever remains written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD and PROTECT YOU,’  
Lk0411 and, ‘THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP ON their HANDS, SO THAT YOU DO NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”  
Lk0412 Jesus replied to him, “It is said [in Scripture], ‘YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD [to prove Himself to you].’”  
Lk0413 When the devil had finished every temptation, he [temporarily] left Him until a more opportune time.  
Lk0414 Then Jesus went back to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread through the entire region.  
Lk0415 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised and glorified and honored by all.  
Lk0416 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.  
Lk0417 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,  
Lk0418 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME (the Messiah), BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO ANNOUNCE RELEASE (pardon, forgiveness) TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy),  
Lk0419 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].”  
Lk0420 Then He rolled up the scroll [having stopped in the middle of the verse], gave it back to the attendant and sat down [to teach]; and the eyes of all those in the synagogue were [attentively] fixed on Him.  
Lk0421 He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.”  
Lk0422 And [as He continued on] they all were speaking well of Him, and were in awe and were wondering about the words of grace which were coming from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”  
Lk0423 So He said to them, “You will no doubt quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal Yourself! Whatever [miracles] that we heard were done [by You] in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well.’”  
Lk0424 Then He said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.  
Lk0425 But in truth I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was closed up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land;  
Lk0426 and yet Elijah was not sent [by the Lord] to a single one of them, but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.  
Lk0427 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and not one of them was cleansed [by being healed] except Naaman the Syrian.”  
Lk0428 As they heard these things [about God’s grace to these two Gentiles], the people in the synagogue were filled with a great rage;  
Lk0429 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff.  
Lk0430 But passing [miraculously] through the crowd, He went on His way.  
Lk0431 Then He came down [from the hills of Nazareth] to Capernaum, a city of Galilee [on the shore of the sea], and He was teaching them on the Sabbath;  
Lk0432 and they were surprised [almost overwhelmed] at His teaching, because His message was [given] with authority and power and great ability.  
Lk0433 There was a man in the synagogue who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud and terrible voice,  
Lk0434 “Let us alone! What business do we have [in common] with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  
Lk0435 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent (muzzled, gagged) and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown the man down among them, he came out of him without injuring him in any way.  
Lk0436 They were all astonished and in awe, and began saying to one another, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out!”  
Lk0437 And the news about Him spread into every place in the surrounding district (Galilee).  
Lk0438 Then Jesus got up and left the synagogue and went to Simon’s (Peter’s) house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.  
Lk0439 Standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she got up and began serving them [as her guests].  
Lk0440 While the sun was setting [marking the end of the Sabbath day], all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them [exhibiting His authority as Messiah].  
Lk0441 Demons also were coming out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Lk0442 When daybreak came, Jesus left [Simon Peter’s house] and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and [they] came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them.  
Lk0443 But He said, “I must preach [the good news of] the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because I was sent for this purpose.”  
Lk0444 So He continued preaching in the synagogues of Judea [the country of the Jews, including Galilee].  
Lk0501 Now it happened that while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), with the people crowding all around Him and listening to the word of God;  
Lk0502 that He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.  
Lk0503 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the shore. And He sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat.  
Lk0504 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon [Peter], “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch [of fish].”  
Lk0505 Simon replied, “Master, we worked hard all night [to the point of exhaustion] and caught nothing [in our nets], but at Your word I will [do as you say and] lower the nets [again].”  
Lk0506 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were [at the point of] breaking;  
Lk0507 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats [with fish], so that they began to sink.  
Lk0508 But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”  
Lk0509 For he and all his companions were completely astounded at the catch of fish which they had taken;  
Lk0510 and so were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon [Peter]. Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear; from now on you will be catching men!”  
Lk0511 After they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].  
Lk0512 While Jesus was in one of the cities, there came a man covered with [an advanced case of] leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean and well.”  
Lk0513 And Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.  
Lk0514 Jesus ordered him to tell no one [that he might happen to meet], “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your purification, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony (witness) to them [that this is a work of Messiah].”  
Lk0515 But the news about Him was spreading farther, and large crowds kept gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their illnesses.  
Lk0516 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].  
Lk0517 One day as He was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present with Him to heal.  
Lk0518 Some men came carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they tried to bring him in and lay him down in front of Jesus.  
Lk0519 But finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof [and removed some tiles to make an opening] and lowered him through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.  
Lk0520 When Jesus saw their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven.”  
Lk0521 The scribes and the Pharisees began to consider and question [the implications of what He had said], saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies [by claiming the rights and prerogatives of God]? Who can forgive sins [that is, remove guilt, nullify sin’s penalty, and assign righteousness] except God alone?”  
Lk0522 But Jesus, knowing their [hostile] thoughts, answered them, “Why are you questioning [these things] in your hearts?  
Lk0523 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  
Lk0524 But, in order that you may know that the Son of Man (the Messiah) has authority and power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.”  
Lk0525 He immediately stood up before them, picked up his stretcher, and went home glorifying and praising God.  
Lk0526 They were all astonished, and they began glorifying God; and they were filled with [reverential] fear and kept saying, “We have seen wonderful and incredible things today!”  
Lk0527 After this Jesus went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi (Matthew) sitting at the tax booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk].”  
Lk0528 And he left everything behind and got up and began to follow Jesus [as His disciple].  
Lk0529 Levi (Matthew) gave a great banquet for Him at his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.  
Lk0530 The Pharisees and their scribes [seeing those with whom He was associating] began murmuring in discontent to His disciples, asking, “Why are you eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]?”  
Lk0531 And Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but [only] those who are sick.  
Lk0532 I did not come to call the [self-proclaimed] righteous [who see no need to repent], but sinners to repentance [to change their old way of thinking, to turn from sin and to seek God and His righteousness].”  
Lk0533 Then they said to Him, “The disciples of John [the Baptist] often practice fasting and offer prayers [of special petition], and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but Yours eat and drink.”  
Lk0534 Jesus said to them, “Can you make the wedding guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?  
Lk0535 But days [for mourning] will come when the bridegroom is [forcefully] taken away from them. They will fast in those days.”  
Lk0536 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old one; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.  
Lk0537 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined.  
Lk0538 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.  
Lk0539 And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is fine.’”  
Lk0601 One Sabbath while Jesus was passing through fields of standing grain, it happened that His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.  
Lk0602 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”  
Lk0603 Jesus replied to them, “Have you not even read [in the Scriptures] what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him—  
Lk0604 how he went into the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful [for anyone] to eat except the priests alone, and [how he also] gave it to the men who were with him?”  
Lk0605 Jesus was saying to them, “The Son of Man (the Messiah) is Lord [even] of the Sabbath.”  
Lk0606 On another Sabbath He went into the synagogue and taught, and a man was present whose right hand was withered.  
Lk0607 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely [with malicious intent], to see if He would [actually] heal [someone] on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse Him.  
Lk0608 But He was aware of their thoughts, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward.” So he got up and stood there.  
Lk0609 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you directly: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?”  
Lk0610 After looking around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did, and his hand was [fully] restored.  
Lk0611 But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with senseless rage [and lacked spiritual insight], and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.  
Lk0612 Now at this time Jesus went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.  
Lk0613 When day came, He called His disciples and selected twelve of them, whom He also named apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives):  
Lk0614 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [the brothers] James and John; and Philip, and Bartholomew [also called Nathanael];  
Lk0615 and Matthew (Levi, the tax collector) and Thomas; and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot;  
Lk0616 Judas [also called Thaddaeus] the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor [to the Lord].  
Lk0617 Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a vast multitude of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon,  
Lk0618 who had come to listen to Him and to be healed of their diseases. Even those who were troubled by unclean spirits (demons) were being healed.  
Lk0619 All the people were trying to touch Him, because [healing] power was coming from Him and healing them all.  
Lk0620 And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].  
Lk0621 Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].  
Lk0622 Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people hate you, and exclude you [from their fellowship], and insult you, and scorn your name as evil because of [your association with] the Son of Man.  
Lk0623 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for their fathers used to treat the prophets in the same way.  
Lk0624 But woe (judgment is coming) to you who are rich [and place your faith in possessions while remaining spiritually impoverished], for you are [already] receiving your comfort in full [and there is nothing left to be awarded to you].  
Lk0625 Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].  
Lk0626 Woe to you when all the people speak well of you and praise you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.  
Lk0627 “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you,  
Lk0628 bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  
Lk0629 Whoever strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one also [simply ignore insignificant insults or losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity]. Whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  
Lk0630 Give to everyone who asks of you. Whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.  
Lk0631 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.  
Lk0632 If you [only] love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  
Lk0633 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  
Lk0634 If you lend [money] to those from whom you expect to receive [it back], what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to receive back the same amount.  
Lk0635 But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked.  
Lk0636 Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful.  
Lk0637 “Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change].  
Lk0638 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”  
Lk0639 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man guide [another] blind man? Will they not both fall into a hole in the ground?  
Lk0640 A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher.  
Lk0641 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice or consider the log that is in your own eye?  
Lk0642 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite (play actor, pretender), first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.  
Lk0643 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.  
Lk0644 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit. For figs are not picked from thorn bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a briar bush.  
Lk0645 The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.  
Lk0646 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you?  
Lk0647 Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like:  
Lk0648 he is like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock.  
Lk0649 But the one who has [merely] heard and has not practiced [what I say], is like a [foolish] man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”  
Lk0701 After He had finished all that He had to say in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.  
Lk0702 Now a [Roman] centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and on the verge of death.  
Lk0703 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.  
Lk0704 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly [to come], saying, “He is worthy for You to do this for him,  
Lk0705 because he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].”  
Lk0706 And Jesus went with them. But when He was near the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof.  
Lk0707 Therefore I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You. But just speak a word, and my slave will be healed.  
Lk0708 For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”  
Lk0709 Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith [as this man’s].”  
Lk0710 When the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.  
Lk0711 Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain [near Nazareth], and His disciples and a large crowd accompanied Him.  
Lk0712 Now as He approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her [in the funeral procession].  
Lk0713 When the Lord saw her, He felt [great] compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.”  
Lk0714 And He came up and touched the bier [on which the body rested], and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise [from death]!”  
Lk0715 The man who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.  
Lk0716 Fear and profound awe gripped them all, and they began glorifying and honoring and praising God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people [to help and care for and provide for them]!”  
Lk0717 This news about Him spread through all of Judea and in all the surrounding countryside.  
Lk0718 John’s disciples brought word to him [in prison] of all these things.  
Lk0719 John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?”  
Lk0720 So the men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?’”  
Lk0721 At that very hour Jesus healed many people of sicknesses and infirmities and evil spirits; and He gave [the gracious gift of] sight to many who were blind.  
Lk0722 So He replied to them, “Go and tell John about everything you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOOD NEWS (gospel) PREACHED TO THEM.  
Lk0723 Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.”  
Lk0724 When John’s messengers left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?  
Lk0725 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh wilderness]? Those who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces!  
Lk0726 But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one far more [eminent and remarkable] than a prophet [who foretells the future].  
Lk0727 This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi], ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’  
Lk0728 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater [in privilege] than he.”  
Lk0729 All the people and the tax collectors who heard Jesus, acknowledged [the validity of] God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.  
Lk0730 But the Pharisees and the lawyers [who were experts in the Mosaic Law] annulled and set aside God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.  
Lk0731 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like?  
Lk0732 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’  
Lk0733 For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’  
Lk0734 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews].’  
Lk0735 Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].”  
Lk0736 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house [in the region of Galilee] and reclined at the table.  
Lk0737 Now there was a woman in the city who was [known as] a sinner; and when she found out that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume;  
Lk0738 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began wetting His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and [respectfully] kissed His feet [as an act signifying both affection and submission] and anointed them with the perfume.  
Lk0739 Now when [Simon] the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, that she is a [notorious] sinner [an outcast, devoted to sin].”  
Lk0740 Jesus, answering, said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Teacher, say it.”  
Lk0741 “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  
Lk0742 When they had no means of repaying [the debts], he freely forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”  
Lk0743 Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave more.” Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.”  
Lk0744 Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house [but you failed to extend to Me the usual courtesies shown to a guest]; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair [demonstrating her love].  
Lk0745 You gave Me no [welcoming] kiss, but from the moment I came in, she has not ceased to kiss My feet.  
Lk0746 You did not [even] anoint My head with [ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly and rare] perfume.  
Lk0747 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  
Lk0748 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  
Lk0749 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  
Lk0750 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith [in Me] has saved you; go in peace [free from the distress experienced because of sin].”  
Lk0801 Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him,  
Lk0802 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out,  
Lk0803 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples].  
Lk0804 When a large crowd was gathering together, and people from city after city were coming to Him, He spoke [to them] using a parable:  
Lk0805 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky ate it up.  
Lk0806 And some seed fell on [shallow soil covering] the rocks, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away, because it had no moisture.  
Lk0807 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.  
Lk0808 And some fell into good soil, and grew up and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”  
Lk0809 Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant.  
Lk0810 And He said, “To you [who have been chosen] it has been granted to know and recognize the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that though SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.  
Lk0811 “Now [the meaning of] the parable is this: The seed is the word of God [concerning eternal salvation].  
Lk0812 Those beside the road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and takes the message [of God] away from their hearts, so that they will not believe [in Me as the Messiah] and be saved.  
Lk0813 Those on the rocky soil are the people who, when they hear, receive and welcome the word with joy; but these have no firmly grounded root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation they fall away [from Me and abandon their faith].  
Lk0814 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but as they go on their way they are suffocated with the anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.  
Lk0815 But as for that seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and noble heart, and hold on to it tightly, and bear fruit with patience.  
Lk0816 “Now no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a container [to hide it], or puts it under a bed; instead, he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.  
Lk0817 For there is nothing hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come out into the open.  
Lk0818 So be careful how you listen; for whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a longing for truth], even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”  
Lk0819 Then Jesus’ mother and His brothers came up toward Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd.  
Lk0820 And He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to see You.”  
Lk0821 But He answered, “My mother and My brothers are these who listen to the word of God and do it!”  
Lk0822 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake (Sea of Galilee).” So they set out.  
Lk0823 But as they were sailing, He fell asleep. And a fierce gale of wind swept down [as if through a wind tunnel] on the lake, and they began to be swamped, and were in great danger.  
Lk0824 They came to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging, violent waves, and they ceased, and it became calm [a perfect peacefulness].  
Lk0825 And He said to them, “Where is your faith [your confidence in Me]?” They were afraid and astonished, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey Him?”  
Lk0826 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is east of Galilee.  
Lk0827 Now when Jesus stepped out on land, He was met by a man from the city [of Gerasa] who was possessed with demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and was not living in a house, but among the tombs.  
Lk0828 Seeing Jesus, he cried out [with a terrible voice from the depths of his throat] and fell down before Him [in dread and terror], and shouted loudly, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me [before the appointed time of judgment]!”  
Lk0829 Now He was [already] commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him [violently] many times; and he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.  
Lk0830 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, “Legion”; because many demons had entered him.  
Lk0831 They continually begged Him not to command them to go into the abyss.  
Lk0832 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to allow them to enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.  
Lk0833 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.  
Lk0834 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and told it in the city and out in the country.  
Lk0835 And people came out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind (mentally healthy); and they were frightened.  
Lk0836 Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.  
Lk0837 Then all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, because they were overwhelmed with fear. So Jesus got into the boat and returned [to the west side of the Sea of Galilee].  
Lk0838 But the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Him, pleading to go with Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,  
Lk0839 “Return home and tell [about] all the great things God has done for you.” So the man went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.  
Lk0840 Now as Jesus was returning [to Galilee], the people welcomed Him, for they had all been expecting Him.  
Lk0841 Now a man named Jairus, a synagogue official, came [to Him]; and he fell at Jesus’ feet and began begging Him to come to his house;  
Lk0842 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as Jesus went, the people were crowding against Him [almost crushing Him].  
Lk0843 And a woman who had [suffered from] a hemorrhage for twelve years [and had spent all her money on physicians], and could not be healed by anyone,  
Lk0844 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His outer robe, and immediately her bleeding stopped.  
Lk0845 Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” While they all were denying it, Peter [and those who were with him] said, “Master, the people are crowding and pushing against You!”  
Lk0846 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, because I was aware that power [to heal] had gone out of Me.”  
Lk0847 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling and fell down before Him. She declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.  
Lk0848 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has made you well. Go in peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).”  
Lk0849 While He was still speaking, someone from the synagogue official’s house came and said [to Jairus], “Your daughter is dead; do not inconvenience the Teacher any further.”  
Lk0850 But Jesus, hearing this, answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe and trust [in Me and have faith in My ability to do this], and she will be made well.”  
Lk0851 When He came to the house, He allowed no one to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother.  
Lk0852 Now they were all weeping loudly and mourning for her; but He said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead, but is sleeping.”  
Lk0853 Then they began laughing scornfully at Him and ridiculing Him, knowing [without any doubt] that she was dead.  
Lk0854 But Jesus took hold of her hand and spoke, saying, “Child, arise!”  
Lk0855 And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He ordered that she be given something to eat.  
Lk0856 Her parents were greatly astonished [by the miracle]; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.  
Lk0901 Now Jesus called together the twelve [disciples] and gave them [the right to exercise] power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.  
Lk0902 Then He sent them out [on a brief journey] to preach the kingdom of God and to perform healing.  
Lk0903 And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey [that might encumber you]—neither a walking stick, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.  
Lk0904 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city [to go to another].  
Lk0905 And as for all those who do not welcome you, when you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet [breaking all ties with them] as a testimony against them [that they rejected My message].”  
Lk0906 So they began going from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing the sick everywhere.  
Lk0907 Now Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch [who governed a portion of Palestine including Galilee and Perea] heard about all that was being done [by Jesus], and he was thoroughly perplexed, because it was said by some that John [the Baptist whom he had ordered beheaded] had been raised from the dead,  
Lk0908 and by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the [other] prophets of old had been resurrected.  
Lk0909 Herod said, “I personally had John beheaded. Who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.  
Lk0910 When the apostles returned, they told Him all that they had done. He took them with Him and He privately withdrew [across the Jordan] to a city called Bethsaida.  
Lk0911 But when the crowds learned of it, they followed Him; and He welcomed them and He began talking to them about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be healed.  
Lk0912 Now the day was ending, and the twelve [disciples] came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging, and get provisions; because here we are in an isolated place.”  
Lk0913 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”  
Lk0914 (For there were about 5,000 men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each.”  
Lk0915 They did so, and had them all sit down.  
Lk0916 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and He looked up to heaven [and gave thanks] and blessed them, and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.  
Lk0917 They all ate and were [completely] satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were [abundant and were] picked up—twelve baskets full.  
Lk0918 Now it happened that as Jesus was praying privately, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”  
Lk0919 They answered, “John the Baptist, and some say, Elijah; but others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.”  
Lk0920 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “The Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God!”  
Lk0921 But He strictly warned and admonished them not to tell this to anyone,  
Lk0922 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be put to death, and on the third day be raised up [from death to life].”  
Lk0923 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].  
Lk0924 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].  
Lk0925 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], and loses or forfeits himself?  
Lk0926 For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heavenly] Father and of the holy angels.  
Lk0927 But I tell you truthfully, there are some among those standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”  
Lk0928 Now about eight days after these teachings, He took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  
Lk0929 As He was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning.  
Lk0930 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,  
Lk0931 who appeared in glory, and were speaking of His departure [from earthly life], which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.  
Lk0932 Now Peter and those who were with him had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and splendor and majesty, and the two men who were standing with Him.  
Lk0933 And as these [men, Moses and Elijah] were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is delightful and good for us to be here; we should make three [sacred] tents; one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing what he was saying.  
Lk0934 But even as he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were [greatly] afraid as they entered the cloud.  
Lk0935 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, My Chosen One; listen and obey and yield to Him!”  
Lk0936 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found there alone. And they kept silent, and told no one at that time any of the things which they had seen [concerning the divine manifestation].  
Lk0937 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.  
Lk0938 And a man from the crowd shouted for help, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he is my only child;  
Lk0939 and a spirit seizes him, and suddenly he cries out, and it throws him into a convulsion so that he foams at the mouth; and only with [great] difficulty does it leave him, mauling and bruising him as it leaves.  
Lk0940 I begged Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”  
Lk0941 Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverted generation! How long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here [to Me].”  
Lk0942 Even while the boy was coming, the demon slammed him down and threw him into a [violent] convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.  
Lk0943 They were all amazed [practically overwhelmed] at the [evidence of the] greatness of God and His majesty and His wondrous work. But while they were still awed by everything Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,  
Lk0944 “Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is going to be betrayed and handed over to men [who are His enemies].”  
Lk0945 However, they did not understand this statement. Its meaning was kept hidden from them so that they would not grasp it; and they were afraid to ask Him about it.  
Lk0946 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest [surpassing the others in esteem and authority].  
Lk0947 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and had him stand beside Him,  
Lk0948 and He told them, “Whoever welcomes this child in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me [also] welcomes Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you [that is, the one who is genuinely humble—the one with a realistic self-view]—he is the one who is [truly] great.”  
Lk0949 John replied, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name; and we tried to stop him because he does not follow along with us.”  
Lk0950 But Jesus told him, “Do not stop him; for he who is not against you is for you.”  
Lk0951 Now when the time was approaching for Him to be taken up [to heaven], He was determined to go to Jerusalem [to fulfill His purpose].  
Lk0952 He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went into a Samaritan village to make arrangements for Him;  
Lk0953 but the people would not welcome Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.  
Lk0954 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?”  
Lk0955 But He turned and rebuked them [and He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are;  
Lk0956 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they journeyed on to another village.  
Lk0957 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”  
Lk0958 And Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”  
Lk0959 He said to another, “Follow Me [accepting Me as Master and Teacher].” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”  
Lk0960 But He said to him, “Allow the [spiritually] dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and spread the news about the kingdom of God.”  
Lk0961 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord [as Your disciple]; but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.”  
Lk0962 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”  
Lk1001 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every city and place where He was about to go.  
Lk1002 He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.  
Lk1003 Go your way; listen carefully: I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  
Lk1004 Do not carry a money belt, a provision bag, or [extra] sandals; and do not greet anyone along the way [who would delay you].  
Lk1005 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God] to this house.’  
Lk1006 And if anyone of peace is there [someone who is sweet-spirited and hospitable], your [blessing of] peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.  
Lk1007 Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house.  
Lk1008 Whenever you go into a city and they welcome you, eat what is set before you;  
Lk1009 and heal those in it who are sick [authenticating your message], and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’  
Lk1010 But whatever city you enter and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say,  
Lk1011 ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you [breaking all ties]; yet understand this, that the kingdom of God has come near [and you rejected it].’  
Lk1012 I tell you, it will be more bearable in that day [of judgment] for Sodom than for that city.  
Lk1013 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented and changed their minds long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes [to show deep regret for sin].  
Lk1014 However, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.  
Lk1015 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades (the realm of the dead).  
Lk1016 “The one who listens to you listens to Me; and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and the one who rejects Me rejects Him [My heavenly Father] who sent Me.”  
Lk1017 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”  
Lk1018 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like [a flash of] lightning.  
Lk1019 Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.  
Lk1020 Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  
Lk1021 In that very hour He was overjoyed and rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and He said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants [the childlike and untaught]. Yes, Father, for this way was [Your gracious will and choice, and was] well-pleasing in Your sight.  
Lk1022 All things have been transferred and turned over to Me by My Father and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him.”  
Lk1023 Then turning to His disciples, Jesus said privately, “Blessed [joyful, spiritually enlightened, and favored by God] are the eyes which see what you see,  
Lk1024 for I say to you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, and they did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”  
Lk1025 And a certain lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law] stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  
Lk1026 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  
Lk1027 And he replied, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  
Lk1028 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS habitually AND YOU WILL LIVE.”  
Lk1029 But he, wishing to justify and vindicate himself, asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  
Lk1030 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, who stripped him of his clothes [and belongings], beat him, and went their way [unconcerned], leaving him half dead.  
Lk1031 Now by coincidence a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  
Lk1032 Likewise a Levite also came down to the place and saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].  
Lk1033 But a Samaritan (foreigner), who was traveling, came upon him; and when he saw him, he was deeply moved with compassion [for him],  
Lk1034 and went to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them [to sooth and disinfect the injuries]; and he put him on his own pack-animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.  
Lk1035 On the next day he took out two denarii (two days’ wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.’  
Lk1036 Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to the man who encountered the robbers?”  
Lk1037 He answered, “The one who showed compassion and mercy to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and constantly do the same.”  
Lk1038 Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  
Lk1039 She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching.  
Lk1040 But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”  
Lk1041 But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things;  
Lk1042 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”  
Lk1101 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”  
Lk1102 He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.  
Lk1103 ‘Give us each day our daily bread.  
Lk1104 ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended or wronged us]. And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’”  
Lk1105 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves [of bread];  
Lk1106 for a friend of mine who is on a journey has just come to visit me, and I have nothing to serve him’;  
Lk1107 and from inside he answers, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’  
Lk1108 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence and boldness he will get up and give him whatever he needs.  
Lk1109 “So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  
Lk1110 For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.  
Lk1111 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?  
Lk1112 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  
Lk1113 If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!”  
Lk1114 And [at another time] Jesus was casting out a demon, and it was [controlling a man so as to make him] mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds were awed.  
Lk1115 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by [the power of] Beelzebul (Satan), the ruler of the demons.”  
Lk1116 Others, trying to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.  
Lk1117 But He, well aware of their thoughts and purpose, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is doomed to destruction; and a house divided against itself falls.  
Lk1118 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand and continue to survive? For you are saying that I drive out demons by [the power of] Beelzebul.  
Lk1119 Now if I drive out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons [the Jewish exorcists] drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.  
Lk1120 But if I drive out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you.  
Lk1121 When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his belongings are undisturbed and secure.  
Lk1122 But when someone stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he robs him of all his armor on which he had relied and divides his [goods as] spoil.  
Lk1123 He who is not with Me [believing in Me as Lord and Savior] is against Me [there is no impartial position]; and he who does not gather with Me [assisting in My ministry], scatters.  
Lk1124 “When the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places in search [of a place] of rest; and not finding any, it says, ‘I will go back to my house (person) from which I came.’  
Lk1125 And when it comes, it finds the place swept and put in order.  
Lk1126 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in [the person] and live there; and the last state of that person becomes worse than the first.”  
Lk1127 Now while Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed (happy, favored by God) is the womb that gave birth to You and the breasts at which You nursed!”  
Lk1128 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”  
Lk1129 Now as the crowds were increasing [in number], He began to say, “This [present] generation is a wicked generation; it seeks a sign (attesting miracle), but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah [the prophet].  
Lk1130 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man also be [a sign] to this generation.  
Lk1131 The Queen of the South (the kingdom of Sheba) will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and look, something greater than Solomon is here.  
Lk1132 The men of Nineveh will stand up [as witnesses] at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and look, something greater than Jonah is here.  
Lk1133 “No one lights a lamp and then puts it in a cellar nor under a basket [hiding the light], but [instead it is put] on the lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.  
Lk1134 The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive, focused on God], your whole body also is full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. But when it is bad [spiritually blind], your body also is full of darkness [devoid of God’s word].  
Lk1135 Be careful, therefore, that the light that is in you is not darkness.  
Lk1136 So if your whole body is illuminated, with no dark part, it will be entirely bright [with light], as when the lamp gives you light with its bright rays.”  
Lk1137 Now after Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him. He went in [the Pharisee’s home] and reclined at the table [without ceremonially washing His hands].  
Lk1138 The Pharisee noticed this and was surprised that Jesus did not first ceremonially wash before the meal.  
Lk1139 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and plate [as required by tradition]; but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  
Lk1140 You foolish ones [acting without reflection or intelligence]! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?  
Lk1141 But give that which is within as charity [that is, acts of mercy and compassion, not as a public display, but as an expression of your faithfulness to God], and then indeed all things are clean for you.  
Lk1142 “But woe (judgment is coming) to you Pharisees, because you [self-righteously] tithe mint and rue and every [little] garden herb [tending to all the minutiae], and yet disregard and neglect justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done, without neglecting the others.  
Lk1143 Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the best seats in the synagogues and to be respectfully greeted in the market places.  
Lk1144 Woe to you! For you are like graves which are unmarked, and people walk over them without being aware of it [and are ceremonially unclean].”  
Lk1145 One of the lawyers [an expert in the Mosaic Law] answered Him, “Teacher, by saying this, You insult us too!”  
Lk1146 But He said, “Woe to you lawyers as well, because you weigh men down with burdens [man-made rules, unreasonable requirements] which are hard to bear, and you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers [to lighten the load].  
Lk1147 Woe to you! For you repair or build tombs for the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them.  
Lk1148 So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers, because they [actually] killed them, and you repair or build their tombs.  
Lk1149 For this reason also the wisdom of God said [in the Scriptures], ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will put to death and some they will persecute,  
Lk1150 so that charges may be brought against this generation [holding them responsible] for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world,  
Lk1151 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], who was murdered between the altar and the house of God. Yes, I tell you, charges will be brought against this generation.’  
Lk1152 Woe to you lawyers, because you have taken away the key to knowledge (scriptural truth). You yourselves did not enter, and you held back those who were entering [by your flawed interpretation of God’s word and your man-made tradition].”  
Lk1153 When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile [toward Him] and to interrogate Him on many subjects,  
Lk1154 plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.  
Lk1201 In the meantime, after so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began speaking first of all to His disciples, “Be continually on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees [that is, their pervasive, corrupting influence and teaching], which is hypocrisy [producing self- righteousness].  
Lk1202 But there is nothing [so carefully] concealed that it will not be revealed, nor so hidden that it will not be made known.  
Lk1203 For that reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.  
Lk1204 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.  
Lk1205 But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him!  
Lk1206 Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God.  
Lk1207 Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows.  
Lk1208 “I say to you, whoever declares openly and confesses Me before men [speaking freely of Me as his Lord], the Son of Man also will declare openly and confess him [as one of His own] before the angels of God.  
Lk1209 But he who denies Me before men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.  
Lk1210 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally discredits the Holy Spirit by attributing the authenticating miracles done by Me to Satan], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness].  
Lk1211 When they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be worried about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say;  
Lk1212 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”  
Lk1213 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  
Lk1214 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over [the two of] you?”  
Lk1215 Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”  
Lk1216 Then He told them a parable, saying, “There was a rich man whose land was very fertile and productive.  
Lk1217 And he began thinking to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place [large enough in which] to store my crops?’  
Lk1218 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my storehouses and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there.  
Lk1219 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things stored up, [enough] for many years; rest and relax, eat, drink and be merry (celebrate continually).”’  
Lk1220 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’  
Lk1221 So it is for the one who continues to store up and hoard possessions for himself, and is not rich [in his relationship] toward God.”  
Lk1222 Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear.  
Lk1223 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  
Lk1224 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!  
Lk1225 And which of you by worrying can add one hour to his life’s span?  
Lk1226 So if you are not even able to do a very little thing [such as that], why are you worried about the rest?  
Lk1227 Consider the lilies and wildflowers, how they grow [in the open field]. They neither labor nor spin [wool to make clothing]; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these.  
Lk1228 But if this is how God clothes the grass which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith!  
Lk1229 So as for you, do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink; nor have an anxious and unsettled mind.  
Lk1230 For all the [pagan] nations of the world greedily seek these things; and your [heavenly] Father [already] knows that you need them.  
Lk1231 But [strive for and actively] seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  
Lk1232 Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  
Lk1233 “Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  
Lk1234 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  
Lk1235 “Be dressed and ready for active service, and keep your lamps continuously burning.  
Lk1236 Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they may immediately open the door for him.  
Lk1237 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he arrives. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will prepare himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them.  
Lk1238 Whether he comes in the second watch (before midnight), or even in the third (after midnight), and finds them so [prepared and ready], blessed are those servants.  
Lk1239 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  
Lk1240 You too, be continually ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”  
Lk1241 Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us [disciples], or to everyone else as well?”  
Lk1242 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time?  
Lk1243 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.  
Lk1244 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  
Lk1245 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk,  
Lk1246 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.  
Lk1247 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip],  
Lk1248 but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.  
Lk1249 “I have come to cast fire (judgment) on the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled!  
Lk1250 I have a baptism [of great suffering] with which to be baptized, and how [greatly] I am distressed until it is accomplished!  
Lk1251 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers];  
Lk1252 for from now on five in one household will be divided [over Me], three against two and two against three.  
Lk1253 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”  
Lk1254 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and that is how it turns out.  
Lk1255 And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens.  
Lk1256 You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! You know how to analyze and intelligently interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [to forecast the weather], but why do you not intelligently interpret this present time?  
Lk1257 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?  
Lk1258 For while you are going with your opponent [at law] to appear before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge does not [rule against you and] turn you over to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison.  
Lk1259 I say to you, you [absolutely] will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”  
Lk1301 Just at that time some people came who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate [the governor] had mixed with their sacrifices.  
Lk1302 Jesus replied to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they have suffered in this way?  
Lk1303 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.  
Lk1304 Or do you assume that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed were worse sinners than all the others who live in Jerusalem?  
Lk1305 I tell you, no; but unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.”  
Lk1306 Then He began telling them this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any;  
Lk1307 so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’  
Lk1308 But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;  
Lk1309 and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”  
Lk1310 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  
Lk1311 And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all.  
Lk1312 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are released from your illness.”  
Lk1313 Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God.  
Lk1314 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work ought to be done; so come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”  
Lk1315 But the Lord replied to him, “You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it?  
Lk1316 And this woman, a daughter (descendant) of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  
Lk1317 As He was saying this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things that were being done by Him.  
Lk1318 So this led Him to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  
Lk1319 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE SKY FOUND SHELTER and NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”  
Lk1320 And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  
Lk1321 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three peck measures of flour until it was all leavened.”  
Lk1322 Jesus journeyed on through cities and villages, teaching and making His way toward Jerusalem.  
Lk1323 And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them,  
Lk1324 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able.  
Lk1325 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’  
Lk1326 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’;  
Lk1327 but He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS!’  
Lk1328 In that place there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger] when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away.  
Lk1329 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and they will sit down [and feast at the table] in the kingdom of God.  
Lk1330 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”  
Lk1331 At that very hour some Pharisees came up and said to Him, “Leave and go away from here, because Herod [Antipas] wants to kill You.”  
Lk1332 And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox [that sly, cowardly man], ‘Listen carefully: I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I reach My goal.’  
Lk1333 Nevertheless I must travel on today and tomorrow and the day after that—for it cannot be that a prophet would die outside of Jerusalem.  
Lk1334 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I have wanted to gather your children together [around Me], just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing!  
Lk1335 Listen carefully: your house is left to you desolate [abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘BLESSED [to be celebrated with praise] IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!’”  
Lk1401 It happened one Sabbath, when He went for a meal at the house of one of the ruling Pharisees, that they were watching Him closely and carefully [hoping to entrap Him].  
Lk1402 And there in front of Him was a man who had dropsy (extreme swelling).  
Lk1403 And Jesus asked the lawyers and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”  
Lk1404 But they kept silent. Then He took hold of the man and healed him, and sent him on his way.  
Lk1405 Then He said to them, “Which one of you, having a son or an ox that falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”  
Lk1406 And they were unable to reply to this.  
Lk1407 Now Jesus began telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been selecting the places of honor at the table, saying to them,  
Lk1408 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down [to eat] at the place of honor, since a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by the host,  
Lk1409 and he who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place,’ and then, in disgrace you proceed to take the last place.  
Lk1410 But when you are invited, go and sit down [to eat] at the last place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; and then you will be honored in the presence of all who are at the table with you.  
Lk1411 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled [before others], and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted.”  
Lk1412 Jesus also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or wealthy neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.  
Lk1413 But when you give a banquet or a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind,  
Lk1414 and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (the just, the upright).”  
Lk1415 When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”  
Lk1416 But Jesus said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many guests;  
Lk1417 and at the dinner hour he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is ready now.’  
Lk1418 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have purchased a piece of land and I have to go out and see it; please consider me excused.’  
Lk1419 Another one said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’  
Lk1420 And another said, ‘I have [recently] married a wife, and for that reason I am unable to come.’  
Lk1421 So the servant came back and reported this to his master. Then [his master,] the head of the household, became angry [at the rejections of his invitation] and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and the lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the disabled and the blind and the lame.’  
Lk1422 And the servant [after returning] said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’  
Lk1423 Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled [with guests].  
Lk1424 For I tell you, not one of those who were invited [and declined] will taste my dinner.’”  
Lk1425 Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned and said to them,  
Lk1426 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple.  
Lk1427 Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple.  
Lk1428 For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it?  
Lk1429 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him,  
Lk1430 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’  
Lk1431 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand?  
Lk1432 Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace.  
Lk1433 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions.  
Lk1434 “Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?  
Lk1435 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”  
Lk1501 Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him.  
Lk1502 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  
Lk1503 So He told them this parable:  
Lk1504 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it?  
Lk1505 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  
Lk1506 And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’  
Lk1507 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.  
Lk1508 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins [each one equal to a day’s wages] and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  
Lk1509 And when she has found it, she calls together her [women] friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the lost coin!’  
Lk1510 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents [that is, changes his inner self—his old way of thinking, regrets past sins, lives his life in a way that proves repentance; and seeks God’s purpose for his life].”  
Lk1511 Then He said, “A certain man had two sons.  
Lk1512 The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them.  
Lk1513 A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living.  
Lk1514 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need.  
Lk1515 So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  
Lk1516 He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him.  
Lk1517 But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger!  
Lk1518 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.  
Lk1519 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.”’  
Lk1520 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  
Lk1521 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  
Lk1522 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet.  
Lk1523 And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate;  
Lk1524 for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.  
Lk1525 “Now his older son was in the field; and when he returned and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.  
Lk1526 So he summoned one of the servants and began asking what this [celebration] meant.  
Lk1527 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’  
Lk1528 But the elder brother became angry and deeply resentful and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.  
Lk1529 But he said to his father, ‘Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never neglected or disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me [so much as] a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;  
Lk1530 but when this [other] son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you slaughtered that fattened calf for him!’  
Lk1531 The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  
Lk1532 But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’”  
Lk1601 Now Jesus was also saying to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager [of his estate], and accusations [against this man] were brought to him, that this man was squandering his [master’s] possessions.  
Lk1602 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management [of my affairs], for you can no longer be [my] manager.’  
Lk1603 The manager [of the estate] said to himself, ‘What will I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig [for a living], and I am ashamed to beg.  
Lk1604 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management, people [who are my master’s debtors] will welcome me into their homes.’  
Lk1605 So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one, and he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’  
Lk1606 He said, ‘A hundred measures of [olive] oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’  
Lk1607 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’  
Lk1608 And his master commended the unjust manager [not for his misdeeds, but] because he had acted shrewdly [by preparing for his future unemployment]; for the sons of this age [the non- believers] are shrewder in relation to their own kind [that is, to the ways of the secular world] than are the sons of light [the believers].  
Lk1609 And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.  
Lk1610 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.  
Lk1611 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?  
Lk1612 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own?  
Lk1613 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].”  
Lk1614 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were sneering and ridiculing Him.  
Lk1615 So He said to them, “You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts [your thoughts, your desires, your secrets]; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.  
Lk1616 “The Law and the [writings of the] Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God has been and continues to be preached, and everyone tries forcefully to go into it.  
Lk1617 Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the Law to fail and become void.  
Lk1618 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.  
Lk1619 “Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day.  
Lk1620 And a poor man named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, covered with sores.  
Lk1621 He [eagerly] longed to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.  
Lk1622 Now it happened that the poor man died and his spirit was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom (paradise); and the rich man also died and was buried.  
Lk1623 In Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom (paradise).  
Lk1624 And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in severe agony in this flame.’  
Lk1625 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony.  
Lk1626 And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’  
Lk1627 So the rich man said, ‘Then, father [Abraham], I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house—  
Lk1628 for I have five brothers—in order that he may solemnly warn them and witness to them, so that they too will not come to this place of torment.’  
Lk1629 But Abraham said, ‘They have [the Scriptures given by] Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets; let them listen to them.’  
Lk1630 He replied, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent [they will change their old way of thinking and seek God and His righteousness].’  
Lk1631 And he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”  
Lk1701 Jesus said to His disciples, “Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come!  
Lk1702 It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].  
Lk1703 Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him.  
Lk1704 Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].”  
Lk1705 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith [our ability to confidently trust in God and in His power].”  
Lk1706 And the Lord said, “If you have [confident, abiding] faith in God [even as small] as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree [which has very strong roots], ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea’; and [if the request was in agreement with the will of God] it would have obeyed you.  
Lk1707 “Which of you who has a servant plowing or tending sheep will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat?’  
Lk1708 Will he not instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and appropriately clothe yourself [for service] and serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you may eat and drink?’  
Lk1709 He does not thank the servant just because he did what he was ordered to do, does he?  
Lk1710 So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’”  
Lk1711 While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee.  
Lk1712 As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance;  
Lk1713 and they raised their voices and called out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  
Lk1714 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean.  
Lk1715 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice;  
Lk1716 and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. He was a Samaritan.  
Lk1717 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed? Where are the [other] nine?  
Lk1718 Was there no one found to return and to give thanks and praise to God, except this foreigner?”  
Lk1719 Jesus said to him, “Get up and go [on your way]. Your faith [your personal trust in Me and your confidence in God’s power] has restored you to health.”  
Lk1720 Now having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed or with a visible display;  
Lk1721 nor will people say, ‘Look! Here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For the kingdom of God is among you [because of My presence].”  
Lk1722 Then He said to the disciples, “The time will come when you will long to see [even] one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  
Lk1723 They will say to you, ‘Look [the Messiah is] there!’ or ‘Look [He is] here!’ Do not go away [to see Him], and do not run after them.  
Lk1724 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, gives light to the other part of the sky, so [visible] will the Son of Man be in His day.  
Lk1725 But first He must suffer many things and be repudiated and rejected and considered unfit [to be the Messiah] by this [unbelieving] generation.  
Lk1726 And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the time of [the second coming of] the Son of Man:  
Lk1727 the people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, [they were indifferent to God] until the day that Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  
Lk1728 It was the same as it was in the days of Lot. People were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building [carrying on business as usual, without regard for their sins];  
Lk1729 but on the [very] day that Lot left Sodom it rained fire and brimstone (burning sulfur) from heaven and destroyed them all.  
Lk1730 It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.  
Lk1731 On that day, whoever is on the housetop, with his belongings in the house, must not come down [and go inside] to take them out; and likewise whoever is in the field must not turn back.  
Lk1732 Remember [what happened to] Lot’s wife [when she looked back]!  
Lk1733 Whoever seeks to save his life will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] will keep it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].  
Lk1734 I tell you, on that night [when Messiah comes again] there will be two [sleeping] in one bed; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left.  
Lk1735 There will be two women grinding [at the mill] together; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left.  
Lk1736 [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”]  
Lk1737 And they asked Him, “Where, Lord?” He answered, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will be gathered.”  
Lk1801 Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,  
Lk1802 saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man.  
Lk1803 There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.’  
Lk1804 For a time he would not; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,  
Lk1805 yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.’”  
Lk1806 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says!  
Lk1807 And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf?  
Lk1808 I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?”  
Lk1809 He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:  
Lk1810 “Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  
Lk1811 The Pharisee stood [ostentatiously] and began praying to himself [in a self-righteous way, saying]: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unjust (dishonest), adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  
Lk1812 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’  
Lk1813 But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but was striking his chest [in humility and repentance], saying, ‘God, be merciful and gracious to me, the [especially wicked] sinner [that I am]!’  
Lk1814 I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”  
Lk1815 Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them.  
Lk1816 But Jesus called them to Himself, saying [to the apostles], “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  
Lk1817 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.”  
Lk1818 A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher [You who are essentially and morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?”  
Lk1819 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially and morally] good except God alone.  
Lk1820 You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT TESTIFY FALSELY, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.’”  
Lk1821 He replied, “I have kept all these things from my youth.”  
Lk1822 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “You still lack one thing; sell everything that you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].”  
Lk1823 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.  
Lk1824 Jesus looked at him and said, “How difficult it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!  
Lk1825 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God.”  
Lk1826 And those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”  
Lk1827 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”  
Lk1828 Peter said, “Look, we have left all [things—homes, families, businesses] and followed You.”  
Lk1829 And He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,  
Lk1830 who will not receive many times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.”  
Lk1831 Then taking the twelve [disciples] aside, He said to them, “Listen carefully: we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that have been written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled and completed.  
Lk1832 He will be betrayed and handed over to the Gentiles (Roman authorities), and will be mocked and ridiculed and insulted and abused and spit on,  
Lk1833 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise [from the dead].”  
Lk1834 But the disciples understood none of these things [about the approaching death and resurrection of Jesus]. This statement was hidden from them, and they did not grasp the [meaning of the] things that were said [by Jesus].  
Lk1835 As He was approaching Jericho [on His way to Jerusalem], it happened that a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.  
Lk1836 Now when he heard a crowd going by, he began to ask what this was [about].  
Lk1837 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”  
Lk1838 So he shouted out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!”  
Lk1839 Those who were leading the way were sternly telling him to keep quiet; but he screamed all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  
Lk1840 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that the blind man be led to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,  
Lk1841 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me regain my sight!”  
Lk1842 Jesus said to him, “Regain your sight; your [personal trust and confident] faith [in Me] has made you well.”  
Lk1843 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying and praising and honoring God. And all the people, when they saw it, praised God.  
Lk1901 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  
Lk1902 And there was a man called Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector [a superintendent to whom others reported], and he was rich.  
Lk1903 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  
Lk1904 So he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.  
Lk1905 When Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  
Lk1906 So Zaccheus hurried and came down, and welcomed Jesus with joy.  
Lk1907 When the people saw it, they all began muttering [in discontent], “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a [notorious] sinner.”  
Lk1908 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “See, Lord, I am [now] giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will give back four times as much.”  
Lk1909 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he, too, is a [spiritual] son of Abraham;  
Lk1910 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  
Lk1911 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they assumed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately [as soon as He reached the city].  
Lk1912 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and [then] to return.  
Lk1913 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas [one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days’ wages] and said to them, ‘Do business [with this] until I return.’  
Lk1914 But his citizens [the residents of his new kingdom] hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be a king over us.’  
Lk1915 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done.  
Lk1916 The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’  
Lk1917 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall [now] have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom].’  
Lk1918 The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’  
Lk1919 And he said to him also, ‘And you shall take charge over five cities.’  
Lk1920 Then another came and said, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept laid up in a handkerchief [for safekeeping].  
Lk1921 I was [always] afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.’  
Lk1922 He said to the servant, ‘I will judge and condemn you by your own words, you worthless servant! Did you [really] know that I was a stern man, picking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?  
Lk1923 Then why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’  
Lk1924 Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’  
Lk1925 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas already!’  
Lk1926 [Jesus explained,] ‘I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.’  
Lk1927 [The king ended by saying,] ‘But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence.’”  
Lk1928 After saying these things, Jesus went on ahead [of them], going up to Jerusalem.  
Lk1929 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,  
Lk1930 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a [donkey’s] colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.  
Lk1931 If anybody asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”  
Lk1932 So those who were sent left and found the colt just as He had told them.  
Lk1933 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”  
Lk1934 They said, “The Lord needs it.”  
Lk1935 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their robes over the colt and put Jesus on it.  
Lk1936 As He rode along, people were spreading their coats on the road [as an act of homage before a king].  
Lk1937 As soon as He was approaching [Jerusalem], near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of the disciples [all those who were or claimed to be His followers] began praising God [adoring Him enthusiastically and] joyfully with loud voices for all the miracles and works of power that they had seen,  
Lk1938 shouting, “BLESSED (celebrated, praised) IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! Peace in heaven and glory (majesty, splendor) in the highest [heaven]!”  
Lk1939 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].”  
Lk1940 Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!”  
Lk1941 As He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it [and the spiritual ignorance of its people],  
Lk1942 saying, “If [only] you had known on this day [of salvation], even you, the things which make for peace [and on which peace depends]! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.  
Lk1943 For a time [of siege] is coming when your enemies will put up a barricade [with pointed stakes] against you, and surround you [with armies] and hem you in on every side,  
Lk1944 and they will level you to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you. They will not leave in you one stone on another, all because you did not [come progressively to] recognize [from observation and personal experience] the time of your visitation [when God was gracious toward you and offered you salvation].”  
Lk1945 Jesus went into the temple [enclosure] and began driving out those who were selling,  
Lk1946 saying to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”  
Lk1947 He was teaching day after day in the temple [porches and courts]; but the chief priests and scribes and the leading men among the people were seeking [a way] to put Him to death,  
Lk1948 and they could not find anything that they could do, for all the people [stayed close to Him and] were hanging on to every word He said.  
Lk2001 On one of the days, as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple [area] and preaching the good news (gospel), the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders confronted Him,  
Lk2002 and said to Him, “Tell us by what kind of authority You are doing these things? Or who is the one who gave You this authority?”  
Lk2003 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you a question. You tell Me:  
Lk2004 The baptism of John [the Baptist]—was it from heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men?”  
Lk2005 They discussed and debated it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’  
Lk2006 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are firmly convinced that John was a prophet.”  
Lk2007 So they replied that they did not know from where it came.  
Lk2008 Then Jesus said to them, “Nor am I telling you by what [kind of] authority I do these things.”  
Lk2009 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time [to another country].  
Lk2010 At harvest time he sent a servant [as his representative] to the tenants, so that they would give him his share of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.  
Lk2011 So he again sent another servant; they also beat him and dishonored and treated him disgracefully and sent him away empty-handed.  
Lk2012 And he sent yet a third; and this one too they wounded and threw out [of the vineyard].  
Lk2013 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will have respect for him.’  
Lk2014 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves, saying, ‘This [man] is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’  
Lk2015 So they threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  
Lk2016 He will come and put these tenants to death and will give the vineyard to others.” When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders heard this, they said, “May it never be!”  
Lk2017 But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is [the meaning of] this that is written: ‘THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE’?  
Lk2018 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken and shattered in pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”  
Lk2019 The scribes and the chief priests tried to [find a way to] arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people; because they understood that He spoke this parable against them.  
Lk2020 So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.  
Lk2021 They asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality to anyone, but teach the way of God truthfully.  
Lk2022 Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] for us to pay taxes (tribute money) to Caesar or not?”  
Lk2023 But He saw through their trickery and said to them,  
Lk2024 “Show Me a [Roman] denarius. Whose image and inscription does the coin have?” They answered, “[the Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s.”  
Lk2025 He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  
Lk2026 They were not able to seize on anything He said in the presence of the people; and being unnerved at His reply, they were silent.  
Lk2027 Now some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him  
Lk2028 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law that] IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, leaving a wife AND NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.  
Lk2029 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless.  
Lk2030 And the second,  
Lk2031 and the third married her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.  
Lk2032 Finally the woman also died.  
Lk2033 So in the [life after] resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had married her.”  
Lk2034 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this [world and present] age marry and [the women] are given in marriage;  
Lk2035 but those who are considered worthy to gain that [other world and that future] age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;  
Lk2036 and they cannot die again, because they are [immortal] like the angels (equal to, angel-like). And they are children of God, being participants in the resurrection.  
Lk2037 But [as for the fact] that the dead are raised [from death], even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, when he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB.  
Lk2038 Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living [so these forefathers will be among the resurrected]; for all live [in a definite relationship] to Him.”  
Lk2039 Some of the scribes replied, “Teacher, you have spoken well [so that there is no room for blame].”  
Lk2040 And they did not dare to question Him further about anything [because of the wisdom He displayed in His answers].  
Lk2041 Then He said to them, “How is it that people say that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is David’s son?  
Lk2042 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘THE LORD (the Father) SAID TO MY LORD (the Son, the Messiah), “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,  
Lk2043 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’  
Lk2044 So David calls Him (the Son) ‘Lord,’ and how then is He David’s son?”  
Lk2045 And with all the people listening, He said to His disciples,  
Lk2046 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and love respectful greetings in the [crowded] market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.  
Lk2047 These [men] who confiscate and devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense [to appear devout] offer long prayers. These [men] will receive the greater [sentence of] condemnation.”  
Lk2101 Looking up, He saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.  
Lk2102 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.  
Lk2103 He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in [proportionally] more than all of them;  
Lk2104 for they all put in gifts from their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  
Lk2105 As some were talking about the temple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and consecrated offerings [of magnificent gifts of gold which were displayed on the walls and hung in the porticoes], He said,  
Lk2106 “As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not be torn down.”  
Lk2107 They asked Him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”  
Lk2108 He said, “Be careful and see to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name [appropriating for themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me alone], saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.  
Lk2109 When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings], do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately.”  
Lk2110 Then Jesus told them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.  
Lk2111 There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devastating] pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.  
Lk2112 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.  
Lk2113 This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me].  
Lk2114 So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;  
Lk2115 for I will give you [skillful] words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.  
Lk2116 But you will be betrayed and handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,  
Lk2117 and you will be continually hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name.  
Lk2118 But not a hair of your head will perish.  
Lk2119 By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.  
Lk2120 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by [hostile] armies, then understand [with confident assurance] that her complete destruction is near.  
Lk2121 At that time, those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city (Jerusalem) must get out, and those who are [out] in the country must not enter the city;  
Lk2122 for these are days of vengeance [of rendering full justice or satisfaction], so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.  
Lk2123 Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great trouble and anguish will be on the land, and wrath and retribution on this people [Israel].  
Lk2124 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).  
Lk2125 “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves,  
Lk2126 people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken.  
Lk2127 Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory.  
Lk2128 Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”  
Lk2129 Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;  
Lk2130 as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near.  
Lk2131 So you too, when you see these things happening, know [without any doubt] that the kingdom of God is near.  
Lk2132 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming] will not pass away until everything takes place.  
Lk2133 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  
Lk2134 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day [when the Messiah returns] will not come on you suddenly like a trap;  
Lk2135 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.  
Lk2136 But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”  
Lk2137 Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.  
Lk2138 And early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.  
Lk2201 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.  
Lk2202 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].  
Lk2203 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples].  
Lk2204 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them.  
Lk2205 They were delighted and agreed with him to give him money.  
Lk2206 So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].  
Lk2207 Then came the preparation day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  
Lk2208 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat it.”  
Lk2209 They asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”  
Lk2210 He replied, “When you have entered the city, a man carrying an earthen jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.  
Lk2211 And say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’  
Lk2212 Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished [with carpets and dining couches]; prepare the meal there.”  
Lk2213 They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.  
Lk2214 When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.  
Lk2215 He said to them, “I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;  
Lk2216 for I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  
Lk2217 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;  
Lk2218 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”  
Lk2219 And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  
Lk2220 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant [ratified] in My blood.  
Lk2221 But listen, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.  
Lk2222 For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom He is betrayed and handed over!”  
Lk2223 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.  
Lk2224 Now a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was regarded to be the greatest.  
Lk2225 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’  
Lk2226 But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant.  
Lk2227 For who is the greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.  
Lk2228 “You are those who have remained and have stood by Me in My trials;  
Lk2229 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you [the privilege]  
Lk2230 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  
Lk2231 “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;  
Lk2232 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].”  
Lk2233 And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”  
Lk2234 Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me.”  
Lk2235 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without a money belt and [provision] bag and [extra] sandals, did you lack anything?” They answered, “Nothing.”  
Lk2236 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money belt is to take it along, and also his [provision] bag, and he who has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.  
Lk2237 For I tell you that this [Scripture] which is written must be completed and fulfilled in Me: ‘AND HE WAS COUNTED WITH THE CRIMINALS’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment [and is settled].”  
Lk2238 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”  
Lk2239 And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him.  
Lk2240 When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them, “Pray continually that you may not fall into temptation.”  
Lk2241 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,  
Lk2242 saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.”  
Lk2243 Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  
Lk2244 And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.  
Lk2245 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,  
Lk2246 and He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation.”  
Lk2247 While He was still speaking, a crowd came, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve [disciples], was leading the way for them. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.  
Lk2248 And Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  
Lk2249 When those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”  
Lk2250 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  
Lk2251 But Jesus replied, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched the ear and healed him.  
Lk2252 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders [of the Sanhedrin] who had come out against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?  
Lk2253 Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power and authority of darkness are yours.”  
Lk2254 Then they seized Him, and led Him away and brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish] high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance.  
Lk2255 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.  
Lk2256 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.”  
Lk2257 But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!”  
Lk2258 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”  
Lk2259 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.”  
Lk2260 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.  
Lk2261 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”  
Lk2262 And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].  
Lk2263 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking and ridiculing Him [and treating Him with contempt] and beating Him.  
Lk2264 They blindfolded Him and asked, “Prophesy, who is it that struck You?”  
Lk2265 And they were saying many other [evil and slanderous] things against Him, blaspheming [speaking sacrilegiously and abusively about] Him.  
Lk2266 When day came, the Council of the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) assembled, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Jesus away to the council chamber, saying,  
Lk2267 “If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe [what I say],  
Lk2268 and if I ask a question, you will not answer.  
Lk2269 But from now on, THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD.”  
Lk2270 And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” He replied, “It is just as you say.”  
Lk2271 Then they asked, “What further need of testimony do we have? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.”  
Lk2301 Then the whole assembly got up and brought Him before Pilate.  
Lk2302 They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleading and perverting our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), a King.”  
Lk2303 So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is just as you say.”  
Lk2304 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.”  
Lk2305 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people [to rebel], teaching throughout Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as here [in Jerusalem].”  
Lk2306 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.  
Lk2307 And when he learned that He belonged to the jurisdiction of Herod [Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee], he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.  
Lk2308 When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time because of what he had heard about Him, and was hoping to see some [miraculous] sign [even something spectacular] done by Him.  
Lk2309 And he questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no reply.  
Lk2310 The chief priests and the scribes were standing there, continually accusing Him heatedly.  
Lk2311 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking and ridiculing Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.  
Lk2312 Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other—before this they had been enemies.  
Lk2313 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people,  
Lk2314 and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corrupts and incites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him.  
Lk2315 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and indeed, He has done nothing to deserve death.  
Lk2316 Therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.”  
Lk2317 [Now he was obligated to release to them one prisoner at the Feast.]  
Lk2318 But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!”  
Lk2319 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city, and for murder.)  
Lk2320 Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus,  
Lk2321 but they kept shouting out, “Crucify, crucify Him!”  
Lk2322 A third time he said to them, “Why, what wrong has He done? I have found no guilt [no crime, no offense] in Him demanding death; therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.”  
Lk2323 But they were insistent and unrelenting, demanding with loud voices that Jesus be crucified. And their voices began to prevail and accomplish their purpose.  
Lk2324 Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.  
Lk2325 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed over Jesus to their will.  
Lk2326 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in [to the city] from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.  
Lk2327 Following Him was a large crowd of the people, including women who were mourning and wailing for Him.  
Lk2328 But Jesus, turning toward them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  
Lk2329 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have never nursed.’  
Lk2330 Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US!’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US!’  
Lk2331 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”  
Lk2332 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be executed with Him.  
Lk2333 When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.  
Lk2334 And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.  
Lk2335 Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.”  
Lk2336 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine,  
Lk2337 and sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!”  
Lk2338 Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  
Lk2339 One of the criminals who had been hanged [on a cross beside Him] kept hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us [from death]!”  
Lk2340 But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  
Lk2341 We are suffering justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  
Lk2342 And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”  
Lk2343 Jesus said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  
Lk2344 It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),  
Lk2345 because the sun was obscured; and the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two [from top to bottom].  
Lk2346 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT!” Having said this, He breathed His last.  
Lk2347 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”  
Lk2348 All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, began to return [to their homes], beating their breasts [as a sign of mourning or repentance].  
Lk2349 And all His acquaintances and the women who had accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.  
Lk2350 A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man  
Lk2351 (he had not consented to the Council’s plan and action) a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for and expecting the kingdom of God;  
Lk2352 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  
Lk2353 And [after receiving permission] he took it down and wrapped it in a linen [burial] cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.  
Lk2354 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning.  
Lk2355 Now the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed [closely], and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.  
Lk2356 Then they went back and prepared spices and ointments and sweet-smelling herbs. And on the Sabbath they rested in accordance with the commandment [forbidding work].  
Lk2401 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body].  
Lk2402 And they found the [large, circular] stone rolled back from the tomb,  
Lk2403 but when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  
Lk2404 While they were perplexed and wondering about this, suddenly, two men in dazzling clothing stood near them;  
Lk2405 and as the women were terrified and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?  
Lk2406 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee,  
Lk2407 saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise [from death to life].”  
Lk2408 And they remembered His words,  
Lk2409 and after returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven [apostles] and to all the rest.  
Lk2410 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna [the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward] and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.  
Lk2411 But their report seemed to them like idle talk and nonsense, and they would not believe them.  
Lk2412 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping [at the small entrance] and looking in, he saw only the linen wrappings; and he went away, wondering about what had happened.  
Lk2413 And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.  
Lk2414 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.  
Lk2415 While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them.  
Lk2416 But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him.  
Lk2417 Then Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking brokenhearted.  
Lk2418 One of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only stranger visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these [recent] days?”  
Lk2419 He asked, “What things?” And they replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,  
Lk2420 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.  
Lk2421 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel and set our nation free. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.  
Lk2422 And also some of the women among us shocked us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,  
Lk2423 and they did not find His body. Then they came back, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive!  
Lk2424 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women had said, but they did not see Him.”  
Lk2425 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to trust and believe in everything that the prophets have spoken!  
Lk2426 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and [only then to] enter His glory?”  
Lk2427 Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explained and interpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the Scriptures.  
Lk2428 Then they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as if He were going farther.  
Lk2429 But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them.  
Lk2430 And it happened that as He reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.  
Lk2431 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.  
Lk2432 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?”  
Lk2433 They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven [apostles] gathered together and those who were with them,  
Lk2434 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon [Peter]!”  
Lk2435 They began describing in detail what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.  
Lk2436 While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them, “Peace be to you.”  
Lk2437 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a spirit.  
Lk2438 And He said, “Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts?  
Lk2439 Look at [the marks in] My hands and My feet, [and see] that it is I Myself. Touch Me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”  
Lk2440 After saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  
Lk2441 While they still did not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  
Lk2442 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,  
Lk2443 and He took it and ate it in front of them.  
Lk2444 Then He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything which has been written about Me in the Law of Moses and the [writings of the] Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  
Lk2445 Then He opened their minds to [help them] understand the Scriptures,  
Lk2446 and said, “And so it is written, that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,  
Lk2447 and that repentance [necessary] for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  
Lk2448 You are witnesses of these things.  
Lk2449 Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”  
Lk2450 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them.  
Lk2451 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven.  
Lk2452 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy [fully understanding that He lives and that He is the Son of God];  
Lk2453 and they were continually in the temple blessing and praising God.  
Jn0101 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.  
Jn0102 He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God.  
Jn0103 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.  
Jn0104 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.  
Jn0105 The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].  
Jn0106 There came a man commissioned and sent from God, whose name was John.  
Jn0107 This man came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe [in Christ, the Light] through him.  
Jn0108 John was not the Light, but came to testify about the Light.  
Jn0109 There it was—the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.  
Jn0110 He (Christ) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.  
Jn0111 He came to that which was His own [that which belonged to Him—His world, His creation, His possession], and those who were His own [people—the Jewish nation] did not receive and welcome Him.  
Jn0112 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—  
Jn0113 who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].  
Jn0114 And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).  
Jn0115 John testified [repeatedly] about Him and has cried out [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’”  
Jn0116 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].  
Jn0117 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.  
Jn0118 No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father].  
Jn0119 This is the testimony of John [the Baptist] when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”  
Jn0120 And he confessed [truthfully] and did not deny [that he was only a man], but acknowledged, “I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!”  
Jn0121 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the [promised] Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”  
Jn0122 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”  
Jn0123 He said, “I am THE VOICE OF ONE SHOUTING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  
Jn0124 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.  
Jn0125 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”  
Jn0126 John answered them, “I baptize [only] in water, but among you there stands One whom you do not recognize and of whom you know nothing.  
Jn0127 It is He [the preeminent One] who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie [even as His slave].”  
Jn0128 These things occurred in Bethany across the Jordan [at the Jordan River crossing], where John was baptizing.  
Jn0129 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  
Jn0130 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and has priority over me, for He existed before me.’  
Jn0131 I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah]; but I came baptizing in water so that He would be [publicly] revealed to Israel.”  
Jn0132 John gave [further] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.  
Jn0133 I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah], but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  
Jn0134 I myself have [actually] seen [that happen], and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!”  
Jn0135 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,  
Jn0136 and he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”  
Jn0137 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.  
Jn0138 And Jesus turned and saw them following Him, and asked them, “What do you want?” They answered Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”  
Jn0139 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went [with Him] and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.  
Jn0140 One of the two who heard what John said and [as a result] followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  
Jn0141 He first looked for and found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means the Christ).  
Jn0142 Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas (which is translated Peter).”  
Jn0143 The next day Jesus decided to go into Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher, and walking the same path of life that I walk].”  
Jn0144 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  
Jn0145 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote about—Jesus from Nazareth, the son of Joseph [according to public record].”  
Jn0146 Nathanael answered him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”  
Jn0147 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor duplicity!”  
Jn0148 Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do You know [these things about] me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you.”  
Jn0149 Nathanael answered, “Rabbi (Teacher), You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  
Jn0150 Jesus replied, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe [in Me]? You will see greater things than this.”  
Jn0151 Then He said to him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man [the bridge between heaven and earth].”  
Jn0201 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;  
Jn0202 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.  
Jn0203 When the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no more wine.”  
Jn0204 Jesus said to her, “[Dear] woman, what is that to you and to Me? My time [to act and to be revealed] has not yet come.”  
Jn0205 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  
Jn0206 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification (ceremonial washing), containing twenty or thirty gallons each.  
Jn0207 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.  
Jn0208 Then He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter [of the banquet].” So they took it to him.  
Jn0209 And when the headwaiter tasted the water which had turned into wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew) he called the bridegroom,  
Jn0210 and said to him, “Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now.”  
Jn0211 This, the first of His signs (attesting miracles), Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory [displaying His deity and His great power openly], and His disciples believed [confidently] in Him [as the Messiah—they adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Him].  
Jn0212 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.  
Jn0213 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  
Jn0214 And in the temple [enclosure] He found the people who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables.  
Jn0215 He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;  
Jn0216 then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!”  
Jn0217 His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Scriptures], “ZEAL (love, concern) FOR YOUR HOUSE [and its honor] WILL CONSUME ME.”  
Jn0218 Then the Jews retorted, “What sign (attesting miracle) can You show us as [proof of] your authority for doing these things?”  
Jn0219 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  
Jn0220 Then the Jews replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?”  
Jn0221 But He was speaking of the temple which was His body.  
Jn0222 So when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said. And they believed and trusted in and relied on the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.  
Jn0223 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in His name [identifying themselves with Him] after seeing His signs (attesting miracles) which He was doing.  
Jn0224 But Jesus, for His part, did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all people [and understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature],  
Jn0225 and He did not need anyone to testify concerning man [and human nature], for He Himself knew what was in man [in their hearts—in the very core of their being].  
Jn0301 Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews,  
Jn0302 who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know [without any doubt] that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs [these wonders, these attesting miracles] that You do unless God is with him.”  
Jn0303 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”  
Jn0304 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?”  
Jn0305 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.  
Jn0306 That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  
Jn0307 Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’  
Jn0308 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  
Jn0309 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be possible?”  
Jn0310 Jesus replied, “You are the [great and well-known] teacher of Israel, and yet you do not know nor understand these things [from Scripture]?  
Jn0311 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, we speak only of what we [absolutely] know and testify about what we have [actually] seen [as eyewitnesses]; and [still] you [reject our evidence and] do not accept our testimony.  
Jn0312 If I told you earthly things [that is, things that happen right here on earth] and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if I tell you heavenly things?  
Jn0313 No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven].  
Jn0314 Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],  
Jn0315 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever].  
Jn0316 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.  
Jn0317 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.  
Jn0318 Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].  
Jn0319 This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  
Jn0320 For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned.  
Jn0321 But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].”  
Jn0322 After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and there He spent time with them and baptized.  
Jn0323 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—  
Jn0324 for John had not yet been thrown into prison.  
Jn0325 Therefore there arose a controversy between John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).  
Jn0326 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan [at the Jordan River crossing]—and to whom you have testified—look, He is baptizing too, and everyone is going to Him!”  
Jn0327 John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].  
Jn0328 You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’  
Jn0329 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete.  
Jn0330 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.  
Jn0331 “He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all.  
Jn0332 What He has [actually] seen and heard, of that He testifies; and yet no one accepts His testimony [as true].  
Jn0333 Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal [of approval] to this: God is true [and he knows that God cannot lie].  
Jn0334 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]!  
Jn0335 The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand.  
Jn0336 He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”  
Jn0401 So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John  
Jn0402 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),  
Jn0403 He left Judea and returned again to Galilee.  
Jn0404 Now He had to go through Samaria.  
Jn0405 So He arrived at a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the tract of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;  
Jn0406 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (noon).  
Jn0407 Then a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink”—  
Jn0408 For His disciples had gone off into the city to buy food—  
Jn0409 The Samaritan woman asked Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.)  
Jn0410 Jesus answered her, “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).”  
Jn0411 She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with [no bucket and rope] and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?  
Jn0412 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and who used to drink from it himself, and his sons and his cattle also?”  
Jn0413 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.  
Jn0414 But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.”  
Jn0415 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not get thirsty nor [have to continually] come all the way here to draw.”  
Jn0416 At this, Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and come back.”  
Jn0417 The woman answered, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I do not have a husband’;  
Jn0418 for you have had five husbands, and the man you are now living with is not your husband. You have said this truthfully.”  
Jn0419 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I see that You are a prophet.  
Jn0420 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one ought to worship is in Jerusalem [at the temple].”  
Jn0421 Jesus replied, “Woman, believe Me, a time is coming [when God’s kingdom comes] when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  
Jn0422 You [Samaritans] do not know what you worship; we [Jews] do know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews.  
Jn0423 But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers.  
Jn0424 God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  
Jn0425 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ—the Anointed); when that One comes, He will tell us everything [we need to know].”  
Jn0426 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you, am He (the Messiah).”  
Jn0427 Just then His disciples came, and they were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. However, no one said, “What are You asking about?” or, “Why are You talking to her?”  
Jn0428 Then the woman left her water jar, and went into the city and began telling the people,  
Jn0429 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done! Can this be the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)?”  
Jn0430 So the people left the city and were coming to Him.  
Jn0431 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus [to have a meal], saying, “Rabbi (Teacher), eat.”  
Jn0432 But He told them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  
Jn0433 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him something to eat?”  
Jn0434 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work.  
Jn0435 Do you not say, ‘It is still four months until the harvest comes?’ Look, I say to you, raise your eyes and look at the fields and see, they are white for harvest.  
Jn0436 Already the reaper is receiving his wages and he is gathering fruit for eternal life; so that he who plants and he who reaps may rejoice together.  
Jn0437 For in this case the saying is true, ‘One [person] sows and another reaps.’  
Jn0438 I sent you to reap [a crop] for which you have not worked. Others have worked and you have been privileged to reap the results of their work.”  
Jn0439 Now many Samaritans from that city believed in Him and trusted Him [as Savior] because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”  
Jn0440 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked Him to remain with them; and He stayed there two days.  
Jn0441 Many more believed in Him [with a deep, abiding trust] because of His word [His personal message to them];  
Jn0442 and they told the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for [now] we have heard Him for ourselves and know [with confident assurance] that this One is truly the Savior of [all] the world.”  
Jn0443 After the two days He went on from there into Galilee.  
Jn0444 For Jesus Himself declared that a prophet has no honor in his own country.  
Jn0445 So when He arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him, since they had seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they too came to the feast.  
Jn0446 So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son was sick in Capernaum.  
Jn0447 Having heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to meet Him and began asking Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.  
Jn0448 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you [people] see [miraculous] signs and wonders, you [simply] will not believe.”  
Jn0449 The royal official pleaded with Him, “Sir, do come down [at once] before my child dies!”  
Jn0450 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives!” The man believed what Jesus said to him and started home.  
Jn0451 As he was already going down [the road], his servants met him and reported that his son was living [and was healthy].  
Jn0452 So he asked them at what time he began to get better. They said, “Yesterday during the seventh hour (1 p.m.) the fever left him.”  
Jn0453 Then the father realized that it was at that very hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son lives”; and he and his entire household believed and confidently trusted [in Him as Savior].  
Jn0454 This is the second sign (attesting miracle) that Jesus performed [in Cana] after He had come from Judea to Galilee [revealing that He is the Messiah].  
Jn0501 Later on there was a Jewish feast (festival), and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  
Jn0502 Now in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew (Jewish Aramaic) Bethesda, having five porticoes (alcoves, colonnades).  
Jn0503 In these porticoes lay a great number of people who were sick, blind, lame, withered, [waiting for the stirring of the water;  
Jn0504 for an angel of the Lord went down into the pool at appointed seasons and stirred up the water; the first one to go in after the water was stirred was healed of his disease.]  
Jn0505 There was a certain man there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  
Jn0506 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?”  
Jn0507 The invalid answered, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am coming [to get into it myself], someone else steps down ahead of me.”  
Jn0508 Jesus said to him, “Get up; pick up your pallet and walk.”  
Jn0509 Immediately the man was healed and recovered his strength, and picked up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.  
Jn0510 So the Jews kept saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to pick up your pallet [because it is unlawful].”  
Jn0511 He answered them, “The Man who healed me and gave me back my strength was the One who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’”  
Jn0512 They asked him, “Who is the Man who told you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?”  
Jn0513 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away [unnoticed] since there was a crowd in that place.  
Jn0514 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”  
Jn0515 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.  
Jn0516 For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.  
Jn0517 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.”  
Jn0518 This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.  
Jn0519 So Jesus answered them by saying, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does in the same way.  
Jn0520 For the Father dearly loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be filled with wonder.  
Jn0521 Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life [and allows them to live on], even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  
Jn0522 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment [that is, the prerogative of judging] to the Son [placing it entirely into His hands],  
Jn0523 so that all will give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who has sent Him.  
Jn0524 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.  
Jn0525 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a time is coming and is [here] now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live.  
Jn0526 For just as the Father has life in Himself [and is self-existent], even so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself [and be self-existent].  
Jn0527 And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is a Son of Man [sinless humanity, qualifying Him to sit in judgment over mankind].  
Jn0528 Do not be surprised at this; for a time is coming when all those who are in the tombs will hear His voice,  
Jn0529 and they will come out—those who did good things [will come out] to a resurrection of [new] life, but those who did evil things [will come out] to a resurrection of judgment [that is, to be sentenced].  
Jn0530 “I can do nothing on my own initiative or authority. Just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just (fair, righteous, unbiased), because I do not seek My own will, but only the will of Him who sent Me.  
Jn0531 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.  
Jn0532 There is another [My Father] who testifies about Me, and I know [without any doubt] that His testimony on My behalf is true and valid.  
Jn0533 You have sent [an inquiry] to John [the Baptist] and he has testified [as an eyewitness] to the truth.  
Jn0534 But the testimony I receive is not from man [a merely human witness]; but I say these things so that you may be saved [that is, have eternal life].  
Jn0535 John was the lamp that kept on burning and shining [to show you the way], and you were willing for a while to rejoice in his light.  
Jn0536 But the testimony which I have is far greater than the testimony of John; for the works that the Father has given Me to finish—the very same works [that is, the miracles and proofs of My deity] that I am [now] doing—testify about Me, [by providing evidence] that the Father has sent Me.  
Jn0537 And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form [His majesty and greatness—what He is like].  
Jn0538 You do not have His word (Scripture) abiding in you [actually living in your hearts and minds], because you do not believe in Him whom He has sent.  
Jn0539 You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me;  
Jn0540 and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.  
Jn0541 I do not receive glory and approval from men;  
Jn0542 but I know you and recognize that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.  
Jn0543 I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own, you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter.  
Jn0544 How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God?  
Jn0545 Do not think that I [am the One who] will accuse you before the Father. There [already] is one who accuses you: Moses, [the very one] in whom you have placed your hope [for salvation].  
Jn0546 For if you believed and relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally].  
Jn0547 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”  
Jn0601 After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberias).  
Jn0602 A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick.  
Jn0603 And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples.  
Jn0604 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was approaching.  
Jn0605 Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?”  
Jn0606 But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do.  
Jn0607 Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii (200 days’ wages) worth of bread is not enough for each one to receive even a little.”  
Jn0608 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,  
Jn0609 “There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”  
Jn0610 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down [to eat].” Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about 5,000 in number.  
Jn0611 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted.  
Jn0612 When they had eaten enough, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.”  
Jn0613 So they gathered them up, and they filled twelve large baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  
Jn0614 When the people saw the sign (attesting miracle) that He had done, they began saying, “This is without a doubt the promised Prophet who is to come into the world!”  
Jn0615 Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.  
Jn0616 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,  
Jn0617 and they got into a boat and started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had still not come [back] to them.  
Jn0618 The sea was getting rough and rising high because a strong wind was blowing.  
Jn0619 Then, when they had rowed three or four miles [and were near the center of the sea], they saw Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat; and they were [terribly] frightened.  
Jn0620 But Jesus said to them, “It is I (I AM); do not be afraid.”  
Jn0621 Then they were willing to take Him on board the boat, and immediately the boat reached the [shore of the] land to which they were going.  
Jn0622 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea realized that there had been only one small boat there, and that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone away alone.  
Jn0623 [Now some] other small boats from Tiberias had come in near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  
Jn0624 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they boarded the small boats themselves and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  
Jn0625 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”  
Jn0626 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  
Jn0627 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.”  
Jn0628 Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?”  
Jn0629 Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”  
Jn0630 So they said to Him, “What sign (attesting miracle) will You do that we may see it and believe You? What [supernatural] work will You do [as proof]?  
Jn0631 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written [in Scripture], ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’”  
Jn0632 Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  
Jn0633 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  
Jn0634 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”  
Jn0635 Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].  
Jn0636 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.  
Jn0637 All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me].  
Jn0638 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.  
Jn0639 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day.  
Jn0640 For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”  
Jn0641 Now the Jews murmured and found fault with Him because He said, “I am the Bread that came down out of heaven.”  
Jn0642 They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”  
Jn0643 So Jesus answered, “Stop murmuring among yourselves.  
Jn0644 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.  
Jn0645 It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY WILL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me.  
Jn0646 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [who was with the Father and] who is from God; He [alone] has seen the Father.  
Jn0647 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it].  
Jn0648 I am the Bread of Life [the Living Bread which gives and sustains life].  
Jn0649 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  
Jn0650 This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  
Jn0651 I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”  
Jn0652 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”  
Jn0653 And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you believe in Me as Savior and believe in the saving power of My blood which will be shed for you], you do not have life in yourselves.  
Jn0654 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it], and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.  
Jn0655 For My flesh is true [spiritual] food, and My blood is true [spiritual] drink.  
Jn0656 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] remains in Me, and I [in the same way remain] in him.  
Jn0657 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, even so the one who feeds on Me [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will also live because of Me.  
Jn0658 This is the Bread which came down out of heaven. It is not like [the manna that] our fathers ate and they [eventually] died; the one who eats this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will live forever.”  
Jn0659 He said these things in a synagogue while He was teaching in Capernaum.  
Jn0660 When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?”  
Jn0661 But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense?  
Jn0662 What then [will you think] if you see the Son of Man ascending to [the realm] where He was before?  
Jn0663 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life].  
Jn0664 But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him.  
Jn0665 And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.”  
Jn0666 As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him.  
Jn0667 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?”  
Jn0668 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].  
Jn0669 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”  
Jn0670 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve [disciples]? And yet one of you is a devil (ally of Satan).”  
Jn0671 Now He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve [disciples], was about to betray Him.  
Jn0701 After this, Jesus walked [from place to place] in Galilee, for He would not walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.  
Jn0702 Now the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) was approaching.  
Jn0703 So His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples [there] may also see the works that You do.  
Jn0704 No one does anything in secret when he wants to be known publicly. If You [must] do these things, show Yourself openly to the world and make Yourself known!”  
Jn0705 For not even His brothers believed in Him.  
Jn0706 So Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come; but any time is right for you.  
Jn0707 The world cannot hate you [since you are part of it], but it does hate Me because I denounce it and testify that its deeds are evil.  
Jn0708 Go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.”  
Jn0709 Having said these things to them, He stayed behind in Galilee.  
Jn0710 But [afterward], when His brothers had gone up to the feast, He went up too, not publicly [with a caravan], but quietly [because He did not want to be noticed].  
Jn0711 So the Jews kept looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?”  
Jn0712 There was a lot of whispered discussion and murmuring among the crowds about Him. Some were saying, “He is a good man”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He misleads the people [giving them false ideas].”  
Jn0713 Yet no one was speaking out openly and freely about Him for fear of [the leaders of] the Jews.  
Jn0714 When the feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple [court] and began to teach.  
Jn0715 Then the Jews were perplexed. They said, “How did this man become learned [so versed in the Scriptures and theology] without formal training?”  
Jn0716 Jesus answered them by saying, “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me.  
Jn0717 If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority.  
Jn0718 He who speaks on his own accord seeks glory and honor for himself. But He who seeks the glory and the honor of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness or deception in Him.  
Jn0719 “Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not one of you keeps the Law. Why do you want to kill Me [for not keeping it]?”  
Jn0720 The crowd answered, “You have a demon [You are out of Your mind]! Who wants to kill You?”  
Jn0721 Jesus replied, “I did one work, and you are all astounded.  
Jn0722 For this reason Moses has given you [God’s law regarding] circumcision (not that it originated with Moses, but with the patriarchs) and you circumcise a man [even] on the Sabbath.  
Jn0723 If, to avoid breaking the Law of Moses, a man undergoes circumcision on the Sabbath, why are you angry with Me for making a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath?  
Jn0724 Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.”  
Jn0725 Then some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this not the Man they want to kill?  
Jn0726 Look, He is speaking publicly, and they say nothing to Him! Is it possible that the rulers really know that this is the Christ?  
Jn0727 But we know where this Man is from; whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.”  
Jn0728 Then Jesus called out as He taught in the temple, “You know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come on my own initiative [as self-appointed], but He who sent Me is true, and Him you do not know.  
Jn0729 I know Him Myself because I am from Him [I came from His very presence] and it was He [personally] who sent Me.”  
Jn0730 So they were eager to arrest Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His time had not yet come.  
Jn0731 But many from the crowd believed in Him. And they kept saying, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs and exhibit more proofs than this Man?”  
Jn0732 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things [under their breath] about Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him.  
Jn0733 Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am [still] with you, and then I go to Him who sent Me.  
Jn0734 You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”  
Jn0735 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does this Man intend to go that we will not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion [of Jews scattered and living] among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?  
Jn0736 What does this statement of His mean, ‘You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”  
Jn0737 Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink!  
Jn0738 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’”  
Jn0739 But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).  
Jn0740 Listening to these words, some of the people said, “This is certainly the Prophet!”  
Jn0741 Others said, “This is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)!” But others said, “Surely the Christ is not going to come out of Galilee, is He?  
Jn0742 Does the Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”  
Jn0743 So the crowd was divided because of Him.  
Jn0744 Some of them wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him.  
Jn0745 Then the guards went [back] to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring Him [here with you]?”  
Jn0746 The guards replied, “Never [at any time] has a man talked the way this Man talks!”  
Jn0747 Then the Pharisees said to them, “Have you also been deluded and swept off your feet?  
Jn0748 Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?  
Jn0749 But this [ignorant, contemptible] crowd that does not know the Law is accursed and doomed!”  
Jn0750 Nicodemus (the one who came to Jesus before and was one of them) asked,  
Jn0751 “Does our Law convict someone without first giving him a hearing and finding out what he is [accused of] doing?”  
Jn0752 They responded, “Are you also from Galilee? Search [and read the Scriptures], and see [for yourself] that no prophet comes from Galilee!”  
Jn0753 [And everyone went to his own house.  
Jn0801 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  
Jn0802 Early in the morning He came back into the temple [court], and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began teaching them.  
Jn0803 Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court,  
Jn0804 and they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery.  
Jn0805 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women [to death]. So what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]?”  
Jn0806 They said this to test Him, hoping that they would have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and began writing on the ground with His finger.  
Jn0807 However, when they persisted in questioning Him, He straightened up and said, “He who is without [any] sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  
Jn0808 Then He stooped down again and started writing on the ground.  
Jn0809 They listened [to His reply], and they began to go out one by one, starting with the oldest ones, until He was left alone, with the woman [standing there before Him] in the center of the court.  
Jn0810 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”  
Jn0811 She answered, “No one, Lord!” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]  
Jn0812 Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  
Jn0813 Then the Pharisees told Him, “You are testifying on Your own behalf; Your testimony is not valid.”  
Jn0814 Jesus replied, “Even if I do testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.  
Jn0815 You judge according to human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone.  
Jn0816 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true and My decision is right; for I am not alone [in making it], but I and the Father who sent Me [make the same judgment].  
Jn0817 Even in your own law it is written that the testimony of two persons is true [valid and admissible].  
Jn0818 I am One [of the Two] who testifies about Myself, and My Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”  
Jn0819 Then the Pharisees said to Him, “Where is this Father of Yours?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”  
Jn0820 Jesus said these things in the treasury, as He taught in the temple [courtyard]; and no one seized Him, because His time had not yet come.  
Jn0821 Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, and you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”  
Jn0822 So the Jews were asking [among themselves], “Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”  
Jn0823 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.  
Jn0824 That is why I told you that you will die [unforgiven and condemned] in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am the One [I claim to be], you will die in your sins.”  
Jn0825 So they said to Him, “Who are You [anyway]?” Jesus replied, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?  
Jn0826 I have many things to say and judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I say to the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him.”  
Jn0827 They did not realize [or have the spiritual insight to understand] that He was speaking to them about the Father.  
Jn0828 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will know then [without any doubt] that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but I say these things just as My Father taught Me.  
Jn0829 And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”  
Jn0830 As He said these things, many believed in Him.  
Jn0831 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.  
Jn0832 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”  
Jn0833 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone. What do You mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?”  
Jn0834 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, everyone who practices sin habitually is a slave of sin.  
Jn0835 Now the slave does not remain in a household forever; the son [of the master] does remain forever.  
Jn0836 So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.  
Jn0837 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you plan to kill Me, because My word has no place [to grow] in you [and it makes no change in your heart].  
Jn0838 I tell the things that I have seen at My Father’s side [in His very presence]; so you also do the things that you heard from your father.”  
Jn0839 They answered, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are [truly] Abraham’s children, then do the works of Abraham and follow his example.  
Jn0840 But as it is, you want to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. This is not the way Abraham acted.  
Jn0841 You are doing the works of your [own] father.” They said to Him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one [spiritual] Father: God.”  
Jn0842 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father [but He is not], you would love and recognize Me, for I came from God [out of His very presence] and have arrived here. For I have not even come on My own initiative [as self- appointed], but He [is the One who] sent Me.  
Jn0843 Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word.  
Jn0844 You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.  
Jn0845 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me [and continue in your unbelief].  
Jn0846 Which one of you [has proof and] convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?  
Jn0847 Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God’s words; for this reason you do not hear them: because you are not of God and you are not in fellowship with Him.”  
Jn0848 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?”  
Jn0849 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  
Jn0850 However, I am not seeking glory for Myself. There is One who seeks [glory for Me] and judges [those who dishonor Me].  
Jn0851 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.”  
Jn0852 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon [and are under its power]. Abraham died, and also the prophets; yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never, ever taste of death.’  
Jn0853 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too! Whom do You make Yourself out to be?”  
Jn0854 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is [worth] nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’  
Jn0855 Yet you do not know Him, but I know Him fully. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him and keep His word.  
Jn0856 Your father Abraham [greatly] rejoiced to see My day (My incarnation). He saw it and was delighted.”  
Jn0857 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not even fifty years old, and You [claim to] have seen Abraham?”  
Jn0858 Jesus replied, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am.”  
Jn0859 So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus concealed Himself and left the temple.  
Jn0901 While He was passing by, He noticed a man [who had been] blind from birth.  
Jn0902 His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”  
Jn0903 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in him.  
Jn0904 We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  
Jn0905 As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world [giving guidance through My word and works].”  
Jn0906 When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made mud with His saliva, and He spread the mud [like an ointment] on the man’s eyes.  
Jn0907 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.  
Jn0908 So the neighbors, and those who used to know him as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?”  
Jn0909 Some said, “It is he.” Still others said, “No, but he looks like him.” But he kept saying, “I am the man.”  
Jn0910 So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”  
Jn0911 He replied, “The Man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received my sight!”  
Jn0912 They asked him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”  
Jn0913 Then they brought the man who was formerly blind to the Pharisees.  
Jn0914 Now it was on a Sabbath day that Jesus made the mud and opened the man’s eyes.  
Jn0915 So the Pharisees asked him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He smeared mud on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see.”  
Jn0916 Then some of the Pharisees said, “This Man [Jesus] is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner (a non-observant Jew) do such signs and miracles?” So there was a difference of opinion among them.  
Jn0917 Accordingly they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “[It must be that] He is a prophet!”  
Jn0918 However, the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the man’s parents.  
Jn0919 They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?”  
Jn0920 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;  
Jn0921 but as to how he now sees, we do not know; or who has opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him [and stop asking us]; he is of age, he will speak for himself and give his own account of it.”  
Jn0922 His parents said this because they were afraid of [the leaders of] the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated).  
Jn0923 Because of this his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”  
Jn0924 So a second time they called the man who had been [born] blind, and said to him, “Give God glory and praise [for your sight]! We know this Man [Jesus] is a sinner [separated from God].”  
Jn0925 Then he answered, “I do not know whether He is a sinner [separated from God]; but one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  
Jn0926 So they said to him, “What did He [actually] do to you? How did He open your eyes?”  
Jn0927 He answered, “I already told you and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again and again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?”  
Jn0928 And [at that remark] they stormed at him and jeered, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses!  
Jn0929 We know [for certain] that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this Man, we do not know where He is from.”  
Jn0930 The man replied, “Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes!  
Jn0931 We know [according to your tradition] that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone fears God and does His will, He hears him.  
Jn0932 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.  
Jn0933 If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything [like this because God would not hear His prayer].”  
Jn0934 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins [from head to foot], and you [presume to] teach us?” Then they threw him out [of the synagogue].  
Jn0935 Jesus heard that they had put him out [of the synagogue], and finding him, He asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  
Jn0936 He answered, “Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him.”  
Jn0937 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and [in fact] He is the one who is talking with you.”  
Jn0938 And he said, “Lord, I believe [in You and Your word]!” And he worshiped Him [with reverence and awe].  
Jn0939 Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.”  
Jn0940 Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?”  
Jn0941 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.  
Jn1001 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber.  
Jn1002 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider].  
Jn1003 The doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture].  
Jn1004 When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.  
Jn1005 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”  
Jn1006 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.  
Jn1007 So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life].  
Jn1008 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them.  
Jn1009 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).  
Jn1010 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].  
Jn1011 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.  
Jn1012 But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.  
Jn1013 The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep.  
Jn1014 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]—  
Jn1015 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep.  
Jn1016 I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become one flock with one Shepherd.  
Jn1017 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back.  
Jn1018 No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”  
Jn1019 A division [of opinion] occurred again among the Jews because of these words [of His].  
Jn1020 Many of them said, “He has a demon and He is mad [insane—He raves and rambles]. Why listen to Him?”  
Jn1021 Others were saying, “These are not the words and thoughts of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”  
Jn1022 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.  
Jn1023 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple [area] in Solomon’s portico.  
Jn1024 So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.”  
Jn1025 Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me [they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am].  
Jn1026 But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep.  
Jn1027 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.  
Jn1028 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand.  
Jn1029 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  
Jn1030 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”  
Jn1031 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him.  
Jn1032 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”  
Jn1033 The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, make Yourself out to be God.”  
Jn1034 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I SAID, YOU ARE GODS [human judges representing God, not divine beings]’?  
Jn1035 If He called them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undone or annulled or broken),  
Jn1036 [if that is true] then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?  
Jn1037 If I do not do the works of My Father [that is, the miracles that only God could perform], then do not believe Me.  
Jn1038 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, [at least] believe the works [that I do—admit that they are the works of God], so that you may know and keep on knowing [clearly—without any doubt] that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father [that is, I am One with Him].”  
Jn1039 So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp.  
Jn1040 He went back again across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.  
Jn1041 Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was true and accurate.”  
Jn1042 And many there believed and confidently trusted in Him [accepting Him as Savior, and following His teaching].  
Jn1101 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.  
Jn1102 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  
Jn1103 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.”  
Jn1104 When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  
Jn1105 Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends].  
Jn1106 So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days.  
Jn1107 Then He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  
Jn1108 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Jews were only recently going to stone You, and You are [thinking of] going back there again?”  
Jn1109 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours [of light] in the day? Anyone who walks in the daytime does not stumble, because he sees [by] the light of this world.  
Jn1110 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.”  
Jn1111 He said this, and after that said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.”  
Jn1112 The disciples answered, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”  
Jn1113 However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was referring to natural sleep.  
Jn1114 So then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  
Jn1115 And for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”  
Jn1116 Then Thomas, who was called Didymus (the twin), said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, that we may die with Him.”  
Jn1117 So when Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.  
Jn1118 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away;  
Jn1119 and many of the Jews had come to see Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning [the loss of] their brother.  
Jn1120 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him, while Mary remained sitting in the house.  
Jn1121 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  
Jn1122 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give to You.”  
Jn1123 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise [from the dead].”  
Jn1124 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise [from the dead] in the resurrection on the last day.”  
Jn1125 Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies;  
Jn1126 and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?”  
Jn1127 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed and continue to believe that You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God, He who was [destined and promised] to come into the world [and it is for You that the world has waited].”  
Jn1128 After she had said this, she left and called her sister Mary, privately whispering [to her], “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”  
Jn1129 And when she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.  
Jn1130 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.  
Jn1131 So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her, saw how quickly Mary got up and left, they followed her, assuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  
Jn1132 When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  
Jn1133 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled,  
Jn1134 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.”  
Jn1135 Jesus wept.  
Jn1136 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!”  
Jn1137 But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?”  
Jn1138 So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance].  
Jn1139 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! [It is hopeless!]”  
Jn1140 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?”  
Jn1141 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  
Jn1142 I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].”  
Jn1143 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
Jn1144 Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet tightly wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and release him.”  
Jn1145 So then, many of the Jews who had come to [be with] Mary and who were eyewitnesses to what Jesus had done, believed in Him.  
Jn1146 But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  
Jn1147 So the chief priests and Pharisees convened a council [of the leaders in Israel], and said, “What are we doing? For this man performs many signs (attesting miracles).  
Jn1148 If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our [holy] place (the temple) and our nation.”  
Jn1149 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year [the year of Christ’s crucifixion], said to them, “You know nothing at all!  
Jn1150 Nor do you understand that it is expedient and politically advantageous for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”  
Jn1151 Now he did not say this [simply] on his own initiative; but being the high priest that year, he [was unknowingly used by God and] prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,  
Jn1152 and not only for the nation, but also for the purpose of gathering together into one body the children of God who have been scattered abroad.  
Jn1153 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.  
Jn1154 For that reason Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but left there and went to the district that borders on the uninhabited wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and He stayed there with the disciples.  
Jn1155 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, and many from the country went up to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves [ceremonially, so that they would be able to participate in the feast].  
Jn1156 So they were looking for Jesus as they stood in the temple [area], and saying among themselves, “What do you think? Will He not come to the feast at all?”  
Jn1157 Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it so that they might arrest Him.  
Jn1201 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom He had raised from the dead.  
Jn1202 So they gave a supper for Him there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.  
Jn1203 Then Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  
Jn1204 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who was going to betray Him, said,  
Jn1205 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and [the money] given to the poor?”  
Jn1206 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor [for he had never cared about them], but because he was a thief; and since he had the money box [serving as treasurer for the twelve disciples], he used to pilfer what was put into it.  
Jn1207 So Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep [the rest of] it for the day of My burial.  
Jn1208 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”  
Jn1209 A large crowd of Jews learned that He was there [at Bethany]; and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.  
Jn1210 So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus also,  
Jn1211 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away [from the teaching and traditions of the Jewish leaders] and believing in Jesus [following Him as Savior and Messiah].  
Jn1212 The next day, when the large crowd who had come to the Passover feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,  
Jn1213 they took branches of palm trees [in homage to Him as King] and went out to meet Him, and they began shouting and kept shouting “Hosanna! BLESSED (celebrated, praised) IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel!”  
Jn1214 And Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; just as it is written [in Scripture],  
Jn1215 “DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”  
Jn1216 His disciples did not understand [the meaning of] these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified and exalted, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and had been done to Him.  
Jn1217 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to tell others about Him.  
Jn1218 For this reason the crowd went to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this [miraculous] sign.  
Jn1219 Then the Pharisees [argued and] said to one another, “You see that your efforts are futile. Look! The whole world has gone [running] after Him!”  
Jn1220 Now there were some Greeks (Gentiles) among those who were going up to worship at the feast;  
Jn1221 these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  
Jn1222 Philip came and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  
Jn1223 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified and exalted.  
Jn1224 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone [just one grain, never more]. But if it dies, it produces much grain and yields a harvest.  
Jn1225 The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal.  
Jn1226 If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.  
Jn1227 “Now My soul is troubled and deeply distressed; what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]’? But it is for this [very] purpose that I have come to this hour [this time and place].  
Jn1228 [Rather, I will say,] ‘Father, glorify (honor, extol) Your name!’” Then a voice came from heaven saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  
Jn1229 The crowd of people who stood nearby and heard the voice said that it had thundered; others said, “An angel has spoken to Him!”  
Jn1230 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.  
Jn1231 Now judgment is upon this world [the sentence is being passed]. Now the ruler of this world (Satan) will be cast out.  
Jn1232 And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw all people to Myself [Gentiles, as well as Jews].”  
Jn1233 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.  
Jn1234 At this the crowd answered Him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; how then can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”  
Jn1235 So Jesus said to them, “The Light is among you [only] a little while longer. Walk while you have the Light [keep on living by it], so that darkness will not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going [he is drifting aimlessly].  
Jn1236 While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].” Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.  
Jn1237 Even though He had done so many signs (attesting miracles) right before them, yet they still did not believe and failed to trust Him—  
Jn1238 This was to fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR MESSAGE? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM (the power) OF THE LORD BEEN SHOWN (unveiled, revealed)?”  
Jn1239 Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,  
Jn1240 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING WITH THEIR EYES AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THEIR HEART AND BEING CONVERTED; OTHERWISE, I [their God] WOULD HEAL THEM.”  
Jn1241 Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.  
Jn1242 Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated);  
Jn1243 for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.  
Jn1244 But Jesus loudly declared, “The one who believes and trusts in Me does not believe [only] in Me but [also believes] in Him who sent Me.  
Jn1245 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.  
Jn1246 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes and trusts in Me [as Savior—all those who anchor their hope in Me and rely on the truth of My message] will not continue to live in darkness.  
Jn1247 If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but to save the world.  
Jn1248 Whoever rejects Me and refuses to accept My teachings, has one who judges him; the very word that I spoke will judge and condemn him on the last day.  
Jn1249 For I have never spoken on My own initiative or authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment regarding what to say and what to speak.  
Jn1250 I know that His commandment is eternal life. So the things I speak, I speak [in accordance with His exact instruction,] just as the Father has told Me.”  
Jn1301 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).  
Jn1302 It was during supper, when the devil had already put [the thought of] betraying Jesus into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,  
Jn1303 that Jesus, knowing that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God,  
Jn1304 got up from supper, took off His [outer] robe, and taking a [servant’s] towel, He tied it around His waist.  
Jn1305 Then He poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which was tied around His waist.  
Jn1306 When He came to Simon Peter, he said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”  
Jn1307 Jesus replied to him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will [fully] understand it later.”  
Jn1308 Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me [we can have nothing to do with each other].”  
Jn1309 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, [in that case, wash] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”  
Jn1310 Jesus said to him, “Anyone who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, and is completely clean. And you [My disciples] are clean, but not all of you.”  
Jn1311 For He knew who was going to betray Him; for that reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”  
Jn1312 So when He had washed their feet and put on His [outer] robe and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?  
Jn1313 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is who I am.  
Jn1314 So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet as well.  
Jn1315 For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.  
Jn1316 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.  
Jn1317 If you know these things, you are blessed [happy and favored by God] if you put them into practice [and faithfully do them].  
Jn1318 I am not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but [this has happened] in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled: ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS RAISED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME [as My enemy].’  
Jn1319 From now on I am telling you [what will happen] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe that I am He [who I say I am—the Christ, the Anointed, the Messiah].  
Jn1320 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the one who receives and welcomes whomever I send receives Me; and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me [in that same way].”  
Jn1321 After Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, one of you will betray Me and hand Me over.”  
Jn1322 The disciples began looking at one another, puzzled and disturbed as to whom He could mean.  
Jn1323 One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (esteemed), was leaning against Jesus’ chest.  
Jn1324 So Simon Peter motioned to him (John) and [quietly] asked [him to ask Jesus] of whom He was speaking.  
Jn1325 Then leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he (John) asked Him [privately], “Lord, who is it?”  
Jn1326 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I am going to give this piece [of bread] after I have dipped it.” So when He had dipped the piece of bread [into the dish], He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.  
Jn1327 After [Judas had taken] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly [without delay].”  
Jn1328 But no one reclining at the table knew why He said this to him.  
Jn1329 Some thought that, since Judas [as the treasurer of the group] had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he was to give something to the poor.  
Jn1330 After taking the piece of bread, he went out immediately; and it was night.  
Jn1331 So when Judas had left, Jesus said, “Now is [the time for] the Son of Man [to be] glorified, and God is glorified in Him;  
Jn1332 [if God is glorified in Him,] God will also glorify Him (the Son) in Himself, and will glorify Him at once.  
Jn1333 Little children, I am with you [only] a little longer. You will look for Me and, as I told the Jews, so I tell you now, ‘Where I am going, you are not able to come.’  
Jn1334 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.  
Jn1335 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”  
Jn1336 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will be able to follow later.”  
Jn1337 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”  
Jn1338 Jesus answered, “Will you [really] lay down your life for Me? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before a rooster crows you will deny and completely disown Me three times.  
Jn1401 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.  
Jn1402 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.  
Jn1403 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.  
Jn1404 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.”  
Jn1405 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?”  
Jn1406 Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  
Jn1407 If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”  
Jn1408 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.”  
Jn1409 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’  
Jn1410 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power].  
Jn1411 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed].  
Jn1412 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.  
Jn1413 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son.  
Jn1414 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.  
Jn1415 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.  
Jn1416 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—  
Jn1417 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.  
Jn1418 “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.  
Jn1419 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.  
Jn1420 On that day [when that time comes] you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.  
Jn1421 The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].”  
Jn1422 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”  
Jn1423 Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.  
Jn1424 One who does not [really] love Me does not keep My words. And the word (teaching) which you hear is not Mine, but is the Father’s who sent Me.  
Jn1425 “I have told you these things while I am still with you.  
Jn1426 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.  
Jn1427 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]  
Jn1428 You heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you [really] loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going [back] to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  
Jn1429 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does take place, you may believe and have faith [in Me].  
Jn1430 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me];  
Jn1431 but so that the world may know [without any doubt] that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me [and act in full agreement with Him]. Get up, let us go from here.  
Jn1501 “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  
Jn1502 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].  
Jn1503 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].  
Jn1504 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.  
Jn1505 I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.  
Jn1506 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  
Jn1507 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.  
Jn1508 My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.  
Jn1509 I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].  
Jn1510 If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.  
Jn1511 I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.  
Jn1512 “This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.  
Jn1513 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.  
Jn1514 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you.  
Jn1515 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.  
Jn1516 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.  
Jn1517 This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.  
Jn1518 “If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  
Jn1519 If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you.  
Jn1520 Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  
Jn1521 But they will do all these [hurtful] things to you for My name’s sake [because you bear My name and are identified with Me], for they do not know the One who sent Me.  
Jn1522 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  
Jn1523 The one who hates Me also hates My Father.  
Jn1524 If I had not done among them the works (attesting miracles) which no one else [ever] did, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now [the fact is that] they have both seen [these works] and have hated Me [and continue to hate Me] and My Father as well.  
Jn1525 But [this is so] that the word which has been written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’  
Jn1526 “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me.  
Jn1527 But you will testify also and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning.  
Jn1601 “I have told you these things so that you will not stumble or be caught off guard and fall away.  
Jn1602 They will put you out of the synagogues and make you outcasts. And a time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God.  
Jn1603 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father or Me.  
Jn1604 I have told you these things [now], so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you at the beginning, because I was with you.  
Jn1605 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  
Jn1606 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them].  
Jn1607 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].  
Jn1608 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:  
Jn1609 about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message];  
Jn1610 about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me;  
Jn1611 about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.  
Jn1612 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now.  
Jn1613 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].  
Jn1614 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you.  
Jn1615 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.  
Jn1616 “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”  
Jn1617 Some of His disciples said to one another, “What does He mean when He tells us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to My Father’?”  
Jn1618 So they were saying, “What does He mean when He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”  
Jn1619 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, “Are you wondering among yourselves about what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?  
Jn1620 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, that you will weep and grieve [in great mourning], but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.  
Jn1621 A woman, when she is in labor, has pain because her time [to give birth] has come; but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a child has come into the world.  
Jn1622 So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy.  
Jn1623 In that day you will not [need to] ask Me about anything. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name [as My representative], He will give you.  
Jn1624 Until now you have not asked [the Father] for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete.  
Jn1625 “I have told you these things in figurative language (veiled language, proverbs); the hour is now coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.  
Jn1626 In that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf [because it will be unnecessary];  
Jn1627 for the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father.  
Jn1628 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”  
Jn1629 His disciples said, “Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech!  
Jn1630 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.”  
Jn1631 Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe?  
Jn1632 Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  
Jn1633 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]  
Jn1701 When Jesus had spoken these things, He raised His eyes to heaven [in prayer] and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You.  
Jn1702 Just as You have given Him power and authority over all mankind, [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him [to be His—permanently and forever].  
Jn1703 Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.  
Jn1704 I have glorified You [down here] on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.  
Jn1705 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory and majesty that I had with You before the world existed.  
Jn1706 “I have manifested Your name [and revealed Your very self, Your real self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word.  
Jn1707 Now [at last] they know [with confident assurance] that all You have given Me is from You [it is really and truly Yours].  
Jn1708 For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they received and accepted them and truly understood [with confident assurance] that I came from You [from Your presence], and they believed [without any doubt] that You sent Me.  
Jn1709 I pray for them; I do not pray for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You;  
Jn1710 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and [all things that are] Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them.  
Jn1711 I am no longer in the world; yet they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.  
Jn1712 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and protected them, and not one of them was lost except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.  
Jn1713 But now I am coming to You; and I say these things [while I am still] in the world so that they may experience My joy made full and complete and perfect within them [filling their hearts with My delight].  
Jn1714 I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it.  
Jn1715 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one.  
Jn1716 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  
Jn1717 Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.  
Jn1718 Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world.  
Jn1719 For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth.  
Jn1720 “I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message,  
Jn1721 that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.  
Jn1722 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one;  
Jn1723 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.  
Jn1724 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given to Me [as Your gift to Me], may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  
Jn1725 “O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has never acknowledged You [and the revelation of Your mercy], yet I have always known You; and these [believers] know [without any doubt] that You sent Me;  
Jn1726 and I have made Your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them [overwhelming their heart], and I [may be] in them.”  
Jn1801 Having said these things, Jesus left with His disciples and went across the ravine of the Kidron. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.  
Jn1802 Now Judas, who was betraying Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.  
Jn1803 So Judas, having obtained the Roman cohort and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.  
Jn1804 Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to Him, went to them and asked, “Whom do you want?”  
Jn1805 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them.  
Jn1806 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  
Jn1807 Again He asked them, “Whom do you want?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”  
Jn1808 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you want Me, let these men go on their way.”  
Jn1809 This was to fulfill and verify the words He had spoken, “Of those whom You have given Me, I have not lost even one.”  
Jn1810 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.  
Jn1811 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword [back] in its sheath! Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”  
Jn1812 So the cohort and their commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him,  
Jn1813 and led Him to Annas first; for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.  
Jn1814 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.  
Jn1815 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the [residence of the] high priest;  
Jn1816 but Peter was standing outside at the door. So the other disciple (John), who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter inside.  
Jn1817 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”  
Jn1818 Now the servants and the officers had made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.  
Jn1819 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.  
Jn1820 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple [area], where all the Jews habitually congregate; and I said nothing in secret.  
Jn1821 Why question Me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. They know what I said.”  
Jn1822 But when He said this, one of the officers who was standing nearby struck Jesus [in the face], saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?”  
Jn1823 Jesus replied, “If I have said anything wrong, make a formal statement about the wrong; but if [I spoke] properly, why did you strike Me?”  
Jn1824 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.  
Jn1825 Now Simon Peter was [still] standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”  
Jn1826 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you with Him in the garden?”  
Jn1827 So Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.  
Jn1828 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium (governor’s palace). Now it was early and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium so that they would not be [ceremonially] unclean, but might [be able to] eat [and participate in the Feast of Unleavened Bread which began after] the Passover [supper].  
Jn1829 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”  
Jn1830 They answered, “If He were not a criminal, we would not have handed Him over to you [for judgment].”  
Jn1831 Then Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your own law.” The Jews said, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.”  
Jn1832 This was to fulfill the word which Jesus had spoken to indicate by what manner of death He was going to die.  
Jn1833 So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and called Jesus and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”  
Jn1834 Jesus replied, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”  
Jn1835 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their chief priests have handed You over to me. What have You done [that is worthy of death]?”  
Jn1836 Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.”  
Jn1837 So Pilate said to Him, “Then You are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say [correctly] that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth [who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth] hears and listens carefully to My voice.”  
Jn1838 Pilate said to Him [scornfully], “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].  
Jn1839 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. So shall I release for you the King of the Jews?”  
Jn1840 Then they all shouted back again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.  
Jn1901 So then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged (flogged, whipped).  
Jn1902 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe around Him;  
Jn1903 and they kept coming up to Him, saying [mockingly], “Hail, King of the Jews [Good health! Peace! Long life to you, King of the Jews]!” And they slapped Him in the face.  
Jn1904 Then Pilate came out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].”  
Jn1905 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said to them, “Look! The Man!”  
Jn1906 When the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify [Him]! Crucify [Him]!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him [no crime, no cause for an accusation].”  
Jn1907 The Jews answered him, “We have a law [regarding blasphemy], and according to that law He should die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”  
Jn1908 So when Pilate heard this said, he was [even] more alarmed and afraid.  
Jn1909 He went into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus did not answer him.  
Jn1910 So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”  
Jn1911 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me at all if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt of the one who handed Me over to you is greater [than your own].”  
Jn1912 As a result of this, Pilate kept making efforts to release Him, but the Jews kept screaming, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who makes himself out [to be] a king opposes Caesar [and rebels against the emperor]!”  
Jn1913 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  
Jn1914 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover [week], and it was about the sixth hour (noon). He said to the Jews, “Look, your King!”  
Jn1915 But they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”  
Jn1916 Then he handed Him over to them to be crucified.  
Jn1917 So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.  
Jn1918 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.  
Jn1919 Pilate also wrote an inscription [on a placard] and put it on the cross. And it was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”  
Jn1920 And many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.  
Jn1921 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but, ‘He said, “I am King of the Jews.”’”  
Jn1922 Pilate replied, “What I have written I have written [and it remains written].”  
Jn1923 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer clothes and made four parts, a part for each soldier, and also the tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven [in one piece] from the top throughout.  
Jn1924 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it will be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture, “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER CLOTHING AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”  
Jn1925 So the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister [Salome], Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  
Jn1926 So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!”  
Jn1927 Then He said to the disciple (John), “Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.  
Jn1928 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said in fulfillment of the Scripture, “I am thirsty.”  
Jn1929 A jar full of sour wine was placed there; so they put a sponge soaked in the sour wine on [a branch of] hyssop and held it to His mouth.  
Jn1930 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] gave up His spirit.  
Jn1931 Since it was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], in order to prevent the bodies from hanging on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high holy day) the Jews asked Pilate to have their legs broken [to hasten death] and the bodies taken away.  
Jn1932 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who had been crucified with Him.  
Jn1933 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  
Jn1934 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came [flowing] out.  
Jn1935 And he (John, the eyewitness) who has seen it has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also [who read this] may believe.  
Jn1936 For these things took place to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIS SHALL BE BROKEN.”  
Jn1937 And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK AT HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED.”  
Jn1938 And after this, Joseph of Arimathea—a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews—asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body.  
Jn1939 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, [weighing] about a hundred [Roman] pounds.  
Jn1940 So they took Jesus’ body and bound it in linen wrappings with the fragrant spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.  
Jn1941 Now there was a garden at the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb [cut out of solid rock] in which no one had yet been laid.  
Jn1942 Therefore, because of the Jewish day of Preparation, and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  
Jn2001 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone [already] removed from the [groove across the entrance of the] tomb.  
Jn2002 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple (John), whom Jesus loved (esteemed), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!”  
Jn2003 So Peter and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb.  
Jn2004 And the two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first.  
Jn2005 Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings [neatly] lying there; but he did not go in.  
Jn2006 Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb and saw the linen wrappings [neatly] lying there;  
Jn2007 and the [burial] face-cloth which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the [other] linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.  
Jn2008 So the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went in too; and he saw [the wrappings and the face-cloth] and believed [without any doubt that Jesus had risen from the dead].  
Jn2009 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.  
Jn2010 Then the disciples went back again to their own homes.  
Jn2011 But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb;  
Jn2012 and she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  
Jn2013 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”  
Jn2014 After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  
Jn2015 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? For whom are you looking?” Supposing that He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you are the one who has carried Him away from here, tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away.”  
Jn2016 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).  
Jn2017 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  
Jn2018 Mary Magdalene came, reporting to the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her.  
Jn2019 So when it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”  
Jn2020 After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with great joy.  
Jn2021 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].”  
Jn2022 And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  
Jn2023 If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven [because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”  
Jn2024 But Thomas, one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Didymus (the twin), was not with them when Jesus came.  
Jn2025 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”  
Jn2026 Eight days later His disciples were again inside the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors had been barred, and stood among them and said, “Peace to you.”  
Jn2027 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it in My side. Do not be unbelieving, but [stop doubting and] believe.”  
Jn2028 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!”  
Jn2029 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God] are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me].”  
Jn2030 There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;  
Jn2031 but these have been written so that you may believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God; and that by believing [and trusting in and relying on Him] you may have life in His name.  
Jn2101 After this Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). And He did it in this way:  
Jn2102 Simon Peter, and Thomas who is called Didymus (the twin), and Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, as well as [John and James] the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.  
Jn2103 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said, “And we are coming with you.” So they went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.  
Jn2104 As morning was breaking, Jesus [came and] stood on the beach; however, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  
Jn2105 So Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish [to eat along with your bread]?” They answered, “No.”  
Jn2106 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat (starboard) and you will find some.” So they cast [the net], and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great catch of fish.  
Jn2107 Then that disciple (John) whom Jesus loved (esteemed) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea [and swam ashore].  
Jn2108 But the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.  
Jn2109 So when they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire set up and fish on it cooking, and bread.  
Jn2110 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”  
Jn2111 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three [of them]; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.  
Jn2112 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew [without any doubt] that it was the Lord.  
Jn2113 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.  
Jn2114 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after He had risen from the dead.  
Jn2115 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do—with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  
Jn2116 Again He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with total commitment and devotion]?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”  
Jn2117 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] love Me [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.  
Jn2118 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and arms, and someone else will dress you, and carry you where you do not wish to go.”  
Jn2119 Now He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after saying this, He said to him, “Follow Me [walk the same path of life that I have walked]!”  
Jn2120 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?”  
Jn2121 So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man [what is in his future]?”  
Jn2122 Jesus said to him, “If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you? You follow Me!”  
Jn2123 So this word went out among the brothers that this disciple (John) was not going to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but only, “If I want him to stay alive until I come [again], what is that to you?”  
Jn2124 This is the same disciple who is testifying to these things and has recorded them; and we know [without any doubt] that his testimony is true.  
Jn2125 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were recorded one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.  
Ac0101 The first account I made, Theophilus, was [a continuous report] about all the things that Jesus began to do and to teach  
Ac0102 until the day when He ascended to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given instruction to the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen.  
Ac0103 To these [men] He also showed Himself alive after His suffering [in Gethsemane and on the cross], by [a series of] many infallible proofs and unquestionable demonstrations, appearing to them over a period of forty days and talking to them about the things concerning the kingdom of God.  
Ac0104 While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.  
Ac0105 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.”  
Ac0106 So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?”  
Ac0107 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.  
Ac0108 But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”  
Ac0109 And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight.  
Ac0110 While they were looking intently into the sky as He was going, two men in white clothing suddenly stood beside them,  
Ac0111 who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”  
Ac0112 Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Olive Grove), which is near Jerusalem, [only] a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile) away.  
Ac0113 When they had entered the city, they went upstairs to the upper room where they were staying [indefinitely]; that is, Peter, and John and [his brother] James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew (Nathanael) and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas (Thaddaeus) the son of James.  
Ac0114 All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.  
Ac0115 Now on one of these days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty believers was there) and he said,  
Ac0116 “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the lips of David [king of Israel] about Judas [Iscariot], who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.  
Ac0117 For he (Judas) was counted among us and received his share [by divine allotment] in this ministry.”  
Ac0118 (Now Judas Iscariot acquired a piece of land [indirectly] with the [money paid him as a] reward for his treachery, and falling headlong, his body burst open in the middle and all his intestines poured out.  
Ac0119 All the people in Jerusalem learned about this, so in their own dialect—Aramaic—they called the piece of land Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)  
Ac0120 “For in the book of Psalms it is written, ‘LET HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE BECOME DESOLATE, AND LET THERE BE NO ONE TO LIVE IN IT’; and [again], ‘LET ANOTHER TAKE HIS POSITION AS OVERSEER.’  
Ac0121 So of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus spent with us,  
Ac0122 beginning with the baptism by John [at the outset of Jesus’ ministry] until the day when He was taken up from us—one of these men must become a witness with us [to testify] of His resurrection.”  
Ac0123 And they put forward two men, Joseph, the one called Barsabbas (who was surnamed Justus), and Matthias.  
Ac0124 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know all hearts [their thoughts, motives, desires], show us which one of these two You have chosen  
Ac0125 to occupy this ministry and apostleship which Judas left to go to his own place [of evil].”  
Ac0126 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.  
Ac0201 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place,  
Ac0202 and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  
Ac0203 There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit].  
Ac0204 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].  
Ac0205 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout and God-fearing men from every nation under heaven.  
Ac0206 And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect.  
Ac0207 They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans?  
Ac0208 Then how is it that each of us hears in our own language or native dialect?  
Ac0209 [Among us there are] Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia [Minor],  
Ac0210 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism),  
Ac0211 Cretans and Arabs—we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!”  
Ac0212 And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?”  
Ac0213 But others were laughing and joking and ridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine and are drunk!”  
Ac0214 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closely and pay attention to what I have to say.  
Ac0215 These people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is [only] the third hour of the day (9:00 a.m.);  
Ac0216 but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:  
Ac0217 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ says God, ‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE [divinely prompted] VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM [divinely prompted] DREAMS;  
Ac0218 EVEN ON MY BOND-SERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR OUT MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.  
Ac0219 ‘AND I WILL BRING ABOUT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS (attesting miracles) ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD AND FIRE AND SMOKING VAPOR.  
Ac0220 ‘THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD COMES.  
Ac0221 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] SHALL BE SAVED (rescued spiritually).’  
Ac0222 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and attested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know—  
Ac0223 this Man, when handed over [to the Roman authorities] according to the predetermined decision and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross and put to death by the hands of lawless and godless men.  
Ac0224 But God raised Him up, releasing Him and bringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power.  
Ac0225 For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD CONSTANTLY BEFORE ME; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN [from my state of security].  
Ac0226 ‘THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED AND MY TONGUE EXULTED EXCEEDINGLY; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE [that is, will encamp in anticipation of the resurrection];  
Ac0227 FOR YOU WILL NOT FORSAKE ME and ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES (the realm of the dead), NOR LET YOUR HOLY ONE UNDERGO DECAY [after death].  
Ac0228 ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL FILL ME [infusing my soul] WITH JOY WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’  
Ac0229 “Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  
Ac0230 And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH THAT HE WOULD SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,  
Ac0231 he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that HE WAS NOT ABANDONED [in death] TO HADES (the realm of the dead), NOR DID His body UNDERGO DECAY.  
Ac0232 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses.  
Ac0233 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear.  
Ac0234 For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says, ‘THE LORD [the Father] SAID TO MY LORD [the Son], “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,  
Ac0235 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’  
Ac0236 Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)—this Jesus whom you crucified.”  
Ac0237 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”  
Ac0238 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  
Ac0239 For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”  
Ac0240 And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!”  
Ac0241 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].  
Ac0242 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.  
Ac0243 A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles.  
Ac0244 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole].  
Ac0245 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need.  
Ac0246 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts,  
Ac0247 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.  
Ac0301 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),  
Ac0302 and a man who had been unable to walk from birth was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, so that he could beg alms from those entering the temple.  
Ac0303 So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking [them] for coins.  
Ac0304 But Peter, along with John, stared at him intently and said, “Look at us!”  
Ac0305 And the man began to pay attention to them, eagerly expecting to receive something from them.  
Ac0306 But Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have; but what I do have I give to you: In the name (authority, power) of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—[begin now to] walk and go on walking!”  
Ac0307 Then he seized the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankles became strong and steady,  
Ac0308 and with a leap he stood up and began to walk; and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  
Ac0309 All the people saw him walking and praising God;  
Ac0310 and they recognized him as the very man who usually sat begging for coins at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement and were mystified at what had happened to him.  
Ac0311 Now while he was still holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly amazed, ran together and crowded around them at the covered porch called Solomon’s portico.  
Ac0312 And Peter, seeing this, said to the people, “You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  
Ac0313 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], the One whom you handed over and disowned and rejected before Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.  
Ac0314 But you disowned and denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.  
Ac0315 But you killed the Prince (Author, Originator, Source) of life, whom God raised [bodily] from the dead. To this [fact] we are witnesses [for we have seen the risen Christ].  
Ac0316 And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health and complete wholeness in your presence.  
Ac0317 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.  
Ac0318 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer.  
Ac0319 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];  
Ac0320 and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you,  
Ac0321 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.  
Ac0322 Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN; YOU SHALL LISTEN TO HIM and OBEY everything He tells you.  
Ac0323 And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’  
Ac0324 Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days.  
Ac0325 You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED (descendant) ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’  
Ac0326 It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”  
Ac0401 And while Peter and John were talking to the people, the priests and the captain [who was in charge of the temple area and] of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,  
Ac0402 being extremely disturbed and thoroughly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in [the case of] Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  
Ac0403 So they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, because it was evening.  
Ac0404 But many of those who heard the message [of salvation] believed [in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ]. And the number of the men came to be about 5,000.  
Ac0405 On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem;  
Ac0406 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent.  
Ac0407 When they had put the men in front of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this [healing]?”  
Ac0408 Then Peter, filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court],  
Ac0409 if we are being put on trial today [to interrogate us] for a good deed done to [benefit] a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health,  
Ac0410 let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you [demanded be] crucified [by the Romans and], whom God raised from the dead—in this name [that is, by the authority and power of Jesus] this man stands here before you in good health.  
Ac0411 This Jesus is the STONE WHICH WAS DESPISED and REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.  
Ac0412 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”  
Ac0413 Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.  
Ac0414 And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in reply.  
Ac0415 But after ordering them to step out of the Council [chamber], they began to confer among themselves,  
Ac0416 saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that an extraordinary miracle has taken place through them is public knowledge and clearly evident to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  
Ac0417 But to keep it from spreading further among the people and the nation, let us [sternly] warn them not to speak again to anyone in this name.”  
Ac0418 So they sent for them, and commanded them not to speak [as His representatives] or teach at all in the name of Jesus [using Him as their authority].  
Ac0419 But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];  
Ac0420 for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.”  
Ac0421 When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because [of their fear] of the people, for they were all praising and glorifying and honoring God for what had happened;  
Ac0422 for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.  
Ac0423 After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own [people] and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  
Ac0424 And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Lord [having complete power and authority], it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM,  
Ac0425 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said, ‘WHY DID THE NATIONS (Gentiles) BECOME ARROGANT and RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS [against the Lord]?  
Ac0426 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND [to attack], AND THE RULERS WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED (the Christ, the Messiah).’  
Ac0427 For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,  
Ac0428 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined [before the creation of the world] to occur [and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose].  
Ac0429 And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence,  
Ac0430 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name [and the authority and power] of Your holy Servant and Son Jesus.”  
Ac0431 And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.  
Ac0432 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all.  
Ac0433 And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all.  
Ac0434 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales  
Ac0435 and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.  
Ac0436 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),  
Ac0437 sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.  
Ac0501 Now a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,  
Ac0502 and with his wife’s full knowledge [and complicity] he kept back some of the proceeds, bringing only a portion of it, and set it at the apostles’ feet.  
Ac0503 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and [secretly] keep back for yourself some of the proceeds [from the sale] of the land?  
Ac0504 As long as it remained [unsold], did it not remain your own [to do with as you pleased]? And after it was sold, was the money not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this act [of hypocrisy and deceit] in your heart? You have not [simply] lied to people, but to God.”  
Ac0505 And hearing these words, Ananias fell down suddenly and died; and great fear and awe gripped those who heard of it.  
Ac0506 And the young men [in the congregation] got up and wrapped up the body, and carried it out and buried it.  
Ac0507 Now after an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  
Ac0508 Peter asked her, “Tell me whether you sold your land for so much?” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”  
Ac0509 Then Peter said to her, “How could you two have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”  
Ac0510 And at once she fell down at his feet and died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  
Ac0511 And great fear and awe gripped the whole church, and all who heard about these things.  
Ac0512 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders (attesting miracles) were continually taking place among the people. And by common consent they all met together [at the temple] in [the covered porch called] Solomon’s portico.  
Ac0513 But none of the rest [of the people, the non-believers] dared to associate with them; however, the people were holding them in high esteem and were speaking highly of them.  
Ac0514 More and more believers in the Lord, crowds of men and women, were constantly being added to their number,  
Ac0515 to such an extent that they even carried their sick out into the streets and put them on cots and sleeping pads, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on one of them [with healing power].  
Ac0516 And the people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.  
Ac0517 But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and resentment.  
Ac0518 They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail.  
Ac0519 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said,  
Ac0520 “Go, stand and continue to tell the people in the temple [courtyards] the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him].”  
Ac0521 When they heard this, they went into the temple [courtyards] about daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent word to the prison for the apostles to be brought [before them].  
Ac0522 But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported,  
Ac0523 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened [the doors], we found no one inside.”  
Ac0524 Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they were greatly perplexed, wondering what would come of this.  
Ac0525 But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing [right here] in the temple [area], teaching the people!”  
Ac0526 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).  
Ac0527 So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them,  
Ac0528 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this Man’s blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers].”  
Ac0529 Then Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice].  
Ac0530 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross [and you are responsible].  
Ac0531 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior and Deliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins.  
Ac0532 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him.”  
Ac0533 Now when they heard this, they were infuriated and they intended to kill the apostles.  
Ac0534 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while.  
Ac0535 Then he said to the Council, “Men of Israel, be careful in regard to what you propose to do to these men.  
Ac0536 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody [of importance], and a group of about four hundred men allied themselves with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing.  
Ac0537 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up, [and led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew people after him; he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Ac0538 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men [merely human in origin], it will fail and be destroyed;  
Ac0539 but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”  
Ac0540 The Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) took his advice; and after summoning the apostles, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.  
Ac0541 So they left the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy [dignified by indignity] to suffer shame for [the sake of] His name.  
Ac0542 And every single day, in the temple [area] and in homes, they did not stop teaching and telling the good news of Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Ac0601 Now about this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint was made by the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.  
Ac0602 So the Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food.  
Ac0603 Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men with good reputations [men of godly character and moral integrity], full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.  
Ac0604 But we will [continue to] devote ourselves [steadfastly] to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  
Ac0605 The suggestion pleased the whole congregation; and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith [in Christ Jesus], and [filled with and led by] the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (Nikolaos), a proselyte (Gentile convert) from Antioch.  
Ac0606 They brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them [to dedicate and commission them for this service].  
Ac0607 And the message of God kept on growing and spreading, and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem; and a large number of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith [accepting Jesus as Messiah and acknowledging Him as the Source of eternal salvation].  
Ac0608 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people.  
Ac0609 However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, rose up and questioned and argued with Stephen.  
Ac0610 But they were not able to successfully withstand and cope with the wisdom and the intelligence [and the power and inspiration] of the Spirit by whom he was speaking.  
Ac0611 Then [to attack him another way] they secretly instructed men to say, “We have heard this man [Stephen] speak blasphemous (slanderous, sacrilegious, abusive) words against Moses and against God.”  
Ac0612 And they provoked and incited the people, as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came up to Stephen and seized him and brought him before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court).  
Ac0613 They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law [of Moses];  
Ac0614 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and will change the traditions and customs which Moses handed down to us.”  
Ac0615 Then all those who were sitting in the Council, stared [intently] at him, and they saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel.  
Ac0701 Now the high priest asked [Stephen], “Are these charges true?”  
Ac0702 And he answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory [the Shekinah, the radiance of God] appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,  
Ac0703 and He said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME TO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’  
Ac0704 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. And from there, after his father died, God sent him to this country in which you now live.  
Ac0705 But He did not give him inheritable property, not even enough ground to take a step on, yet He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM.  
Ac0706 And this is, in effect, what God spoke [to him]: That his DESCENDANTS WOULD BE ALIENS (strangers) IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS.  
Ac0707 ‘AND I WILL JUDGE ANY NATION TO WHOM THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME [in worship] IN THIS PLACE.’  
Ac0708 And God gave Abraham a covenant [a formal agreement to be strictly observed] of [which] circumcision [was the sign]; and so [under these circumstances] Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac [became the father] of Jacob, and Jacob [became the father] of the twelve patriarchs.  
Ac0709 “The [ten elder] patriarchs, overwhelmed with jealousy, sold [their younger brother] Joseph into [slavery in] Egypt; but God was with him,  
Ac0710 and He rescued him from all his suffering, and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made Joseph governor over Egypt and over his entire household.  
Ac0711 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great distress and our fathers could not find food [for their households and livestock].  
Ac0712 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.  
Ac0713 And on the second visit Joseph identified himself to his brothers, and Joseph’s family and background were revealed to Pharaoh.  
Ac0714 Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all.  
Ac0715 And Jacob (Israel) went down into Egypt, and there he died, as did our fathers;  
Ac0716 and [from Egypt] their bodies were taken back to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.  
Ac0717 “But as the time [for the fulfillment] of the promise which God had made to Abraham was approaching, the [Hebrew] people increased and multiplied in Egypt,  
Ac0718 until [the time when] THERE AROSE ANOTHER KING OVER EGYPT WHO DID NOT KNOW JOSEPH [nor his history and the merit of his service to Egypt].  
Ac0719 He shrewdly exploited our race and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their [male] babies so that they would die.  
Ac0720 It was at this [critical] time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and for three months he was nourished in his father’s house.  
Ac0721 Then when he was set outside [to die], Pharaoh’s daughter rescued him and claimed him for herself, and cared for him as her own son.  
Ac0722 So Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.  
Ac0723 But when he reached the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel.  
Ac0724 And when he saw one [of them] being treated unfairly, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking and killing the Egyptian.  
Ac0725 He expected his countrymen to understand that God was granting them freedom through him [assuming that they would accept him], but they did not understand.  
Ac0726 Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong one another?’  
Ac0727 But the man who was injuring his neighbor pushed Moses away, saying, ‘WHO APPOINTED YOU RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?  
Ac0728 DO YOU INTEND TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?’  
Ac0729 At this remark MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN EXILE IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he fathered two sons.  
Ac0730 “After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.  
Ac0731 When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the sight; but as he went near to look more closely, the voice of the Lord came [to him, saying]:  
Ac0732 ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND OF ISAAC AND OF JACOB.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.  
Ac0733 THEN THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘REMOVE THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND [worthy of reverence and respect].  
Ac0734 I HAVE MOST CERTAINLY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANING, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM. NOW COME, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT [as My messenger].’  
Ac0735 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the very one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer, with the [protecting and helping] hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.  
Ac0736 This man led them out [of Egypt] after performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.  
Ac0737 This is the Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR COUNTRYMEN.’  
Ac0738 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles [divine words that still live] to be handed down to you.  
Ac0739 Our fathers were unwilling to be subject to him [and refused to listen to him]. They rejected him, and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.  
Ac0740 THEY SAID TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM.’  
Ac0741 In those days they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced and celebrated over the works of their hands.  
Ac0742 But God turned away [from them] and handed them over to serve the host of heaven. As it is written and forever remains written in the book of the prophets, ‘IT WAS NOT [really] TO ME THAT YOU OFFERED VICTIMS AND SACRIFICES FOR FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, WAS IT, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?  
Ac0743 YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE (portable temple) OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP; AND I WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON [carrying you away into exile].’  
Ac0744 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.  
Ac0745 Our fathers also brought it in [with them into the land] with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, [and so it remained here] until the time of David,  
Ac0746 who found favor (grace, spiritual blessing) in the sight of God and asked that he might [be allowed to] find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.  
Ac0747 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.  
Ac0748 However, the Most High [the One infinitely exalted above humanity] does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet [Isaiah] says,  
Ac0749 ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND THE EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL FOR MY FEET; WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord, ‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REST?  
Ac0750 ‘WAS IT NOT MY HAND THAT MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’  
Ac0751 “You stiff-necked and stubborn people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did.  
Ac0752 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;  
Ac0753 you who received the law as ordained and delivered to you by angels, and yet you did not obey it!”  
Ac0754 Now when they heard this [accusation and understood its implication], they were cut to the heart, and they began grinding their teeth [in rage] at him.  
Ac0755 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit and led by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory [the great splendor and majesty] of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;  
Ac0756 and he said, “Look! I see the heavens opened up [in welcome] and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”  
Ac0757 But they shouted with loud voices, and covered their ears and together rushed at him [considering him guilty of blasphemy].  
Ac0758 Then they drove him out of the city and began stoning him; and the witnesses placed their outer robes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  
Ac0759 They continued stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!”  
Ac0760 Then falling on his knees [in worship], he cried out loudly, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them [do not charge them]!” When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].  
Ac0801 Saul wholeheartedly approved of Stephen’s death. And on that day a great and relentless persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.  
Ac0802 Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned greatly over him [expressing a personal sense of loss].  
Ac0803 But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.  
Ac0804 Now those [believers] who had been scattered went from place to place preaching the word [the good news of salvation through Christ].  
Ac0805 Philip [the evangelist] went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) to them.  
Ac0806 The crowds gathered and were paying close attention to everything Philip said, as they heard [the message] and saw the [miraculous] signs which he was doing [validating his message].  
Ac0807 For unclean spirits (demons), shouting loudly, were coming out of many who were possessed; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.  
Ac0808 So there was great rejoicing in that city.  
Ac0809 Now there was a man named Simon, who previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.  
Ac0810 They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!”  
Ac0811 They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic.  
Ac0812 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women.  
Ac0813 Even Simon believed [Philip’s message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.  
Ac0814 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that [the people of] Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  
Ac0815 They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit;  
Ac0816 for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession].  
Ac0817 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit.  
Ac0818 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,  
Ac0819 saying, “Give me this authority and power too, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  
Ac0820 But Peter said to him, “May your money be destroyed along with you, because you thought you could buy the [free] gift of God with money!  
Ac0821 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart (motive, purpose) is not right before God.  
Ac0822 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this thought of your heart may be forgiven you.  
Ac0823 For I see that you are provoked by bitterness and bound by sin.”  
Ac0824 But Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me both of you, so that nothing of what you have said will come upon me.”  
Ac0825 So, when Peter and John had given their testimony and preached the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about salvation] in many Samaritan villages [along the way].  
Ac0826 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza.” (This is a desert road).  
Ac0827 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch [a man of great authority], a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,  
Ac0828 and he was returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading [the scroll of] the prophet Isaiah.  
Ac0829 Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”  
Ac0830 Philip ran up and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  
Ac0831 And he said, “Well, how could I [understand] unless someone guides me [correctly]?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.  
Ac0832 Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: “LIKE A SHEEP HE WAS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.  
Ac0833 “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY [justice was denied Him]. WHO WILL DESCRIBE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH.”  
Ac0834 The eunuch replied to Philip, “Please tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about someone else?”  
Ac0835 Then Philip spoke and beginning with this Scripture he preached Jesus to him [explaining that He is the promised Messiah and the source of salvation].  
Ac0836 As they continued along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, “Look! Water! What forbids me from being baptized?”  
Ac0837 [Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]  
Ac0838 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.  
Ac0839 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [suddenly] took Philip [and carried him] away [to a different place]; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but he went on his way rejoicing.  
Ac0840 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the good news [of salvation] to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea [Maritima].  
Ac0901 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,  
Ac0902 and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem.  
Ac0903 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ];  
Ac0904 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?”  
Ac0905 And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,  
Ac0906 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”  
Ac0907 The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.  
Ac0908 Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.  
Ac0909 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.  
Ac0910 Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.”  
Ac0911 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there],  
Ac0912 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”  
Ac0913 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much suffering and evil he has brought on Your saints (God’s people) at Jerusalem;  
Ac0914 and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior].”  
Ac0915 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;  
Ac0916 for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.”  
Ac0917 So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].”  
Ac0918 Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized;  
Ac0919 and he took some food and was strengthened. For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus.  
Ac0920 And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This Man is the Son of God [the promised Messiah]!”  
Ac0921 All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?”  
Ac0922 But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence] and proving [with Scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Ac0923 After considerable time had passed [about three years or so], the Jews plotted together to kill him,  
Ac0924 but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city’s gates day and night so they could kill him;  
Ac0925 but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.  
Ac0926 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.  
Ac0927 However, Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.  
Ac0928 So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.  
Ac0929 He was talking and arguing with the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.  
Ac0930 When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].  
Ac0931 So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].  
Ac0932 Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the saints (God’s people) who lived at Lydda.  
Ac0933 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.  
Ac0934 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up.  
Ac0935 Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.  
Ac0936 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.  
Ac0937 During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.  
Ac0938 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.”  
Ac0939 So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.  
Ac0940 But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  
Ac0941 And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the saints (God’s people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.  
Ac0942 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].  
Ac0943 And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.  
Ac1001 Now at Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment,  
Ac1002 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always.  
Ac1003 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!”  
Ac1004 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].  
Ac1005 Now send men to Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];  
Ac1006 he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”  
Ac1007 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants;  
Ac1008 and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.  
Ac1009 The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray,  
Ac1010 but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance;  
Ac1011 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth,  
Ac1012 and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.  
Ac1013 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”  
Ac1014 But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.”  
Ac1015 And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).”  
Ac1016 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.  
Ac1017 Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate.  
Ac1018 And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.  
Ac1019 While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you.  
Ac1020 Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.”  
Ac1021 Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?”  
Ac1022 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say.”  
Ac1023 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.  
Ac1024 On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.  
Ac1025 When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.  
Ac1026 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am only a man.”  
Ac1027 As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled.  
Ac1028 He said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or befriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean.  
Ac1029 Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?”  
Ac1030 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,  
Ac1031 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you].  
Ac1032 Therefore send word to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’  
Ac1033 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say].”  
Ac1034 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing],  
Ac1035 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.  
Ac1036 You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all—  
Ac1037 you know the things that have taken place throughout Judea, starting in Galilee after the baptism preached by John—  
Ac1038 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.  
Ac1039 We are [personally] eyewitnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem [in particular]. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross;  
Ac1040 God raised Him [to life] on the third day and caused Him to be plainly seen,  
Ac1041 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen and designated beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank together with Him after He rose from the dead.  
Ac1042 He commanded us to preach to the people [both Jew and Gentile], and to solemnly testify that He is the One who has been appointed and ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.  
Ac1043 All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”  
Ac1044 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message [confirming God’s acceptance of Gentiles].  
Ac1045 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  
Ac1046 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and exalting and magnifying and praising God. Then Peter said,  
Ac1047 “Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”  
Ac1048 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.  
Ac1101 Now the apostles and the believers who were throughout Judea heard [with astonishment] that the Gentiles also had received and accepted the word of God [the message concerning salvation through Christ].  
Ac1102 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision [certain Jewish believers who followed the Law] took issue with him [for violating Jewish customs],  
Ac1103 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and [even] ate with them!”  
Ac1104 But Peter began [at the beginning] and explained [the events] to them step by step, saying,  
Ac1105 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision of an object coming down from heaven, like a huge sheet being lowered by the four corners; and [it descended until] it came right down to me,  
Ac1106 and looking closely at it, I saw all kinds of the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air [both clean and unclean according to the Law],  
Ac1107 and I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’  
Ac1108 But I said, ‘Not at all, Lord; for nothing common (unholy) or [ceremonially] unclean has ever entered my mouth.’  
Ac1109 But the voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).’  
Ac1110 This happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.  
Ac1111 And right then the three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.  
Ac1112 The Spirit told me to go with them without the slightest hesitation. So these six brothers also went with me and we went to the man’s house.  
Ac1113 And Cornelius told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, saying, ‘Send word to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;  
Ac1114 he will bring a message to you by which you will be saved [and granted eternal life], you and all your household.’  
Ac1115 When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning [at Pentecost].  
Ac1116 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  
Ac1117 So, if God gave Gentiles the same gift [equally] as He gave us after we accepted and believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ [as Savior], who was I to interfere or stand in God’s way?”  
Ac1118 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified and praised God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance that leads to eternal life [that is, real life after earthly death].”  
Ac1119 So then [since they were unaware of these developments] those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with [the stoning of] Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without telling the message [of salvation through Christ] to anyone except Jews.  
Ac1120 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming [to them] the good news about the Lord Jesus.  
Ac1121 And the hand (the power and presence) of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord [for salvation, accepting and drawing near to Jesus as Messiah and Savior].  
Ac1122 The news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  
Ac1123 When he arrived and saw the grace of God [that was bestowed on them], he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with an unwavering heart to stay true and devoted to the Lord.  
Ac1124 For Barnabas was a good man [privately and publicly—his godly character benefited both himself and others] and he was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith [in Jesus the Messiah, through whom believers have everlasting life]. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  
Ac1125 And Barnabas left for Tarsus to search for Saul;  
Ac1126 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For an entire year they met [with others] in the church and instructed large numbers; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.  
Ac1127 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.  
Ac1128 One of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a severe famine would come on the entire world. And this did happen during the reign of Claudius.  
Ac1129 So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each according to his individual ability, to the believers who lived in Judea.  
Ac1130 And this they did, sending the contribution to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.  
Ac1201 Now at that time Herod [Agrippa I] the king [of the Jews] arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to harm them.  
Ac1202 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword;  
Ac1203 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to have Peter arrested as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread [the Passover week].  
Ac1204 When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].  
Ac1205 So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.  
Ac1206 The very night before Herod was to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries were in front of the door guarding the prison.  
Ac1207 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared [beside him] and a light shone in the cell. The angel struck Peter’s side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off his hands.  
Ac1208 The angel said to him, “Prepare yourself and strap on your sandals [to get ready for whatever may happen].” And he did so. Then the angel told him, “Put on your robe and follow me.”  
Ac1209 And Peter went out following the angel. He did not realize that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.  
Ac1210 When they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city. Of its own accord it swung open for them; and they went out and went along one street, and at once the angel left him.  
Ac1211 When Peter came to his senses, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting [to do to me].”  
Ac1212 When he realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many [believers] were gathered together and were praying continually [and had been praying all night].  
Ac1213 When he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer.  
Ac1214 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she failed to open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gateway.  
Ac1215 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel!”  
Ac1216 But [meanwhile] Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were completely amazed.  
Ac1217 But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.  
Ac1218 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.  
Ac1219 When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he interrogated the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea [Maritima] and spent some time there.  
Ac1220 Now Herod [Agrippa I] was extremely angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and their delegates came to him in a united group, and after persuading Blastus, the king’s chamberlain [to support their cause], they asked for peace, because their country was fed by [imports of grain and other goods from] the king’s country.  
Ac1221 On an appointed day Herod dressed himself in his royal robes, sat on his throne (tribunal, rostrum) and began delivering a speech to the people.  
Ac1222 The assembled people kept shouting, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man!”  
Ac1223 And at once an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory [and instead permitted himself to be worshiped], and he was eaten by worms and died [five days later].  
Ac1224 But the word of the Lord [the good news about salvation through Christ] continued to grow and spread [increasing in effectiveness].  
Ac1225 Barnabas and Saul came back from Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing with them John, who was also called Mark.  
Ac1301 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets [who spoke a new message of God to the people] and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch, and Saul.  
Ac1302 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.”  
Ac1303 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey].  
Ac1304 So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.  
Ac1305 When Barnabas and Saul arrived at Salamis, they began to preach the word of God [proclaiming the message of eternal salvation through faith in Christ] in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John [Mark] as their assistant.  
Ac1306 When they had traveled through the entire island [of Cyprus] as far as Paphos, they found a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus,  
Ac1307 who was [closely associated] with the proconsul [of the province], Sergius Paulus, an intelligent and sensible man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ac1308 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is how his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from accepting the faith.  
Ac1309 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him, looked steadily at Elymas,  
Ac1310 and said, “You [Elymas] who are full of every [kind of] deceit, and every [kind of] fraud, you son of the devil, enemy of everything that is right and good, will you never stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?  
Ac1311 Now, watch! The hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he groped around, seeking people to lead him by the hand.  
Ac1312 The proconsul believed [the message of salvation] when he saw what had happened, being astonished at the teaching concerning the Lord.  
Ac1313 Now Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John [Mark] left them and went back to Jerusalem.  
Ac1314 Now they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.  
Ac1315 After the reading of the Law and the [writings of the] Prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers (kinsmen), if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”  
Ac1316 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen!  
Ac1317 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great and numerous during their stay [as foreigners] in the land of Egypt, and then with an uplifted arm He led them out of there.  
Ac1318 For a period of about forty years He put up with their behavior in the wilderness.  
Ac1319 When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He gave their land [to our ancestors] as an inheritance—this took about four hundred and fifty years.  
Ac1320 After this, He gave them judges until the prophet Samuel.  
Ac1321 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.  
Ac1322 And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king: of him He testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART [conforming to My will and purposes], who will do all My will.’  
Ac1323 From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel a Savior, [in the person of] Jesus, according to His promise.  
Ac1324 Before His coming John [the Baptist] had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  
Ac1325 And as John was finishing his course [of ministry], he kept saying, ‘What or who do you think that I am? I am not He [the Christ]; but be aware, One is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie [even as His slave]!’  
Ac1326 “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation [obtained through faith in Jesus Christ].  
Ac1327 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, who failed to recognize or understand both Jesus and the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled these [very prophecies] by condemning Him.  
Ac1328 And though they found no cause or charge deserving death, they asked Pilate to have Him executed.  
Ac1329 And when they had finished carrying out everything that was written [in Scripture] about Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.  
Ac1330 But God raised Him from the dead;  
Ac1331 and for many days (forty) He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people.  
Ac1332 And we are bringing you the good news of the promise made to our fathers (ancestors),  
Ac1333 that God has completely fulfilled this promise to our children by raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN (fathered) YOU.’  
Ac1334 And [as for the fact] that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay [in the grave], He has spoken in this way: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY AND SURE blessings OF DAVID [those blessings and mercies that were promised to him].’  
Ac1335 For this reason He also says in another Psalm, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE DECAY.’  
Ac1336 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was buried among his fathers and experienced decay [in the grave];  
Ac1337 but He whom God raised [to life] did not experience decay [in the grave].  
Ac1338 So let it be clearly known by you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you;  
Ac1339 and through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior and follows Him] is justified and declared free of guilt from all things, from which you could not be justified and freed of guilt through the Law of Moses.  
Ac1340 Therefore be careful, so that the thing spoken of in the [writings of the] Prophets does not come upon you:  
Ac1341 ‘LOOK, YOU MOCKERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH and VANISH AWAY; FOR I AM DOING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, even IF SOMEONE DESCRIBES IT TO YOU [telling you about it in detail].’”  
Ac1342 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving [the synagogue], the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them on the next Sabbath.  
Ac1343 When the congregation of the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, talking to them were urging them to continue in the grace of God.  
Ac1344 On the next Sabbath almost the entire city gathered together to hear the word of the Lord [about salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ac1345 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things said by Paul, and were slandering him.  
Ac1346 And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles.  
Ac1347 For that is what the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, SO THAT YOU MAY BRING [the message of eternal] SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’”  
Ac1348 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying [praising and giving thanks for] the word of the Lord; and all those who had been appointed (designated, ordained) to eternal life [by God] believed [in Jesus as the Christ and their Savior].  
Ac1349 And so the word of the Lord [regarding salvation] was being spread through the entire region.  
Ac1350 But the Jews incited the devout, prominent women and the leading men of the city, and instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them forcibly out of their district.  
Ac1351 But they shook its dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.  
Ac1352 And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their hearts and souls] with joy and with the Holy Spirit.  
Ac1401 Now in Iconium Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way [with such power and boldness] that a large number of Jews as well as Greeks believed [and confidently accepted Jesus as Savior];  
Ac1402 but the unbelieving Jews [who rejected Jesus as Messiah] stirred up and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the believers.  
Ac1403 So Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time, speaking boldly and confidently for the Lord, who continued to testify to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders (attesting miracles) be done by them.  
Ac1404 But the people of the city were divided; some were siding with the Jews, and some with the apostles.  
Ac1405 When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their rulers, to shamefully mistreat and to stone them,  
Ac1406 they, aware of the situation, escaped to Lystra and Derbe, [taking refuge in the] cities of Lycaonia, and the neighboring region;  
Ac1407 and there they continued to preach the good news.  
Ac1408 Now at Lystra a man sat who was unable to use his feet, for he was crippled from birth and had never walked.  
Ac1409 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, and Paul looked intently at him and saw that he had faith to be healed,  
Ac1410 and said with a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet.” And he jumped up and began to walk.  
Ac1411 And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, raised their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”  
Ac1412 They began calling Barnabas, Zeus [chief of the Greek gods], and Paul, Hermes [messenger of the Greek gods], since he took the lead in speaking.  
Ac1413 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance of the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates, and wanted to offer sacrifices with the crowds.  
Ac1414 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,  
Ac1415 “Men, why are you doing these things? We too are only men of the same nature as you, bringing the good news to you, so that you turn from these useless and meaningless things to the living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN THEM.  
Ac1416 In generations past He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;  
Ac1417 yet He did not leave Himself without some witness [as evidence of Himself], in that He kept constantly doing good things and showing you kindness, and giving you rains from heaven and productive seasons, filling your hearts with food and happiness.”  
Ac1418 Even saying these words, with difficulty they prevented the people from offering sacrifices to them.  
Ac1419 But Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.  
Ac1420 But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back into the city; and the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.  
Ac1421 They preached the good news to that city and made many disciples, then they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,  
Ac1422 strengthening and establishing the hearts of the disciples; encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.”  
Ac1423 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah].  
Ac1424 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.  
Ac1425 When they had spoken the word [of salvation through faith in Christ] in Perga, they went down to Attalia.  
Ac1426 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they had now completed.  
Ac1427 Arriving there, they gathered the church together and began to report [in great detail] everything that God had done with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith [in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior].  
Ac1428 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.  
Ac1501 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”  
Ac1502 Paul and Barnabas disagreed greatly and debated with them, so it was determined that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others from their group would go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders [and confer with them] concerning this issue.  
Ac1503 So, after being supplied and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the believers.  
Ac1504 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported to them all the things that God had accomplished through them.  
Ac1505 But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed [in Jesus as the Messiah] stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”  
Ac1506 The apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.  
Ac1507 After a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.  
Ac1508 And God, who knows and understands the heart, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;  
Ac1509 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith [in Jesus].  
Ac1510 Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure?  
Ac1511 But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.”  
Ac1512 All the people remained silent, and they listened [attentively] to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles.  
Ac1513 When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.  
Ac1514 Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him].  
Ac1515 The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written [in Scripture],  
Ac1516 ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TENT OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,  
Ac1517 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES UPON WHOM MY NAME HAS BEEN INVOKED,’  
Ac1518 SAYS THE LORD, WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.  
Ac1519 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble and make it difficult for those who are turning to God among the Gentiles [by putting obstacles in their way],  
Ac1520 but that we write to them that they are to abstain from anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] blood.  
Ac1521 For from ancient generations [the writing of] Moses has been preached in every city, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”  
Ac1522 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their men to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas [also called Silvanus, both], leading men among the brothers.  
Ac1523 With them they sent the following letter: “The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings.  
Ac1524 Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions—  
Ac1525 it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  
Ac1526 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ac1527 So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things [that we decided in our meeting].  
Ac1528 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials:  
Ac1529 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”  
Ac1530 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter.  
Ac1531 And when they had read it, the people rejoiced greatly at the encouragement and comfort [it brought them].  
Ac1532 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (divinely inspired spokesmen), encouraged and strengthened the believers with many words.  
Ac1533 After spending some time there, they were sent back by the brothers with [the greeting of] peace to those who had sent them.  
Ac1534 [However, Silas decided to stay there.]  
Ac1535 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ac1536 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in every city where we preached the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”  
Ac1537 Now Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was called Mark, along with them.  
Ac1538 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.  
Ac1539 And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took [John] Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.  
Ac1540 But Paul chose Silas [who was again in Antioch] and set out [on his second journey], commended by the brothers to the grace and favor of the Lord.  
Ac1541 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.  
Ac1601 Now Paul traveled to Derbe and also to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer [in Christ], however, his father was a Greek.  
Ac1602 Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium.  
Ac1603 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him [as a missionary]; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.  
Ac1604 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decrees decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for the churches to observe.  
Ac1605 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they continually increased in number day after day.  
Ac1606 Now they passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor];  
Ac1607 and after they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;  
Ac1608 so passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.  
Ac1609 Then a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from [the Roman province of] Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”  
Ac1610 And when he had seen the vision, we (including Luke) tried to go on into Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.  
Ac1611 So setting sail from Troas, we ran a direct course to Samothrace, and the next day [went on] to Neapolis;  
Ac1612 and from there [we came] to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed on in this city for several days;  
Ac1613 and on the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the bank of the [Gangites] river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had come there.  
Ac1614 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple fabrics who was [already] a worshiper of God, listened to us; and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul.  
Ac1615 And when she was baptized, along with her household, she pleaded with us, saying, “If you have judged me and decided that I am faithful to the Lord [a true believer], come to my house and stay.” And she persuaded us.  
Ac1616 It happened that as we were on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination [that is, a demonic spirit claiming to foretell the future and discover hidden knowledge], and she brought her owners a good profit by fortune-telling.  
Ac1617 She followed after Paul and us and kept screaming and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”  
Ac1618 She continued doing this for several days. Then Paul, being greatly annoyed and worn out, turned and said to the spirit [inside her], “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ [as His representative] to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.  
Ac1619 But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the market place [where trials were held],  
Ac1620 and when they had brought them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, who are Jews, are throwing our city into confusion and causing trouble.  
Ac1621 They are publicly teaching customs which are unlawful for us, as Romans, to accept or observe.”  
Ac1622 The crowd also joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten with rods.  
Ac1623 After striking them many times [with the rods], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely.  
Ac1624 He, having received such a [strict] command, threw them into the inner prison (dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks [in an agonizing position].  
Ac1625 But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;  
Ac1626 suddenly there was a great earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.  
Ac1627 When the jailer, shaken out of sleep, saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.  
Ac1628 But Paul shouted, saying, “Do not hurt yourself, we are all here!”  
Ac1629 Then the jailer called for torches and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,  
Ac1630 and after he brought them out [of the inner prison], he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  
Ac1631 And they answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].”  
Ac1632 And they spoke the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] to him and to all who were in his house.  
Ac1633 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their bloody wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.  
Ac1634 Then he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, since he had believed in God with his entire family [accepting with joy what had been made known to them about the Christ].  
Ac1635 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.”  
Ac1636 And the jailer repeated the words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word to release you; so come out now and go in peace.”  
Ac1637 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without a trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now they are sending us out secretly? No! Let them come here themselves and bring us out!”  
Ac1638 The officers reported this message to the chief magistrates, and when they heard that the prisoners were Romans, they were frightened;  
Ac1639 so they came [to the prison] and appealed to them [with apologies], and when they brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city.  
Ac1640 So they left the prison and went to Lydia’s house; and when they had seen the brothers and sisters, they encouraged and comforted them, and left.  
Ac1701 Now after Paul and Silas had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.  
Ac1702 And Paul entered the synagogue, as was his custom, and for three Sabbaths he engaged in discussion and friendly debate with them from the Scriptures,  
Ac1703 explaining and pointing out [scriptural evidence] that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).”  
Ac1704 And some of them were persuaded to believe and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and many of the leading women.  
Ac1705 But the [unbelieving] Jews became jealous, and taking along some thugs from [the lowlifes in] the market place, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and then attacking Jason’s house tried to bring Paul and Silas out to the people.  
Ac1706 But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too;  
Ac1707 and Jason has welcomed them [into his house and protected them]! And they all are saying things contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] claiming that there is another king, Jesus.”  
Ac1708 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.  
Ac1709 And when they had taken security (bail) from Jason and the others, they let them go.  
Ac1710 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they entered the Jewish synagogue.  
Ac1711 Now these people were more noble and open-minded than those in Thessalonica, so they received the message [of salvation through faith in the Christ] with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.  
Ac1712 As a result many of them became believers, together with a number of prominent Greek women and men.  
Ac1713 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] had also been preached by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds.  
Ac1714 So at that time the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go as far as the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there [at Berea].  
Ac1715 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens; and [after] receiving instructions [from Paul] for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible, they left.  
Ac1716 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols.  
Ac1717 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there.  
Ac1718 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Ac1719 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming?  
Ac1720 For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.”  
Ac1721 (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)  
Ac1722 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects.  
Ac1723 Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.  
Ac1724 The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;  
Ac1725 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things.  
Ac1726 And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.  
Ac1727 This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  
Ac1728 For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’  
Ac1729 So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man.  
Ac1730 Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives],  
Ac1731 because He has set a day when He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed and destined for that task, and He has provided credible proof to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  
Ac1732 Now when they heard [the term] resurrection from the dead, some mocked and sneered; but others said, “We will hear from you again about this matter.”  
Ac1733 So Paul left them.  
Ac1734 But some men joined him and believed; among them were Dionysius, [a judge] of the Council of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.  
Ac1801 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  
Ac1802 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because [the Roman Emperor] Claudius had issued an edict that all the Jews were to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,  
Ac1803 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them; and they worked together for they were tent-makers.  
Ac1804 And he reasoned and debated in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks;  
Ac1805 but when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia (northern Greece), Paul began devoting himself completely to [preaching] the word, and solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Ac1806 But since the Jews kept resisting and opposing him, and blaspheming [God], he shook out his robe and said to them, “Your blood (damnation) be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”  
Ac1807 Then he moved on from there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, who worshiped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue.  
Ac1808 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household [joyfully acknowledging Him as Messiah and Savior]; and many of the Corinthians who heard [Paul’s message] were believing and being baptized.  
Ac1809 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid anymore, but go on speaking and do not be silent;  
Ac1810 for I am with you, and no one will attack you in order to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”  
Ac1811 So he settled there for a year and six months, teaching them the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ac1812 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (southern Greece), the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,  
Ac1813 declaring, “This man is persuading people to worship God in violation of the law [of Moses].”  
Ac1814 But when Paul was about to reply, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some misdemeanor or serious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to put up with you;  
Ac1815 but since it is merely a question [of doctrine within your religion] about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am unwilling to judge these matters.”  
Ac1816 And he drove them away from the judgment seat.  
Ac1817 Then the Greeks all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him right in front of the judgment seat; but Gallio paid no attention to any of this.  
Ac1818 Paul stayed for a while longer, and then told the brothers and sisters goodbye and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchrea [the southeastern port of Corinth] he had his hair cut, because he was keeping a [Nazirite] vow [of abstention].  
Ac1819 Then they arrived in Ephesus, and he left the others there; but he entered the synagogue and reasoned and debated with the Jews.  
Ac1820 When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he refused;  
Ac1821 but after telling them goodbye and saying, “I will return again if God is willing,” he set sail from Ephesus.  
Ac1822 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church [at Jerusalem], and then went down to Antioch.  
Ac1823 After spending some time there, he left and traveled through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening and encouraging all the disciples.  
Ac1824 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent and cultured man, and well versed in the [Hebrew] Scriptures.  
Ac1825 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being spiritually impassioned, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John;  
Ac1826 and he began to speak boldly and fearlessly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ].  
Ac1827 And when Apollos wanted to go across to Achaia (southern Greece), the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples, [urging them] to welcome him gladly. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who, through grace, had believed and had followed Jesus as Lord and Savior,  
Ac1828 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public discussions, proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Ac1901 It happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper [inland] districts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples.  
Ac1902 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  
Ac1903 And he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”  
Ac1904 Paul said, “John performed a baptism of repentance, continually telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, [to confidently accept and joyfully believe] in Jesus [the Messiah and Savior].”  
Ac1905 After hearing this, they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus.  
Ac1906 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying.  
Ac1907 There were about twelve men in all.  
Ac1908 And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.  
Ac1909 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of the Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue].  
Ac1910 This continued for two years, so that all the inhabitants of [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ac1911 God was doing extraordinary and unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,  
Ac1912 so that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them].  
Ac1913 Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!”  
Ac1914 Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.  
Ac1915 But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?”  
Ac1916 Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded.  
Ac1917 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and exalted.  
Ac1918 Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices.  
Ac1919 And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver.  
Ac1920 So the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] was growing greatly and prevailing.  
Ac1921 Now after these events, Paul determined in the Spirit that he would travel through Macedonia and Achaia (most of the Greek mainland), and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome [and preach the good news of salvation].”  
Ac1922 And after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia [ahead of him], he stayed on in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor] for a while.  
Ac1923 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way (Jesus, Christianity).  
Ac1924 Now a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [the goddess] Artemis (Diana), was bringing no small profit to the craftsmen.  
Ac1925 These [craftsmen] he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business.  
Ac1926 You see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but almost all over [the province of] Asia, this Paul has persuaded [people to believe his teaching] and has misled a large number of people, claiming that gods made by [human] hands are not really gods at all.  
Ac1927 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will be discredited, but also that the [magnificent] temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and that she whom all Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned and lose her glorious magnificence.”  
Ac1928 When they heard this, they were filled with rage, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”  
Ac1929 Then the city was filled with confusion; and people rushed together [as a group] into the amphitheater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.  
Ac1930 Paul wanted to go into the [pagan] assembly, but the disciples would not let him.  
Ac1931 Even some of the Asiarchs (officials) who were his friends sent word to him and repeatedly warned him not to venture into the amphitheater.  
Ac1932 Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in confusion and most of the people did not know why they had come together.  
Ac1933 Some of the crowd advised Alexander [to speak], since the Jews had pushed him forward; and Alexander motioned with his hand [for attention] and intended to make a defense to the people.  
Ac1934 But when they realized that he was a Jew, a single outcry went up from the crowd as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”  
Ac1935 After the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of that [sacred stone image of her] which fell from the sky?  
Ac1936 So, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and stay calm and not do anything rash.  
Ac1937 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.  
Ac1938 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another there.  
Ac1939 But if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.  
Ac1940 For we are running the risk of being accused of rioting in regard to today’s events, and since there is no reason for it, we will be unable to give an account and justify this disorderly gathering.”  
Ac1941 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.  
Ac2001 After the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had encouraged them he told them goodbye, and set off to go to Macedonia.  
Ac2002 After he had gone through those districts and had encouraged the believers, he came to Greece.  
Ac2003 And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece).  
Ac2004 He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.  
Ac2005 These men went on ahead and were waiting for us (including Luke) at Troas.  
Ac2006 We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.  
Ac2007 Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight.  
Ac2008 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled,  
Ac2009 and there was a young man named Eutychus (“Lucky”) sitting on the window sill. He was sinking into a deep sleep, and as Paul kept on talking longer and longer, he was completely overcome by sleep and fell down from the third story; and he was picked up dead.  
Ac2010 But Paul went down and threw himself on him and embraced him, and said [to those standing around him], “Do not be troubled, because he is alive.”  
Ac2011 When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked [informally and confidentially] with them for a long time—until daybreak [in fact]—and then he left.  
Ac2012 They took the boy [Eutychus] home alive, and were greatly comforted and encouraged.  
Ac2013 But we went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go [a shorter route] by land.  
Ac2014 So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and sailed on to Mitylene.  
Ac2015 Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus].  
Ac2016 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.  
Ac2017 However, from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to meet him there].  
Ac2018 And when they arrived he said to them: “You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now],  
Ac2019 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me];  
Ac2020 [you know] how I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house,  
Ac2021 solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation].  
Ac2022 And now, compelled by the Spirit and obligated by my convictions, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,  
Ac2023 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me.  
Ac2024 But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].  
Ac2025 “And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see me again.  
Ac2026 For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people.  
Ac2027 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God.  
Ac2028 Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood.  
Ac2029 I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  
Ac2030 even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers].  
Ac2031 Therefore be continually alert, remembering that for three years, night or day, I did not stop admonishing and advising each one [of you] with tears.  
Ac2032 And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose—all believers].  
Ac2033 I had no desire for anyone’s silver or gold or [expensive] clothes.  
Ac2034 You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me.  
Ac2035 In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’”  
Ac2036 When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.  
Ac2037 And they began to weep openly and threw their arms around Paul’s neck, and repeatedly kissed him,  
Ac2038 grieving and distressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.  
Ac2101 When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara;  
Ac2102 and after finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.  
Ac2103 After we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on our left (port side), we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.  
Ac2104 After looking up the disciples [in Tyre], we stayed there [with them] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the [Holy] Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.  
Ac2105 When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way until we were outside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye.  
Ac2106 Then we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.  
Ac2107 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we landed [twenty miles to the south] at Ptolemais, and after greeting the believers, we stayed with them for one day.  
Ac2108 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.  
Ac2109 He had four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophecy.  
Ac2110 As we were staying there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  
Ac2111 And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s [wide] band (belt, sash) and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this same way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this band, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles (pagans).’”  
Ac2112 Now when we had heard this, both we and the local residents began pleading with Paul trying to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem.  
Ac2113 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be bound and imprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  
Ac2114 And since he would not be dissuaded, we stopped pleading and fell silent, saying, “The Lord’s will be done!”  
Ac2115 After this we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem.  
Ac2116 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to [the house of] Mnason, a man from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.  
Ac2117 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us gladly.  
Ac2118 On the next day Paul went with us to [see] James, and all the elders of the church were present.  
Ac2119 After greeting them, Paul began to give a detailed account of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.  
Ac2120 And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses].  
Ac2121 Now they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are living among the Gentiles to turn away from [the Law of] Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or to live according to the [Mosaic] customs.  
Ac2122 What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.  
Ac2123 Therefore do just what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow;  
Ac2124 take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offerings] so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also follow and keep the Law.  
Ac2125 But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.”  
Ac2126 Then Paul took the [four] men, and the next day he purified himself along with them [by submitting to the ritual]. He went into the temple to give notice of [the time] when the days of purification [ending each vow] would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each one.  
Ac2127 When the seven days [required to complete the ritual] were almost over, [some] Jews from [the province of] Asia [Minor], caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up the crowd, and they seized him,  
Ac2128 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”  
Ac2129 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed that he had brought the man into the temple [beyond the court of the Gentiles].  
Ac2130 Then the whole city was provoked and confused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed.  
Ac2131 Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval.  
Ac2132 So he immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.  
Ac2133 Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.  
Ac2134 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others something else; and since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken to the barracks [in the tower of Antonia].  
Ac2135 When Paul got to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;  
Ac2136 for the majority of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him! [Kill him!]”  
Ac2137 Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” And the man replied, “Do you know Greek?  
Ac2138 Then you are not [as I assumed] the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led those 4,000 men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”  
Ac2139 Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia (Mersin Province, Turkey), a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”  
Ac2140 When the commander had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic), saying,  
Ac2201 “Brethren and fathers (kinsmen), hear my defense which I now offer to you.”  
Ac2202 When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet. And he continued,  
Ac2203 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being ardent and passionate for God just as all of you are today.  
Ac2204 I persecuted and pursued the followers of this Way to the death, binding them with chains and putting [followers of Jesus] both men and women into prisons,  
Ac2205 as the high priest and all the Council of the elders (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) can testify; because from them I received letters to the brothers, and I was on my way to Damascus in order to bring those [believers] who were there to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.  
Ac2206 “But as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a great blaze of light suddenly flashed from heaven and shone around me.  
Ac2207 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’  
Ac2208 And I replied, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’  
Ac2209 Now those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.  
Ac2210 And I asked, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that is appointed and destined for you to do.’  
Ac2211 But since I could not see because of the [glorious intensity and dazzling] brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.  
Ac2212 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,  
Ac2213 came to [see] me, and standing near, he said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I [recovered my sight and] looked up at him.  
Ac2214 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth.  
Ac2215 For you will be His witness to all men testifying of what you have seen and heard.  
Ac2216 Now, why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name [for salvation].’  
Ac2217 “Then it happened when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple [enclosure], that I fell into a trance (vision);  
Ac2218 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’  
Ac2219 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know [without any doubt] that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You [and Your message of salvation].  
Ac2220 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby approving and consenting [to his death], and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.’  
Ac2221 And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”  
Ac2222 They listened to Paul until [he made] this [last] statement, but now they raised their voices and shouted, “Away with such a man from the earth! He is not fit to live!”  
Ac2223 And as they were shouting and throwing off their coats [getting ready to stone Paul] and tossing dust into the air [expressing their anger],  
Ac2224 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he was to be interrogated with a whip in order to learn why the people were shouting against him that way.  
Ac2225 But when they had stretched him out with the leather straps [in preparation for the whip], Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to whip a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned [without a trial]?”  
Ac2226 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is a Roman!”  
Ac2227 So the commander came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”  
Ac2228 The commander replied, “I purchased this citizenship [of mine] for a large sum of money [so how did you acquire yours?].” Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”  
Ac2229 So those who were about to interrogate him by torture immediately let him go; and the commander was also afraid when he realized that Paul was a Roman and he had put him in chains.  
Ac2230 But on the next day, wanting to know the real reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) to assemble; and brought Paul down and presented him before them.  
Ac2301 Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.”  
Ac2302 [At this] the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth.  
Ac2303 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”  
Ac2304 But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?”  
Ac2305 Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”  
Ac2306 But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”  
Ac2307 When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions].  
Ac2308 For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all.  
Ac2309 Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?”  
Ac2310 And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks.  
Ac2311 On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be brave; for as you have solemnly and faithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”  
Ac2312 Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.  
Ac2313 There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath].  
Ac2314 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul.  
Ac2315 So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].”  
Ac2316 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul.  
Ac2317 Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”  
Ac2318 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”  
Ac2319 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”  
Ac2320 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly.  
Ac2321 But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.”  
Ac2322 So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.”  
Ac2323 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen;  
Ac2324 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”  
Ac2325 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect:  
Ac2326 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.  
Ac2327 This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.  
Ac2328 And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court);  
Ac2329 and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions and issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment.  
Ac2330 When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”  
Ac2331 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night.  
Ac2332 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.  
Ac2333 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him.  
Ac2334 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province],  
Ac2335 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).  
Ac2401 Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down [from Jerusalem to Caesarea] with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus [acting as spokesman and counsel]. They presented to the governor their [formal] charges against Paul.  
Ac2402 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began the complaint [against him], saying to the governor: “Since through you we have attained great peace, and since by your foresight reforms are being carried out for this nation,  
Ac2403 in every way and in every place, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.  
Ac2404 But so that I do not weary you further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.  
Ac2405 For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the [heretical] sect of the Nazarenes.  
Ac2406 He even tried to desecrate the temple, but we took him into custody [and we intended to judge him by our Law,  
Ac2407 but Lysias the commander came, and with great force took him out of our hands,  
Ac2408 and ordered his accusers to come before you.] By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to determine [the truth about] these things with which we charge him.”  
Ac2409 The Jews also joined in the attack, declaring and insisting that these things were so.  
Ac2410 When the governor nodded for him to speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I make my defense cheerfully and with good courage.  
Ac2411 As you can easily verify, it has been no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.  
Ac2412 Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor elsewhere in the city did they find me carrying on a discussion or disputing with anybody or causing a crowd to gather.  
Ac2413 Nor can they present evidence to you to prove what they now bring against me.  
Ac2414 But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a [divisive and heretical] sect, I do worship and serve the God of our fathers, [confidently] believing everything that is in accordance with the Law [of Moses] and that is written in the Prophets;  
Ac2415 having [the same] hope in God which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of [the dead], both of the righteous and of the wicked.  
Ac2416 In view of this, I also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men.  
Ac2417 Now after several years I came [to Jerusalem] to bring to my people charitable contributions and offerings.  
Ac2418 They found me in the temple presenting these offerings, after I had undergone [the rites of] purification, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor],  
Ac2419 who ought to have been here before you to present their charges, if they have anything against me.  
Ac2420 Or else let these men tell what crime they found [me guilty of] when I stood before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court),  
Ac2421 other than for this one statement which I had shouted out as I stood among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”  
Ac2422 But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding about the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”  
Ac2423 Then he ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and [he told the centurion] not to stop any of his friends from providing for his needs.  
Ac2424 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.  
Ac2425 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.”  
Ac2426 At the same time he was also hoping to get money from Paul [as a bribe]; so he continued to send for him quite often and talked with him.  
Ac2427 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded [in office] by Porcius Festus; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.  
Ac2501 Now Festus arrived in the province, and three days later he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea [Maritima].  
Ac2502 And [there in Jerusalem] the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul [before Festus], and they repeatedly pleaded with him,  
Ac2503 asking as a concession against Paul, that he would have him brought to Jerusalem; (meanwhile planning an ambush to kill him on the way).  
Ac2504 Festus answered that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea [Maritima] and that he himself was about to leave shortly.  
Ac2505 “So,” he said, “let those who are in a position of authority among you go there with me, and if there is anything criminal about the man, let them bring charges against him.”  
Ac2506 Now after Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal (the judicial bench), and ordered Paul to be brought [before him].  
Ac2507 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him which they were not able to prove,  
Ac2508 while Paul declared in his own defense, “I have done no wrong and committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”  
Ac2509 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial there in my presence [before the Jewish Sanhedrin] on these charges?”  
Ac2510 Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.  
Ac2511 Therefore, if I am guilty and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not try to escape death; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero).”  
Ac2512 Then Festus, after conferring with [the men who formed] his council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”  
Ac2513 Now several days later, Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].  
Ac2514 While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man here who was left as a prisoner by Felix.  
Ac2515 When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews [told me about him and] brought charges against him, petitioning for a sentence of condemnation against him.  
Ac2516 I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man [for punishment] before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.  
Ac2517 So after they arrived together here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my place on the tribunal and ordered that the man be brought before me.  
Ac2518 When his accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of crimes that I was expecting [neither civil nor criminal actions],  
Ac2519 instead they had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about one Jesus, a man who had died, but whom Paul kept asserting and insisting [over and over] to be alive.  
Ac2520 And I, being at a loss as to how to investigate these things, asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters.  
Ac2521 But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for a decision by the Emperor [Nero], I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”  
Ac2522 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” Festus replied, “you will hear him.”  
Ac2523 So the next day Agrippa and [his sister] Bernice came with great pageantry, and they went into the auditorium accompanied by the military commanders and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.  
Ac2524 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all you gentlemen present with us, you see this man [Paul] about whom all the Jewish people appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly insisting that he ought not to live any longer.  
Ac2525 But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death; however, since he appealed to the Emperor [Nero], I decided to send him [to Rome].  
Ac2526 But I have nothing specific about him to write to my lord. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I will have something to put in writing.  
Ac2527 For it seems absurd and unreasonable to me to send a prisoner [to Rome] without indicating the charges against him.”  
Ac2601 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are [now] permitted to speak on your own behalf.” At that, Paul stretched out his hand [as an orator] and made his defense [as follows]:  
Ac2602 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, since it is before you that I am to make my defense today regarding all the charges brought against me by the Jews,  
Ac2603 especially because you are an expert [fully knowledgeable, experienced and unusually conversant] in all the Jewish customs and controversial issues; therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.  
Ac2604 “So then, all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation [the Jewish people], and in Jerusalem.  
Ac2605 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify to it, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I have lived as a Pharisee.  
Ac2606 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.  
Ac2607 Which hope [of the Messiah and the resurrection] our twelve tribes [confidently] expect to realize as they serve and worship God in earnest night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews!  
Ac2608 Why is it thought incredible by [any of] you that God raises the dead?  
Ac2609 “So then, I [once] thought to myself that it was my duty to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  
Ac2610 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; I not only locked up many of the saints (God’s people) in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.  
Ac2611 And I often punished them [making them suffer] in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme; and in my extreme rage at them, I kept hunting them even to foreign cities [harassing and persecuting them].  
Ac2612 “While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission and full power of the chief priests,  
Ac2613 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who were traveling with me.  
Ac2614 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic) saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick [repeatedly] against the goads [offering pointless resistance].’  
Ac2615 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  
Ac2616 Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you [to serve] as a minister and as a witness [to testify, with authority,] not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you,  
Ac2617 [choosing you for Myself and] rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,  
Ac2618 to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.’  
Ac2619 “So, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,  
Ac2620 but I openly proclaimed first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent [change their inner self—their old way of thinking] and turn to God, doing deeds and living lives which are consistent with repentance.  
Ac2621 Because of this some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.  
Ac2622 But I have had help from God to this day, and I stand [before people] testifying to small and great alike, stating nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass—  
Ac2623 that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to suffer, and that He by being the first to rise from the dead [with an incorruptible body] would proclaim light (salvation) both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”  
Ac2624 While Paul was making this defense, Festus said loudly, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great education is turning you toward madness.”  
Ac2625 But Paul replied, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent and noble Festus, but [with a sound mind] I am uttering rational words of truth and reason.  
Ac2626 For [your majesty] the king understands these things, and [therefore] I am also speaking to him with confidence and boldness, since I am convinced that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner [hidden from view, in secret].  
Ac2627 King Agrippa, do you believe the [writings of the] Prophets [their messages and words]? I know that you do.”  
Ac2628 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time [and with so little effort] you [almost] persuade me to become a Christian.”  
Ac2629 And Paul replied, “Whether in a short time or long, I wish to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”  
Ac2630 Then the king stood up, and [with him] the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them;  
Ac2631 and after they had gone out, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or [even] of imprisonment.”  
Ac2632 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar (Emperor Nero).”  
Ac2701 Now when it was determined that we (including Luke) would sail for Italy, they turned Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan Regiment named Julius.  
Ac2702 And going aboard a ship from Adramyttian which was about to sail for the ports along the [west] coast [province] of Asia [Minor], we put out to sea; and Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, accompanied us.  
Ac2703 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, treating Paul with [thoughtful] consideration, allowed him to go to his friends there and be cared for and refreshed.  
Ac2704 From there we put out to sea and sailed to the leeward (sheltered) side of Cyprus [for protection from weather] because the winds were against us.  
Ac2705 When we had sailed across the sea along the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia [on the south coast of Asia Minor].  
Ac2706 There the centurion [Julius] found an Alexandrian ship [a grain ship of the Roman fleet] sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.  
Ac2707 For a number of days we sailed slowly and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus; then, because the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the leeward (sheltered) side of Crete, off Salmone;  
Ac2708 and hugging the shore with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea [on the south side of Crete].  
Ac2709 Now much time had been lost, and navigation was dangerous, because even [the time for] the fast (Day of Atonement) was already over, so Paul began to strongly warn them,  
Ac2710 saying, “Men, I sense [after careful thought and observation] that this voyage will certainly be a disaster and with great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”  
Ac2711 However, the centurion [Julius, ranking officer on board] was persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship rather than by what Paul said.  
Ac2712 Because the harbor was not well situated for wintering, the majority [of the sailors] decided to put to sea from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.  
Ac2713 So when the south wind blew softly, thinking that they had obtained their goal, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, hugging the coast.  
Ac2714 But soon afterward a violent wind, called Euraquilo [a northeaster, a tempestuous windstorm like a typhoon], came rushing down from the island;  
Ac2715 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head against the wind [to gain stability], we gave up and [letting her drift] were driven along.  
Ac2716 We ran under the shelter of a small island [twenty-five miles south of Crete] called Clauda, and with great difficulty we were able to get the ship’s skiff on the deck and secure it.  
Ac2717 After hoisting the skiff [on board], they used support lines [for frapping] to undergird and brace the ship’s hull; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis [off the north coast of Africa], they let down the sea anchor and lowered the sails and were driven along [backwards with the bow into the wind].  
Ac2718 On the next day, as we were being violently tossed about by the storm [and taking on water], they began to jettison the cargo;  
Ac2719 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle (spare lines, blocks, miscellaneous equipment) overboard with their own hands [to further reduce the weight].  
Ac2720 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm kept raging about us, from then on all hope of our being saved was [growing worse and worse and] gradually abandoned.  
Ac2721 After they had gone a long time without food [because of seasickness and stress], Paul stood up before them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and should not have set sail from Crete, and brought on this damage and loss.  
Ac2722 But even now I urge you to keep up your courage and be in good spirits, because there will be no loss of life among you, but only loss of the ship.  
Ac2723 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,  
Ac2724 and said, ‘Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those who are sailing with you.’  
Ac2725 So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God and have complete confidence in Him that it will turn out exactly as I have been told;  
Ac2726 but we must run [the ship] aground on some island.”  
Ac2727 The fourteenth night had come and we were drifting and being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land.  
Ac2728 So they took soundings [using a weighted line] and found [the depth to be] twenty fathoms (120 feet); and a little farther on they sounded again and found [the depth to be] fifteen fathoms (90 feet).  
Ac2729 Then fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern [to slow the ship] and kept wishing for daybreak to come.  
Ac2730 But as the sailors were trying to escape [secretly] from the ship and had let down the skiff into the sea, pretending that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow,  
Ac2731 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you cannot be saved.”  
Ac2732 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes that held the skiff and let it fall and drift away.  
Ac2733 While they waited for the day to dawn, Paul encouraged them all [and told them] to have some food, saying, “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on watch and going without food, having eaten nothing.  
Ac2734 So I urge you to eat some food, for this is for your survival; for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.”  
Ac2735 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, and he broke it and began to eat.  
Ac2736 Then all of them were encouraged and their spirits improved, and they also ate some food.  
Ac2737 All told there were two hundred and seventy-six of us aboard the ship.  
Ac2738 After they had eaten enough, they began to lighten the ship by throwing the wheat [from Egypt] overboard into the sea.  
Ac2739 When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, and they decided to run the ship ashore there if they could.  
Ac2740 So they cut the cables and severed the anchors and left them in the sea while at the same time unlashing the ropes of the rudders; and after hoisting the foresail to the wind, they headed steadily for the beach.  
Ac2741 But striking a reef with waves breaking in on either side, they ran the ship aground. The prow (forward point) stuck fast and remained immovable, while the stern began to break up under the [violent] force of the waves.  
Ac2742 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would dive overboard and swim [to land] and escape;  
Ac2743 but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from [carrying out] their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to the shore;  
Ac2744 and [he commanded] the rest to follow, some on [floating] planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it was that all of them were brought safely to land.  
Ac2801 After we were safe [on land], we found out that the island was called Malta.  
Ac2802 And the natives showed us extraordinary kindness and hospitality; for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, since it had begun to rain and was cold.  
Ac2803 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper crawled out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.  
Ac2804 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, Justice [the avenging goddess] has not permitted him to live.”  
Ac2805 Then Paul [simply] shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.  
Ac2806 But they stood watching and expecting him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began saying that he was a god.  
Ac2807 In the vicinity of that place there were estates belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed and entertained us hospitably for three days.  
Ac2808 And it happened that the father of Publius was sick [in bed] with recurring attacks of fever and dysentery; and Paul went to him, and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.  
Ac2809 After this occurred, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being healed.  
Ac2810 They also gave us many honors [gifts and courtesies expressing respect]; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all the things we needed.  
Ac2811 At the end of three months we set sail on a ship which had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers [Castor and Pollux] as its figurehead.  
Ac2812 We landed at Syracuse [on Sicily] and stayed there three days.  
Ac2813 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium [on Italy’s southern tip]; and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.  
Ac2814 There we found some believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.  
Ac2815 And the brothers and sisters, having heard news about us, came from as far away as the Forum of Appius and Three Inns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.  
Ac2816 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself [in rented quarters] with the soldier who was guarding him.  
Ac2817 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews; and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Kinsmen, though I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was turned over as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  
Ac2818 After they had interrogated me, they were ready to release me because I was not guilty of any offense deserving death.  
Ac2819 But when the Jews objected [to my release], I was forced to appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero), not because I had any charge to make against my nation.  
Ac2820 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel (the Messiah, the resurrection) that I am bound with this chain.”  
Ac2821 They said to him, “We have not received [any] letters about you from Judea, nor have any of the [Jewish] brothers come here and reported or said anything bad about you.  
Ac2822 But we would like to hear from you what your views are [that is, exactly what you believe]; for in regard to this sect (Christianity), we are fully aware that it is denounced everywhere.”  
Ac2823 When they had set a day for Paul, they came to his lodging in large numbers. And he carefully explained [Christianity] to them from morning until evening, solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the [writings of the] Prophets.  
Ac2824 Some were persuaded by what he said, but others would not believe.  
Ac2825 They disagreed among themselves and they began to leave after Paul had made one last statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying,  
Ac2826 ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;  
Ac2827 FOR THE HEART (the understanding, the soul) OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL (calloused), AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE SHUT THEIR EYES [to the truth]; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN [to Me], AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”’  
Ac2828 Therefore let it be known to you that [this message of] the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they indeed will listen!”  
Ac2829 [And when he had said these things, the Jews left, arguing among themselves.]  
Ac2830 And Paul lived there for two full years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him,  
Ac2831 preaching and proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness and boldness, unhindered and unrestrained.  
Ro0101 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the gospel of God [the good news of salvation],  
Ro0102 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures—  
Ro0103 [the good news] regarding His Son, who, as to the flesh [His human nature], was born a descendant of David [to fulfill the covenant promises],  
Ro0104 and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated to be the Son of God with power [in a triumphant and miraculous way] by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.  
Ro0105 It is through Him that we have received grace and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the Gentiles,  
Ro0106 and you also are among those who are called of Jesus Christ to belong to Him;  
Ro0107 [I am writing] to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called to be saints (God’s people) and set apart for a sanctified life, [that is, set apart for God and His purpose]: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ro0108 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world.  
Ro0109 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how continuously I mention you  
Ro0110 in my prayers; always pleading that somehow, by God’s will, I may now at last come to you.  
Ro0111 For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift, to strengthen and establish you;  
Ro0112 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.  
Ro0113 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that many times I have planned to come to you, (and have been prevented so far) so that I may have some fruit [of my labors] among you, even as I have among the rest of the Gentiles.  
Ro0114 I have a duty to perform and a debt to pay both to Greeks and to barbarians [the cultured and the uncultured], both to the wise and to the foolish.  
Ro0115 So, for my part, I am ready and eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.  
Ro0116 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  
Ro0117 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “THE JUST and UPRIGHT SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  
Ro0118 For [God does not overlook sin and] the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth,  
Ro0119 because that which is known about God is evident within them [in their inner consciousness], for God made it evident to them.  
Ro0120 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.  
Ro0121 For even though they knew God [as the Creator], they did not honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation]. On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and their foolish heart was darkened.  
Ro0122 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,  
Ro0123 and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles.  
Ro0124 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],  
Ro0125 because [by choice] they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  
Ro0126 For this reason God gave them over to degrading and vile passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural [a function contrary to nature],  
Ro0127 and in the same way also the men turned away from the natural function of the woman and were consumed with their desire toward one another, men with men committing shameful acts and in return receiving in their own bodies the inevitable and appropriate penalty for their wrongdoing.  
Ro0128 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive,  
Ro0129 until they were filled (permeated, saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice and mean-spiritedness. They are gossips [spreading rumors],  
Ro0130 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors [of new forms] of evil, disobedient and disrespectful to parents,  
Ro0131 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful [without pity].  
Ro0132 Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.  
Ro0201 Therefore you have no excuse or justification, everyone of you who [hypocritically] judges and condemns others; for in passing judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, because you who judge [from a position of arrogance or self-righteousness] are habitually practicing the very same things [which you denounce].  
Ro0202 And we know that the judgment of God falls justly and in accordance with truth on those who practice such things.  
Ro0203 But do you think this, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things, and yet do the same yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His verdict?  
Ro0204 Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?  
Ro0205 But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.  
Ro0206 He WILL PAY BACK TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS [justly, as his deeds deserve]:  
Ro0207 to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.  
Ro0208 But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation.  
Ro0209 There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,  
Ro0210 but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  
Ro0211 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another].  
Ro0212 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without [regard to] the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged and condemned by the Law.  
Ro0213 For it is not those who merely hear the Law [as it is read aloud] who are just or righteous before God, but it is those who [actually] obey the Law who will be justified [pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him].  
Ro0214 When Gentiles, who do not have the Law [since it was given only to Jews], do instinctively the things the Law requires [guided only by their conscience], they are a law to themselves, though they do not have the Law.  
Ro0215 They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them  
Ro0216 on that day when, as my gospel proclaims, God will judge the secrets [all the hidden thoughts and concealed sins] of men through Christ Jesus.  
Ro0217 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely on the Law [for your salvation] and boast in [your special relationship to] God,  
Ro0218 and [if you claim to] know His will and approve the things that are essential or have a sense of what is excellent, based on your instruction from the Law,  
Ro0219 and [if you] are confident that you are a [qualified] guide to the blind [those untaught in theology], a light to those who are in darkness,  
Ro0220 and [that you are] a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the [spiritually] childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth—  
Ro0221 well then, you who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]?  
Ro0222 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?  
Ro0223 You who boast in the Law, do you [repeatedly] dishonor God by breaking the Law?  
Ro0224 For, “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written [in Scripture].  
Ro0225 Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God’s sight].  
Ro0226 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded [by God] as circumcision?  
Ro0227 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps [the spirit of] the Law will judge you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, break the Law.  
Ro0228 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical.  
Ro0229 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and [true] circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by [the fulfillment of] the letter [of the Law]. His praise is not from men, but from God.  
Ro0301 Then what is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?  
Ro0302 Great in every respect. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [His very words].  
Ro0303 What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it?  
Ro0304 Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture], “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED [by sinful men].”  
Ro0305 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? God is not wrong to inflict His wrath [on us], is He? (I am speaking in purely human terms.)  
Ro0306 Certainly not! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?  
Ro0307 But [as you might say] if through my lie God’s truth was magnified and abounded to His glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner?  
Ro0308 And why not say, (as some slanderously report and claim that we teach) “Let us do evil so that good may come of it”? Their condemnation [by God] is just.  
Ro0309 Well then, are we [Jews] better off than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under the control of sin and subject to its power.  
Ro0310 As it is written and forever remains written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS [none that meets God’s standard], NOT EVEN ONE.  
Ro0311 “THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD.  
Ro0312 “ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.”  
Ro0313 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE; THEY [habitually] DECEIVE WITH THEIR TONGUES.” “THE VENOM OF ASPS IS BENEATH THEIR LIPS.”  
Ro0314 “THEIR MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS.”  
Ro0315 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,  
Ro0316 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,  
Ro0317 AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THE PATH OF PEACE.”  
Ro0318 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD [and His awesome power] BEFORE THEIR EYES.”  
Ro0319 Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment].  
Ro0320 For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].  
Ro0321 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets.  
Ro0322 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,  
Ro0323 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,  
Ro0324 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,  
Ro0325 whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion].  
Ro0326 It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior].  
Ro0327 Then what becomes of [our] boasting? It is excluded [entirely ruled out, banished]. On what principle? On [the principle of good] works? No, but on the principle of faith.  
Ro0328 For we maintain that an individual is justified by faith distinctly apart from works of the Law [the observance of which has nothing to do with justification, that is, being declared free of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God].  
Ro0329 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not also the God of Gentiles [who were not given the Law]? Yes, of Gentiles also,  
Ro0330 since indeed it is one [and the same] God who will justify the circumcised by faith [which began with Abraham] and the uncircumcised through [their newly acquired] faith.  
Ro0331 Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].  
Ro0401 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather humanly speaking, has found? [Has he obtained a favored standing?]  
Ro0402 For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God.  
Ro0403 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN (trusted, relied on) GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIS ACCOUNT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right living, right standing with God).”  
Ro0404 Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him].  
Ro0405 But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).  
Ro0406 And in this same way David speaks of the blessing on the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:  
Ro0407 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS ACTS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED UP and COMPLETELY BURIED.  
Ro0408 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT nor CHARGE AGAINST HIM.”  
Ro0409 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  
Ro0410 How then was it credited [to him]? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before? Not after, but while [he was] uncircumcised.  
Ro0411 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal or confirmation of the righteousness which he had by faith while [he was still] uncircumcised—this was so that he would be the [spiritual] father of all who believe without being circumcised—so that righteousness would be credited to them,  
Ro0412 and [that he would be] the [spiritual] father of those circumcised who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had before he was circumcised.  
Ro0413 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through [observing the requirements of] the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.  
Ro0414 If those who are [followers] of the Law are [the true] heirs [of Abraham], then faith [leading to salvation] is of no effect and void, and the promise [of God] is nullified.  
Ro0415 For the Law results in [God’s] wrath [against sin], but where there is no law, there is no violation [of it either].  
Ro0416 Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God], in order that it may be given as an act of grace [His unmerited favor and mercy], so that the promise will be [legally] guaranteed to all the descendants [of Abraham]—not only for those [Jewish believers] who keep the Law, but also for those [Gentile believers] who share the faith of Abraham, who is the [spiritual] father of us all—  
Ro0417 (as it is written [in Scripture], “I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.  
Ro0418 In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised [by God]: “SO [numberless] SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  
Ro0419 Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb.  
Ro0420 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God,  
Ro0421 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised.  
Ro0422 Therefore his faith WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing with God).  
Ro0423 Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him,  
Ro0424 but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead—  
Ro0425 who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].  
Ro0501 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).  
Ro0502 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].  
Ro0503 And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance;  
Ro0504 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].  
Ro0505 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  
Ro0506 While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly.  
Ro0507 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die.  
Ro0508 But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  
Ro0509 Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  
Ro0510 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].  
Ro0511 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God [rejoicing in His love and perfection] through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation [with God].  
Ro0512 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned.  
Ro0513 Sin was [committed] in the world before the Law [was given], but sin is not charged [against anyone] when there is no law [against it].  
Ro0514 Yet death ruled [over mankind] from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who had not sinned as Adam did. Adam is a type of Him (Christ) who was to come [but in reverse—Adam brought destruction, Christ brought salvation].  
Ro0515 But the free gift [of God] is not like the trespass [because the gift of grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man’s trespass [Adam’s sin], much more [abundantly] did God’s grace and the gift [that comes] by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to [benefit] the many.  
Ro0516 Nor is the gift [of grace] like that which came through the one who sinned. For on the one hand the judgment [following the sin] resulted from one trespass and brought condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift resulted from many trespasses and brought justification [the release from sin’s penalty for those who believe].  
Ro0517 For if by the trespass of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one (Adam), much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ.  
Ro0518 So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  
Ro0519 For just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him.  
Ro0520 But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more,  
Ro0521 so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  
Ro0601 What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow?  
Ro0602 Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer?  
Ro0603 Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  
Ro0604 We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways].  
Ro0605 For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection.  
Ro0606 We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.  
Ro0607 For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin.  
Ro0608 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him,  
Ro0609 because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.  
Ro0610 For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].  
Ro0611 Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.  
Ro0612 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts and passions.  
Ro0613 Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.  
Ro0614 For sin will no longer be a master over you, since you are not under Law [as slaves], but under [unmerited] grace [as recipients of God’s favor and mercy].  
Ro0615 What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under [God’s] grace? Certainly not!  
Ro0616 Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)?  
Ro0617 But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.  
Ro0618 And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].  
Ro0619 I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose].  
Ro0620 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness [you had no desire to conform to God’s will].  
Ro0621 So what benefit did you get at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None!] For the outcome of those things is death!  
Ro0622 But now since you have been set free from sin and have become [willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification [being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is eternal life.  
Ro0623 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  
Ro0701 Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction [to rule] over a person as long as he lives?  
Ro0702 For the married woman [as an example] is bound and remains bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if her husband dies, she is released and exempt from the law concerning her husband.  
Ro0703 Accordingly, she will be designated as an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law [regarding marriage], so that she is not an adulteress if she marries another man.  
Ro0704 Therefore, my fellow believers, you too died to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.  
Ro0705 When we were living in the flesh [trapped by sin], the sinful passions, which were awakened by [that which] the Law [identifies as sin], were at work in our body to bear fruit for death [since the willingness to sin led to death and separation from God].  
Ro0706 But now we have been released from the Law and its penalty, having died [through Christ] to that by which we were held captive, so that we serve [God] in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter [of the Law].  
Ro0707 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have recognized sin. For I would not have known [for example] about coveting [what belongs to another, and would have had no sense of guilt] if the Law had not [repeatedly] said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  
Ro0708 But sin, finding an opportunity through the commandment [to express itself] produced in me every kind of coveting and selfish desire. For without the Law sin is dead [the recognition of sin is inactive].  
Ro0709 I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death].  
Ro0710 And the very commandment which was intended to bring life, actually proved to bring death for me.  
Ro0711 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, beguiled and completely deceived me, and using it as a weapon killed me [separating me from God].  
Ro0712 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.  
Ro0713 Did that which is good [the Law], then become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, in order that it might be revealed as sin, was producing death in me by [using] this good thing [as a weapon], so that through the commandment sin would become exceedingly sinful.  
Ro0714 We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am a creature of the flesh [worldly, self-reliant—carnal and unspiritual], sold into slavery to sin [and serving under its control].  
Ro0715 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].  
Ro0716 Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent).  
Ro0717 So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.  
Ro0718 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not.  
Ro0719 For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.  
Ro0720 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.  
Ro0721 So I find it to be the law [of my inner self], that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.  
Ro0722 For I joyfully delight in the law of God in my inner self [with my new nature],  
Ro0723 but I see a different law and rule of action in the members of my body [in its appetites and desires], waging war against the law of my mind and subduing me and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is within my members.  
Ro0724 Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will [rescue me and] set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]?  
Ro0725 Thanks be to God [for my deliverance] through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind serve the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness, my sinful capacity—I serve] the law of sin.  
Ro0801 Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].  
Ro0802 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  
Ro0803 For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son],  
Ro0804 so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].  
Ro0805 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].  
Ro0806 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever];  
Ro0807 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot,  
Ro0808 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.  
Ro0809 However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God].  
Ro0810 If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides].  
Ro0811 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.  
Ro0812 So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—  
Ro0813 for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever.  
Ro0814 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  
Ro0815 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”  
Ro0816 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.  
Ro0817 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.  
Ro0818 For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!  
Ro0819 For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed.  
Ro0820 For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope  
Ro0821 that the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay [and gain entrance] into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  
Ro0822 For we know that the whole creation has been moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now.  
Ro0823 And not only this, but we too, who have the first fruits of the Spirit [a joyful indication of the blessings to come], even we groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for [the sign of] our adoption as sons—the redemption and transformation of our body [at the resurrection].  
Ro0824 For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees?  
Ro0825 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.  
Ro0826 In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.  
Ro0827 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.  
Ro0828 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.  
Ro0829 For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.  
Ro0830 And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].  
Ro0831 What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us?  
Ro0832 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?  
Ro0833 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect (His chosen ones)? It is God who justifies us [declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself].  
Ro0834 Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us.  
Ro0835 Who shall ever separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  
Ro0836 Just as it is written and forever remains written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE ARE REGARDED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.”  
Ro0837 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].  
Ro0838 For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,  
Ro0839 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  
Ro0901 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit,  
Ro0902 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  
Ro0903 For [if it were possible] I would wish that I myself were accursed, [separated, banished] from Christ for the sake [of the salvation] of my brothers, my natural kinsmen,  
Ro0904 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, the glory (Shekinah), the [special] covenants [with Abraham, Moses, and David], the giving of the Law, the [system of temple] worship, and the [original] promises.  
Ro0905 To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to His natural descent, came the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), He who is exalted and supreme over all, God blessed forever. Amen.  
Ro0906 However, it is not as though God’s word has failed [coming to nothing]. For not all who are descended from Israel (Jacob) are [the true] Israel;  
Ro0907 and they are not all the children of Abraham because they are his descendants [by blood], but [the promise was]: “YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED THROUGH ISAAC” [though Abraham had other sons].  
Ro0908 That is, it is not the children of the body [Abraham’s natural descendants] who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as [Abraham’s true] descendants.  
Ro0909 For this is what the promise said: “ABOUT THIS TIME [next year] I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.”  
Ro0910 And not only that, but this too: Rebekah conceived twin sons by one man [under the same circumstances], by our father Isaac;  
Ro0911 and though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything either good or bad, so that God’s purpose [His choice, His election] would stand, not because of works [done by either child], but because of [the plan of] Him who calls them,  
Ro0912 it was said to her, “THE OLDER (Esau) WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER (Jacob).”  
Ro0913 As it is written and forever remains written, “JACOB I LOVED (chose, protected, blessed), BUT ESAU I HATED (held in disregard compared to Jacob).”  
Ro0914 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Certainly not!  
Ro0915 For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOMEVER I HAVE COMPASSION.”  
Ro0916 So then God’s choice is not dependent on human will, nor on human effort [the totality of human striving], but on God who shows mercy [to whomever He chooses—it is His sovereign gift].  
Ro0917 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “I RAISED YOU UP FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, TO DISPLAY MY POWER IN [dealing with] YOU, AND SO THAT MY NAME WOULD BE PROCLAIMED IN ALL THE EARTH.”  
Ro0918 So then, He has mercy on whom He wills (chooses), and He hardens [the heart of] whom He wills.  
Ro0919 You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”  
Ro0920 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”  
Ro0921 Does the potter not have the right over the clay, to make from the same lump [of clay] one object for honorable use [something beautiful or distinctive] and another for common use [something ordinary or menial]?  
Ro0922 What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?  
Ro0923 And what if He has done so to make known the riches of His glory to the objects of His mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory,  
Ro0924 including us, whom He also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles?  
Ro0925 Just as He says in [the writings of the prophet] Hosea: “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’ AND [I will call] HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”  
Ro0926 “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”  
Ro0927 And Isaiah calls out concerning Israel: “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS ONLY THE REMNANT [a small believing minority] THAT WILL BE SAVED [from God’s judgment];  
Ro0928 FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD UPON THE EARTH [He will conclude His dealings with mankind] COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT DELAY.”  
Ro0929 It is as Isaiah foretold, “IF THE LORD OF HOSTS HAD NOT LEFT US SEED [future generations from which a believing remnant of Israelites came], WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE RESEMBLED GOMORRAH [totally rejected and destroyed]!”  
Ro0930 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness [who did not seek salvation and a right relationship with God, nevertheless] obtained righteousness, that is, the righteousness which is produced by faith;  
Ro0931 whereas Israel, [though always] pursuing the law of righteousness, did not succeed in fulfilling the law.  
Ro0932 And why not? Because it was not by faith [that they pursued it], but as though it were by works [relying on the merit of their works instead of their faith]. They stumbled over the stumbling Stone [Jesus Christ].  
Ro0933 As it is written and forever remains written, “BEHOLD I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE; AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”  
Ro1001 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is for their salvation.  
Ro1002 For I testify about them that they have a certain enthusiasm for God, but not in accordance with [correct and vital] knowledge [about Him and His purposes].  
Ro1003 For not knowing about God’s righteousness [which is based on faith], and seeking to establish their own [righteousness based on works], they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  
Ro1004 For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior].  
Ro1005 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it.  
Ro1006 But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ that is, to bring Christ down;  
Ro1007 or, ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible].”  
Ro1008 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach—  
Ro1009 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  
Ro1010 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.  
Ro1011 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”  
Ro1012 For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer].  
Ro1013 For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD [in prayer] WILL BE SAVED.”  
Ro1014 But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?  
Ro1015 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”  
Ro1016 But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?”  
Ro1017 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.  
Ro1018 But I say, did they not hear? Indeed they have; “THEIR VOICE [that of creation bearing God’s message] HAS GONE OUT TO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE [farthest] ENDS OF THE WORLD.”  
Ro1019 But I say, did Israel fail to understand [that the gospel was to go also to the Gentiles]? First Moses says, “I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION (Gentiles); WITH A NATION THAT LACKS UNDERSTANDING I WILL MAKE YOU ANGRY.”  
Ro1020 Then Isaiah is very bold and says, “I HAVE BEEN FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME; I HAVE SHOWN MYSELF TO THOSE WHO DID NOT [consciously] ASK FOR ME.”  
Ro1021 But of Israel he says, “ALL DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS [in compassion] TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE.”  
Ro1101 I say then, has God rejected and disowned His people? Certainly not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  
Ro1102 God has not rejected His [chosen] people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?  
Ro1103 “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT [of the prophets], AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.”  
Ro1104 But what is God’s response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.”  
Ro1105 So too then, at the present time there has come to be a remnant [a small believing minority] according to God’s gracious choice.  
Ro1106 But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].  
Ro1107 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking [that is, God’s favor by obedience to the Law], but the elect [those chosen few] obtained it, while the rest of them became hardened and callously indifferent;  
Ro1108 just as it is written [in Scripture], “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES THAT DO NOT SEE AND EARS THAT DO NOT HEAR, [a spiritual apathy that has continued] TO THIS VERY DAY.”  
Ro1109 And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE (abundance) BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.  
Ro1110 “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED SO THAT THEY DO NOT SEE, AND MAKE THEIR BACKS BEND [under their burden] FOREVER.”  
Ro1111 So I say, have they stumbled so as to fall [to spiritual ruin]? Certainly not! But by their transgression [their rejection of the Messiah] salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous [when they realize what they have forfeited].  
Ro1112 Now if Israel’s transgression means riches for the world [at large] and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment and reinstatement be!  
Ro1113 But now I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,  
Ro1114 in the hope of somehow making my fellow countrymen jealous [by stirring them up so that they will seek the truth] and perhaps save some of them.  
Ro1115 For if their [present] rejection [of salvation] is for the reconciliation of the world [to God], what will their acceptance [of salvation] be but [nothing less than] life from the dead?  
Ro1116 If the first portion [of dough offered as the first fruits] is holy, so is the whole batch; and if the root (Abraham, the patriarchs) is holy, so are the branches (the Israelites).  
Ro1117 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being like a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share with them the rich root of the olive tree,  
Ro1118 do not boast over the [broken] branches and exalt yourself at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you.  
Ro1119 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”  
Ro1120 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him];  
Ro1121 for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either.  
Ro1122 Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness—if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off.  
Ro1123 And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again.  
Ro1124 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these who are the natural branches back into [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree?  
Ro1125 I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;  
Ro1126 and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture], “THE DELIVERER (Messiah) WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”  
Ro1127 “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”  
Ro1128 From the standpoint of the gospel, the Jews [at present] are enemies [of God] for your sake [which is for your benefit], but from the standpoint of God’s choice [of the Jews as His people], they are still loved by Him for the sake of the fathers.  
Ro1129 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].  
Ro1130 Just as you once were disobedient and failed to listen to God, but have now obtained mercy because of their disobedience,  
Ro1131 so they too have now become disobedient so that they too may one day receive mercy because of the mercy shown to you.  
Ro1132 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all [Jew and Gentile alike].  
Ro1133 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!  
Ro1134 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO HAS BEEN HIS COUNSELOR?  
Ro1135 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT WOULD BE PAID BACK TO HIM?  
Ro1136 For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.  
Ro1201 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.  
Ro1202 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].  
Ro1203 For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].  
Ro1204 For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use,  
Ro1205 so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].  
Ro1206 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed;  
Ro1207 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;  
Ro1208 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.  
Ro1209 Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.  
Ro1210 Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;  
Ro1211 never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;  
Ro1212 constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],  
Ro1213 contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.  
Ro1214 Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them].  
Ro1215 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief].  
Ro1216 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.  
Ro1217 Never repay anyone evil for evil. Take thought for what is right and gracious and proper in the sight of everyone.  
Ro1218 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Ro1219 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.  
Ro1220 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR BY DOING THIS YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”  
Ro1221 Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.  
Ro1301 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God.  
Ro1302 Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves.  
Ro1303 For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation.  
Ro1304 For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer.  
Ro1305 Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God].  
Ro1306 For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance.  
Ro1307 Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.  
Ro1308 Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].  
Ro1309 The commandments, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and any other commandment are summed up in this statement: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  
Ro1310 Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law.  
Ro1311 Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].  
Ro1312 The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.  
Ro1313 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy.  
Ro1314 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires.  
Ro1401 As for the one whose faith is weak, accept him [into your fellowship], but not for [the purpose of] quarreling over his opinions.  
Ro1402 One man’s faith permits him to eat everything, while the weak believer eats only vegetables [to avoid eating ritually unclean meat or something previously considered unclean].  
Ro1403 The one who eats [everything] is not to look down on the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not criticize or pass judgment on the one who eats [everything], for God has accepted him.  
Ro1404 Who are you to judge the servant of another? Before his own master he stands [approved] or falls [out of favor]. And he [who serves the Master—the Lord] will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.  
Ro1405 One person regards one day as better [or more important] than another, while another regards every day [the same as any other]. Let everyone be fully convinced (assured, satisfied) in his own mind.  
Ro1406 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord. He who eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God.  
Ro1407 None of us lives for himself [for his own benefit, but for the Lord], and none of us dies for himself [but for the Lord].  
Ro1408 If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  
Ro1409 For Christ died and lived again for this reason, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.  
Ro1410 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].  
Ro1411 For it is written [in Scripture], “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”  
Ro1412 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  
Ro1413 Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way.  
Ro1414 I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean.  
Ro1415 If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died.  
Ro1416 Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else];  
Ro1417 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  
Ro1418 For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.  
Ro1419 So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].  
Ro1420 Do not, for the sake of food, tear down the work of God. All things indeed are [ceremonially] clean, but they are wrong for the person who eats and offends [another’s conscience in the process].  
Ro1421 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually.  
Ro1422 The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.  
Ro1423 But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].  
Ro1501 Now we who are strong [in our convictions and faith] ought to [patiently] put up with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves.  
Ro1502 Let each one of us [make it a practice to] please his neighbor for his good, to build him up spiritually.  
Ro1503 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written [in Scripture], “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU (the Father) FELL ON ME (the Son).”  
Ro1504 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.  
Ro1505 Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,  
Ro1506 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ro1507 Therefore, [continue to] accept and welcome one another, just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of [our great] God.  
Ro1508 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant and a minister to the circumcision (Jews) on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm and verify the promises made to the fathers,  
Ro1509 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy [to them, since God had no covenant with them]. As it is written and forever remains written, “THEREFORE I PRAISE YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING PRAISES TO YOUR NAME.”  
Ro1510 Again it says, “REJOICE and CELEBRATE, O GENTILES, ALONG WITH HIS PEOPLE.”  
Ro1511 And again, “PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM!”  
Ro1512 Again Isaiah says, “THERE SHALL BE A ROOT OF JESSE, HE WHO ARISES TO RULE [as King] OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”  
Ro1513 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.  
Ro1514 Personally I am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge, and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another.  
Ro1515 Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God,  
Ro1516 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I minister as a priest the gospel of God, in order that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable [to Him], sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit.  
Ro1517 In Christ Jesus, then, I have found [legitimate] reason for boasting in things related [to my service] to God.  
Ro1518 For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed,  
Ro1519 with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached].  
Ro1520 Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;  
Ro1521 but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture], “THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD [of Him] SHALL UNDERSTAND.”  
Ro1522 This [goal—my commitment to this principle] is the reason why I have often been prevented from coming to you [in Rome].  
Ro1523 But now, with no further place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you—  
Ro1524 whenever I go [on my trip] to Spain—I hope to see you as I pass through [Rome], and to be helped on my journey there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a little while.  
Ro1525 But for now, I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints (Jewish believers).  
Ro1526 For [Gentile believers in] Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem.  
Ro1527 They were pleased to do it, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then they are indebted to serve them also in [tangible] material things.  
Ro1528 Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain.  
Ro1529 I know that when I do come to you, I will come in the abundant blessing of Christ.  
Ro1530 I urge you, believers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join together with me in your prayers to God in my behalf,  
Ro1531 [and pray] that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints (Jewish believers) there;  
Ro1532 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and find rest in your company.  
Ro1533 May the God of peace be with you all! Amen.  
Ro1601 Now I introduce and commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess (servant) of the church at Cenchrea,  
Ro1602 that you may receive her in the Lord [with love and hospitality], as God’s people ought to receive one another. And that you may help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many, including myself.  
Ro1603 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,  
Ro1604 who risked their own necks [endangering their very lives] for my life. To them not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  
Ro1605 Also greet the church that meets in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the first convert to Christ from [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor].  
Ro1606 Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you.  
Ro1607 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and [once] my fellow prisoners, who are held in high esteem in the estimation of the apostles, and who were [believers] in Christ before me.  
Ro1608 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.  
Ro1609 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.  
Ro1610 Greet Apelles, the one tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.  
Ro1611 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.  
Ro1612 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.  
Ro1613 Greet Rufus, an eminent and choice man in the Lord, also his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well.  
Ro1614 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.  
Ro1615 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all God’s people who are with them.  
Ro1616 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.  
Ro1617 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and create obstacles or introduce temptations [for others] to commit sin, [acting in ways] contrary to the doctrine which you have learned. Turn away from them.  
Ro1618 For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and base desires. By smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting [the innocent and the naive].  
Ro1619 For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.  
Ro1620 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The [wonderful] grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  
Ro1621 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.  
Ro1622 I, Tertius, the writer (scribe) of this letter, greet you in the Lord.  
Ro1623 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church here, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.  
Ro1624 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]  
Ro1625 Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past,  
Ro1626 but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the commandment of the eternal God, leading them to obedience to the faith,  
Ro1627 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forevermore! Amen.  
1C0101 Paul, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,  
1C0102 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified (set apart, made holy) in Christ Jesus, who are selected and called as saints (God’s people), together with all those who in every place call on and honor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:  
1C0103 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
1C0104 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,  
1C0105 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith].  
1C0106 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you,  
1C0107 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns].  
1C0108 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
1C0109 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  
1C0110 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].  
1C0111 For I have been informed about you, my brothers and sisters, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are quarrels and factions among you.  
1C0112 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” or “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” or “I am [a disciple] of Cephas (Peter),” or “I am [a disciple] of Christ.”  
1C0113 Has Christ been divided [into different parts]? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? [Certainly not!]  
1C0114 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,  
1C0115 so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name.  
1C0116 Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.  
1C0117 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].  
1C0118 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.  
1C0119 For it is written and forever remains written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE [the philosophy of the philosophers], AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER [who do not know Me] I WILL NULLIFY.”  
1C0120 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom?  
1C0121 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior].  
1C0122 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy,  
1C0123 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense],  
1C0124 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
1C0125 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].  
1C0126 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth.  
1C0127 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].  
1C0128 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are,  
1C0129 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God.  
1C0130 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],  
1C0131 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “HE WHO BOASTS and GLORIES, LET HIM BOAST and GLORY IN THE LORD.”  
1C0201 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do];  
1C0202 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].  
1C0203 I came to you in [a state of] weakness and fear and great trembling.  
1C0204 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them],  
1C0205 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom and rhetoric of men, but on the power of God.  
1C0206 Yet we do speak wisdom among those spiritually mature [believers who have teachable hearts and a greater understanding]; but [it is a higher] wisdom not [the wisdom] of this present age nor of the rulers and leaders of this age, who are passing away;  
1C0207 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].  
1C0208 None of the rulers of this age recognized and understood this wisdom; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;  
1C0209 but just as it is written [in Scripture], “THINGS WHICH THE EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND THE EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].”  
1C0210 For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding].  
1C0211 For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  
1C0212 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God.  
1C0213 We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].  
1C0214 But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].  
1C0215 But the spiritual man [the spiritually mature Christian] judges all things [questions, examines and applies what the Holy Spirit reveals], yet is himself judged by no one [the unbeliever cannot judge and understand the believer’s spiritual nature].  
1C0216 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND and PURPOSES OF THE LORD, SO AS TO INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].  
1C0301 However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ!  
1C0302 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready.  
1C0303 You are still worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?  
1C0304 For when one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just] ordinary people?  
1C0305 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task.  
1C0306 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth.  
1C0307 So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth.  
1C0308 He who plants and he who waters are one [in importance and esteem, working toward the same purpose]; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  
1C0309 For we are God’s fellow workers [His servants working together]; you are God’s cultivated field [His garden, His vineyard], God’s building.  
1C0310 According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,  
1C0311 for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.  
1C0312 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  
1C0313 each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work.  
1C0314 If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward.  
1C0315 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.  
1C0316 Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]?  
1C0317 If anyone destroys the temple of God [corrupting it with false doctrine], God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred), and that is what you are.  
1C0318 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise.  
1C0319 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness (absurdity, stupidity) before God; for it is written [in Scripture], “[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE and CLEVER IN THEIR CRAFTINESS;”  
1C0320 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS of the [humanly] wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”  
1C0321 So let no one boast in men [about their wisdom, or of having this or that one as a leader]. For all things are yours,  
1C0322 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter) or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things are yours,  
1C0323 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.  
1C0401 So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal].  
1C0402 In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.  
1C0403 But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I may be judged by you or any human court [on this point]; in fact, I do not even judge myself.  
1C0404 I am aware of nothing against myself and I feel blameless, but I am not by this acquitted [before God]. It is the Lord who judges me.  
1C0405 So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.  
1C0406 Now I have applied these things [that is, the analogies about factions] to myself and Apollos for your benefit, believers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written [in Scripture], so that none of you will become arrogant and boast in favor of one [minister or teacher] against the other.  
1C0407 For who regards you as superior or what sets you apart as special? What do you have that you did not receive [from another]? And if in fact you received it [from God or someone else], why do you boast as if you had not received it [but had gained it by yourself]?  
1C0408 [You behave as if] you are already filled [with spiritual wisdom and in need of nothing more]. Already you have become rich [in spiritual gifts]! You [in your conceit] have ascended your thrones and become kings without us; and how I wish [that it were true and] that you did reign as kings, so that we might reign with you.  
1C0409 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles at the end of the line, like men sentenced to death [and paraded as prisoners in a procession], because we have become a spectacle to the world [a show in the world’s amphitheater], both to angels and to men.  
1C0410 We are [regarded as] fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are highly esteemed, but we are dishonored.  
1C0411 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are continually poorly dressed, and we are roughly treated, and wander homeless.  
1C0412 We work [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When we are reviled and verbally abused, we bless. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure.  
1C0413 When we are slandered, we try to be conciliatory and answer softly. We have become like the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.  
1C0414 I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn and advise you as my beloved children.  
1C0415 For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation].  
1C0416 So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father].  
1C0417 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ [my conduct and my precepts for godly living], just as I teach everywhere in every church.  
1C0418 Now some of you have become arrogant and pretentious, as though I were not coming to see you.  
1C0419 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these arrogant people, but [evaluate] their [spiritual] power [whether they live up to their own claims].  
1C0420 For the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power.  
1C0421 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit?  
1C0501 It is actually reported [everywhere] that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is condemned even among the [unbelieving] Gentiles: that someone has [an intimate relationship with] his father’s wife.  
1C0502 And you are proud and arrogant! You should have mourned in shame so that the man who has done this [disgraceful] thing would be removed from your fellowship!  
1C0503 For I, though absent [from you] in body but present in spirit, have already passed judgment on him who has committed this [act], as if I were present.  
1C0504 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,  
1C0505 you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  
1C0506 Your boasting [over the supposed spirituality of your church] is not good [indeed, it is vulgar and inappropriate]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven ferments the whole batch [of dough, just as a little sin corrupts a person or an entire church]?  
1C0507 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new batch, just as you are, still unleavened. For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed.  
1C0508 Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and [untainted] truth.  
1C0509 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate with [sexually] immoral people—  
1C0510 not meaning the immoral people of this world, or the greedy ones and swindlers, or idolaters, for then you would have to get out of the world and human society altogether!  
1C0511 But actually, I have written to you not to associate with any so-called [Christian] brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater [devoted to anything that takes the place of God], or is a reviler [who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others], or is a drunkard or a swindler—you must not so much as eat with such a person.  
1C0512 For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are within the church [to protect the church as the situation requires]?  
1C0513 God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside [the faith]. REMOVE THE WICKED ONE FROM AMONG YOU [expel him from your church].  
1C0601 Does any one of you, when he has a complaint (civil dispute) with another [believer], dare to go to law before unrighteous men (non-believers) instead of [placing the issue] before the saints (God’s people)?  
1C0602 Do you not know that the saints (God’s people) will [one day] judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to try trivial (insignificant, petty) cases?  
1C0603 Do you not know that we [believers] will judge angels? How much more then [as to] matters of this life?  
1C0604 So if you have lawsuits dealing with matters of this life, are you appointing those as judges [to hear disputes] who are of no account in the church?  
1C0605 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is not one wise man among you who [is governed by integrity and] will be able and competent to decide [private disputes] between his fellow believers,  
1C0606 but instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that before [judges who are] unbelievers?  
1C0607 Why, the very fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?  
1C0608 On the contrary, it is you who wrong and defraud, and you do this even to your brothers and sisters.  
1C0609 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor (perversely) effeminate, nor homosexuals,  
1C0610 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.  
1C0611 And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].  
1C0612 Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].  
1C0613 Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both of them. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body [to save, sanctify, and raise it again because of the sacrifice of the cross].  
1C0614 And God has not only raised the Lord [to life], but will also raise us up by His power.  
1C0615 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the members of Christ and make them part of a prostitute? Certainly not!  
1C0616 Do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BE ONE FLESH.”  
1C0617 But the one who is united and joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  
1C0618 Run away from sexual immorality [in any form, whether thought or behavior, whether visual or written]. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the one who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.  
1C0619 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?  
1C0620 You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.  
1C0701 Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].  
1C0702 But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.  
1C0703 The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband.  
1C0704 The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him.  
1C0705 Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.  
1C0706 But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command.  
1C0707 I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.  
1C0708 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] as I am.  
1C0709 But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.  
1C0710 But to the married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband,  
1C0711 (but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.  
1C0712 To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her.  
1C0713 And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him.  
1C0714 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially] unclean, but as it is they are holy.  
1C0715 But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to peace.  
1C0716 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?  
1C0717 Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches.  
1C0718 Was anyone at the time of his calling [from God already] circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called while uncircumcised? He is not to be circumcised.  
1C0719 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God.  
1C0720 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was [when he was] called.  
1C0721 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, do that.  
1C0722 For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ.  
1C0723 You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ].  
1C0724 Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called.  
1C0725 Now concerning the virgins [of marriageable age] I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.  
1C0726 I think then that because of the impending distress [that is, the pressure of the current trouble], it is good for a man to remain as he is.  
1C0727 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you unmarried? Do not seek a wife.  
1C0728 But if you do marry, you have not sinned [in doing so]; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned [in doing so]. Yet those [who marry] will have troubles (special challenges) in this life, and I am trying to spare you that.  
1C0729 But I say this, believers: the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they did not;  
1C0730 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess [anything];  
1C0731 and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.  
1C0732 But I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;  
1C0733 but the married man is concerned about worldly things, how he may please his wife,  
1C0734 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the matters of the Lord, how to be holy and set apart both in body and in spirit; but a married woman is concerned about worldly things, how she may please her husband.  
1C0735 Now I say this for your own benefit; not to restrict you, but to promote what is appropriate and secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.  
1C0736 But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly and honorably toward his virgin daughter, [by not permitting her to marry], if she is past her youth, and it must be so, let him do as he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.  
1C0737 But the man who stands firmly committed in his heart, having no compulsion [to yield to his daughter’s request], and has authority over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep his own virgin [daughter from being married], he will do well.  
1C0738 So then both the father who gives his virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.  
1C0739 A wife is bound [to her husband by law] as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.  
1C0740 But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter].  
1C0801 Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].  
1C0802 If anyone imagines that he knows and understands anything [of divine matters, without love], he has not yet known as he ought to know.  
1C0803 But if anyone loves God [with awe-filled reverence, obedience and gratitude], he is known by Him [as His very own and is greatly loved].  
1C0804 In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world [it has no real existence], and that there is no God but one.  
1C0805 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,  
1C0806 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things [that have been created], and we [believers exist and have life and have been redeemed] through Him.  
1C0807 However, not all [believers] have this knowledge. But some, being accustomed [throughout their lives] to [thinking of] the idol until now [as real and living], still eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (guilty, ashamed).  
1C0808 Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat.  
1C0809 Only be careful that this liberty of yours [this power to choose] does not somehow become a stumbling block [that is, a temptation to sin] to the weak [in conscience].  
1C0810 For if someone sees you, a person having knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, then if he is weak, will he not be encouraged to eat things sacrificed to idols [and violate his own convictions]?  
1C0811 For through your knowledge (spiritual maturity) this weak man is ruined [that is, he suffers in his spiritual life], the brother for whom Christ died.  
1C0812 And when you sin against the brothers and sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience [by confusing them], you sin against Christ.  
1C0813 Therefore, if [my eating a certain] food causes my brother to stumble (sin), I will not eat [such] meat ever again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.  
1C0901 Am I not free [unrestrained and exempt from any obligation]? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our [risen] Lord [in person]? Are you not [the result and proof of] my work in the Lord?  
1C0902 If I am not [considered] an apostle to others, at least I am one to you; for you are the seal and the certificate and the living evidence of my apostleship in the Lord [confirming and authenticating it].  
1C0903 This is my defense to those who would put me on trial and interrogate me [concerning my authority as an apostle]:  
1C0904 Have we not the right to our food and drink [at the expense of the churches]?  
1C0905 Have we not the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?  
1C0906 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]?  
1C0907 [Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?  
1C0908 Do I say these things only from a man’s perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles?  
1C0909 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT IS TREADING OUT THE GRAIN [to keep it from eating the grain].” Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?  
1C0910 Or does He speak entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake: The plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest.  
1C0911 If we have sown [the good seed of] spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?  
1C0912 If others share in this rightful claim over you, do not we even more? However, we did not exercise this right, but we put up with everything so that we will not hinder [the spread of] the good news of Christ.  
1C0913 Do you not know that those who officiate in the sacred services of the temple eat from the temple [offerings of meat and bread] and those who regularly attend the altar have their share from the [offerings brought to the] altar?  
1C0914 So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.  
1C0915 But I have used none of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me now. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone deprive me of my boast [in this matter of financial support].  
1C0916 For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]!  
1C0917 For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.  
1C0918 What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel.  
1C0919 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ].  
1C0920 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews [for Christ]; to men under the Law, [I became] as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might win those who are under the Law.  
1C0921 To those who are without (outside) the Law, [I became] as one without the Law, though [I am] not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.  
1C0922 To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].  
1C0923 And I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings along with you.  
1C0924 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!  
1C0925 Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither].  
1C0926 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing].  
1C0927 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service].  
1C1001 For I do not want you to be unaware, believers, that our fathers were all under the cloud [in which God’s presence went before them] and they all passed [miraculously and safely] through the [Red] Sea;  
1C1002 And all [of them] were baptized into Moses [into his safekeeping as their leader] in the cloud and in the sea;  
1C1003 and all [of them] ate the same spiritual food;  
1C1004 and all [of them] drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.  
1C1005 Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with most of them, for they were scattered along the ground in the wilderness [because their lack of self- control led to disobedience which led to death].  
1C1006 Now these things [the warnings and admonitions] took place as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did.  
1C1007 Do not be worshipers of handmade gods, as some of them were; just as it is written [in Scripture], “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK [after sacrificing to the golden calf at Horeb], AND STOOD UP TO PLAY [indulging in immoral activities].”  
1C1008 We must not indulge in [nor tolerate] sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell [dead] in a single day!  
1C1009 We must not tempt the Lord [that is, test His patience, question His purpose or exploit His goodness], as some of them did—and they were killed by serpents.  
1C1010 And do not murmur [in unwarranted discontent], as some of them did—and were destroyed by the destroyer.  
1C1011 Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  
1C1012 Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].  
1C1013 No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].  
1C1014 Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul].  
1C1015 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say.  
1C1016 Is the cup of blessing which we bless [at the Lord’s Supper] not a sharing in the blood of Christ? [Indeed it is.] Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is.]  
1C1017 Since there is one bread, we [believers] who are many are [united into] one body; for we all partake of the one bread [which represents the body of Christ].  
1C1018 Consider the people of Israel; are those who eat the sacrifices not partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God]? [Indeed they are.]  
1C1019 What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything [special or changed simply because it is offered], or that an idol is anything?  
1C1020 On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [in effect], and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons [by eating at feasts in pagan temples].  
1C1021 You cannot drink [both] the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons [thereby becoming partners with them].  
1C1022 Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply offend Him.]  
1C1023 All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].  
1C1024 Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person.  
1C1025 [Regarding meat offered to idols:] Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking any questions for the sake of your conscience,  
1C1026 FOR THE [whole] EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS IN IT.  
1C1027 If one of the unbelievers invites you [to a meal at his home] and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without asking questions [about its source] for the sake of your conscience.  
1C1028 But if anyone says to you, “This meat has been offered in sacrifice to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’s sake—  
1C1029 and by conscience I mean for the sake of the other man’s, not yours. For why is my freedom [of choice] judged by another’s conscience [another’s ethics—another’s sense of right and wrong]?  
1C1030 If I take my share [of food] with thankfulness, why am I accused because of something for which I give thanks?  
1C1031 So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.  
1C1032 Do not offend Jews or Greeks or even the church of God [but live to honor Him];  
1C1033 just as I please everyone in all things [as much as possible adapting myself to the interests of others], not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, so that they [will be open to the message of salvation and] may be saved.  
1C1101 Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.  
1C1102 I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the traditions [the substance of my instructions], just as I have passed them on to you.  
1C1103 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head (authority over) of every man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.  
1C1104 Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head [and the One who is his head].  
1C1105 And every woman who prays or prophesies when she has her head uncovered disgraces her head; for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved [in disgrace].  
1C1106 If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.  
1C1107 A man ought not have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and [reflected] glory of God; but the woman is [the expression of] man’s glory.  
1C1108 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;  
1C1109 for indeed man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.  
1C1110 Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, for the sake of the angels [so as not to offend them].  
1C1111 Nevertheless, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  
1C1112 For as the woman originates from the man, so also man is born through the woman; and all things [whether male or female] originate from God [as their Creator].  
1C1113 Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to offer prayer to God [publicly] with her head uncovered?  
1C1114 Does not common sense itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,  
1C1115 but if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her long hair is given to her as a covering.  
1C1116 Now if anyone is inclined to be contentious [about this], we have no other practice [in worship than this], nor do the churches of God [in general].  
1C1117 But in giving this next instruction, I do not praise you, because when you meet together it is not for the better but for the worse.  
1C1118 For, in the first place, when you meet together in church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and in part I believe it,  
1C1119 for [doubtless] there have to be factions among you, so that those who are of approved character may be clearly recognized among you.  
1C1120 So when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,  
1C1121 for when you eat, each one hurries to get his own supper first [not waiting for others or the poor]. So one goes hungry while another gets drunk.  
1C1122 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those [impoverished believers] who have nothing? What will I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? In this I will not praise you!  
1C1123 For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  
1C1124 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.”  
1C1125 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.”  
1C1126 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].  
1C1127 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.  
1C1128 But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  
1C1129 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not recognize the body [of Christ].  
1C1130 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death].  
1C1131 But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged.  
1C1132 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world.  
1C1133 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another [and see to it that no one is left out].  
1C1134 If anyone is too hungry [to wait], let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment [on yourselves]. About the remaining matters [of which I was informed], I will take care of them when I come.  
1C1201 Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.  
1C1202 You know that when you were pagans, you were led off after speechless idols; however you were led off [whether by impulse or habit].  
1C1203 Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the [power and influence of the] Spirit of God can say, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is [my] Lord,” except by [the power and influence of] the Holy Spirit.  
1C1204 Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers].  
1C1205 And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served].  
1C1206 And there are [distinctive] ways of working [to accomplish things], but it is the same God who produces all things in all believers [inspiring, energizing, and empowering them].  
1C1207 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good.  
1C1208 To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit;  
1C1209 to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit;  
1C1210 and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.  
1C1211 All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.  
1C1212 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ.  
1C1213 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed—united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].  
1C1214 For the [human] body does not consist of one part, but of many [limbs and organs].  
1C1215 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?  
1C1216 If the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” is it not on the contrary still a part of the body?  
1C1217 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole [body] were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  
1C1218 But now [as things really are], God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He willed and saw fit [with the best balance of function].  
1C1219 If they all were a single organ, where would [the rest of] the body be?  
1C1220 But now [as things really are] there are many parts [different limbs and organs], but a single body.  
1C1221 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  
1C1222 But quite the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are [absolutely] necessary;  
1C1223 and as for those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, these we treat with greater honor; and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty,  
1C1224 while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,  
1C1225 so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.  
1C1226 And if one member suffers, all the parts share the suffering; if one member is honored, all rejoice with it.  
1C1227 Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].  
1C1228 So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues.  
1C1229 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  
1C1230 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?  
1C1231 But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal]. And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].  
1C1301 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].  
1C1302 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.  
1C1303 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.  
1C1304 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.  
1C1305 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.  
1C1306 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].  
1C1307 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].  
1C1308 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.  
1C1309 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].  
1C1310 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.  
1C1311 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.  
1C1312 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].  
1C1313 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.  
1C1401 Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].  
1C1402 For one who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands him or catches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].  
1C1403 But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them].  
1C1404 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy].  
1C1405 Now I wish that all of you spoke in unknown tongues, but even more [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translates or explains [what he says], so that the church may be edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].  
1C1406 Now, believers, if I come to you speaking in unknown tongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God’s mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]?  
1C1407 Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played?  
1C1408 And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?  
1C1409 So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!  
1C1410 There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning.  
1C1411 But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be a foreigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me.  
1C1412 So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual gifts and manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].  
1C1413 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translate or explain [what he says].  
1C1414 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].  
1C1415 Then what am I to do? I will pray with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand].  
1C1416 Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsider or someone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the “Amen” [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?  
1C1417 You are giving thanks well enough [in a way that God is glorified], but the other person [who does not understand you] is not edified [and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving].  
1C1418 I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you;  
1C1419 nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].  
1C1420 Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].  
1C1421 It is written in the Law, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF FOREIGNERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND NOT EVEN THEN WILL THEY LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord.  
1C1422 Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers.  
1C1423 So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsiders or those who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?  
1C1424 But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said];  
1C1425 the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.  
1C1426 What then is the right course, believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue, or an interpretation. Let everything be constructive and edifying and done for the good of all the church.  
1C1427 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be limited to two or at the most three, and each one speaking in turn, and one must interpret [what is said].  
1C1428 But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God.  
1C1429 Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attention and weigh carefully what is said.  
1C1430 But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.  
1C1431 For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged;  
1C1432 for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking];  
1C1433 for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),  
1C1434 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.  
1C1435 If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to talk in church.  
1C1436 Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]?  
1C1437 If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.  
1C1438 If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].  
1C1439 Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues.  
1C1440 But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.  
1C1501 Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith].  
1C1502 By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment].  
1C1503 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],  
1C1504 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],  
1C1505 and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve.  
1C1506 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death].  
1C1507 Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles,  
1C1508 and last of all, as to one untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also.  
1C1509 For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.  
1C1510 But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me.  
1C1511 So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed and trusted in and relied on with confidence.  
1C1512 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  
1C1513 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised;  
1C1514 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain [useless, amounting to nothing], and your faith is also vain [imaginary, unfounded, devoid of value and benefit—not based on truth].  
1C1515 We are even discovered to be false witnesses [misrepresenting] God, because we testified concerning Him that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.  
1C1516 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, either;  
1C1517 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin].  
1C1518 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  
1C1519 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hoped only in this life [and this is all there is], then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.  
1C1520 But now [as things really are] Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, [and He became] the first fruits [that is, the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body, foreshadowing the resurrection] of those who have fallen asleep [in death].  
1C1521 For since [it was] by a man that death came [into the world], it is also by a Man that the resurrection of the dead has come.  
1C1522 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  
1C1523 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected with incorruptible, immortal bodies] at His coming.  
1C1524 After that comes the end (completion), when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after He has made inoperative and abolished every ruler and every authority and power.  
1C1525 For Christ must reign [as King] until He has put all His enemies under His feet.  
1C1526 The last enemy to be abolished and put to an end is death.  
1C1527 For HE (the Father) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS (Christ’s) FEET. But when He says, “All things have been put in subjection [under Christ],” it is clear that He (the Father) who put all things in subjection to Him (Christ) is excepted [since the Father is not in subjection to His own Son].  
1C1528 However, when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One (the Father) who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [manifesting His glory without any opposition, the supreme indwelling and controlling factor of life].  
1C1529 Otherwise, what will those do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people even baptized for them?  
1C1530 [For that matter] why are we [running such risks and putting ourselves] in danger [nearly] every hour [if there is no resurrection]?  
1C1531 I assure you, believers, by the pride which I have in you in [your union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily [I face death and die to self].  
1C1532 What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], LET US EAT AND DRINK [enjoying ourselves now], FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.  
1C1533 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”  
1C1534 Be sober-minded [be sensible, wake up from your spiritual stupor] as you ought, and stop sinning; for some [of you] have no knowledge of God [you are disgracefully ignorant of Him, and ignore His truths]. I say this to your shame.  
1C1535 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body will they come?”  
1C1536 You fool! Every time you plant seed you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up and growing] unless it first dies.  
1C1537 The seed you sow is not the body (the plant) which it is going to become, but it is a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain.  
1C1538 But God gives it a body just as He planned, and to each kind of seed a body of its own [is given].  
1C1539 All flesh is not the same. There is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.  
1C1540 There are also heavenly bodies [sun, moon and stars] and earthly bodies [humans, animals, and plants], but the glory and beauty of the heavenly is one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another.  
1C1541 There is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon, and yet another [distinctive] glory of the stars; and one star differs from another in glory and brilliance.  
1C1542 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal.  
1C1543 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in strength;  
1C1544 it is sown a natural body [mortal, suited to earth], it is raised a spiritual body [immortal, suited to heaven]. As surely as there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.  
1C1545 So it is written [in Scripture], “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL (an individual);” the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life].  
1C1546 However, the spiritual [the immortal life] is not first, but the physical [the mortal life]; then the spiritual.  
1C1547 The first man [Adam] is from the earth, earthy [made of dust]; the second Man [Christ, the Lord] is from heaven.  
1C1548 As is the earthly man [the man of dust], so are those who are of earth; and as is the heavenly [Man], so are those who are of heaven.  
1C1549 Just as we have borne the image of the earthly [the man of dust], we will also bear the image of the heavenly [the Man of heaven].  
1C1550 Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal).  
1C1551 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed],  
1C1552 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed].  
1C1553 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death].  
1C1554 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory (vanquished forever).  
1C1555 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”  
1C1556 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law;  
1C1557 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
1C1558 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].  
1C1601 Now concerning the money collected for [the relief of] the saints [in Jerusalem], you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.  
1C1602 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections [will need to] be made when I come.  
1C1603 When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve with letters [of authorization] to take your gift [of charity and love] to Jerusalem;  
1C1604 and if it is fitting for me to go too, they will accompany me.  
1C1605 I will visit you after I go through Macedonia, for I am only passing through Macedonia;  
1C1606 but it may be that I will stay with you [for a while], or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way to wherever I may go afterward.  
1C1607 For I do not wish to see you right now just in passing, but I hope to remain with you for some time [later on], if the Lord permits.  
1C1608 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,  
1C1609 because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries.  
1C1610 If Timothy comes, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he has nothing to fear in regard to you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.  
1C1611 So allow no one to treat him with disdain [as if he were inconsequential]. But send him off [cordially, and speed him on his way] in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him [to come along] with the other brothers.  
1C1612 As for our brother Apollos, I have strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. It was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.  
1C1613 Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong.  
1C1614 Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].  
1C1615 Brothers and sisters, you know that those of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to God’s people—now I urge you  
1C1616 to be subject to such leaders [treating them with courtesy and respect], and to everyone who helps in the work and labors [for the benefit of yourselves and the church].  
1C1617 I rejoice because Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have arrived, for they have made up for your absence.  
1C1618 They have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So fully acknowledge such men and deeply appreciate them.  
1C1619 The churches of Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their warm greetings in the Lord.  
1C1620 All the believers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.  
1C1621 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.  
1C1622 If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!  
1C1623 The grace of our Lord Jesus [His unmerited favor, His spiritual blessing, His profound mercy] be with you.  
1C1624 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.  
2C0101 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, and to all the saints (God’s people) throughout Achaia (southern Greece):  
2C0102 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
2C0103 Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,  
2C0104 who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  
2C0105 For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance [as they overflow to His followers], so also our comfort [our reassurance, our encouragement, our consolation] is abundant through Christ [it is truly more than enough to endure what we must].  
2C0106 But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works [in you] when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we experience.  
2C0107 And our hope for you [our confident expectation of good for you] is firmly grounded [assured and unshaken], since we know that just as you share as partners in our sufferings, so also you share as partners in our comfort.  
2C0108 For we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about our trouble in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], how we were utterly weighed down, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life [itself].  
2C0109 Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the sentence of death [and were convinced that we would die, but this happened] so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.  
2C0110 He rescued us from so great a threat of death, and will continue to rescue us. On Him we have set our hope. And He will again rescue us [from danger and draw us near],  
2C0111 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then thanks will be given by many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift [of deliverance] granted to us through the prayers of many [believers].  
2C0112 This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].  
2C0113 For we write you nothing other than what you read and understand [there is no double meaning in what we say]. And I hope you will [accurately] understand [divine things] until the end;  
2C0114 just as you have [already] partially understood us, [and one day will recognize] that you can be proud of us just as we are of you, in the day of our Lord Jesus.  
2C0115 It was with this confidence that I planned at first to visit you, so that you might receive twice a token of grace;  
2C0116 that is, [I wanted] to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and [then] to come back to you [on my return] from Macedonia, and have you send me on my way to Judea.  
2C0117 So then, was I indecisive or capricious when I was [originally] planning this? Or the things I plan, do I plan in a self-serving way like a worldly man, ready to say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no” [at the same time]?  
2C0118 But [as surely as] God is faithful and means what He says, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No” [at the same time].  
2C0119 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but has proved to be “Yes” in Him [true and faithful, the divine “Yes” affirming God’s promises].  
2C0120 For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.  
2C0121 Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit];  
2C0122 it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].  
2C0123 But I call on God as my soul’s witness, that it was to spare you [pain and discouragement] that I did not come again to Corinth—  
2C0124 not that we rule [like dictators] over your faith, but rather we work with you for [the increase of] your joy; for in your faith you stand firm [in your strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth—the Messiah—is the Son of God, through whom we obtain eternal salvation].  
2C0201 But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit.  
2C0202 For if I cause you grief [by a well-deserved rebuke], who then provides me enjoyment but the very one whom I have made sad?  
2C0203 And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.  
2C0204 For I wrote to you out of great distress and with an anguished heart, and with many tears, not to cause you sorrow but to make you realize the [overflowing] love which I have especially for you.  
2C0205 But if someone has caused [all this] sorrow, he has caused it not to me, but in some degree—not to put it too severely—[he has distressed and grieved] all of you.  
2C0206 For such a one this punishment by the majority is sufficient,  
2C0207 so instead [of further rebuke, now] you should rather [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  
2C0208 Therefore I urge you to reinstate him in your affections and reaffirm your love for him.  
2C0209 For this was my purpose in writing, to see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and committed to following my instruction in all things.  
2C0210 If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive [that one]; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of [and with the approval of] Christ,  
2C0211 to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.  
2C0212 Now when I arrived at Troas to preach the good news of Christ, even though a door [of opportunity] opened for me in the Lord,  
2C0213 my spirit could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there; so saying goodbye to them, I left for Macedonia.  
2C0214 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  
2C0215 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  
2C0216 to the latter one an aroma from death to death [a fatal, offensive odor], but to the other an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is adequate and sufficiently qualified for these things?  
2C0217 For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.  
2C0301 Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some [false teachers], letters of recommendation to you or from you? [No!]  
2C0302 You are our letter [of recommendation], written in our hearts, recognized and read by everyone.  
2C0303 You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.  
2C0304 Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God.  
2C0305 Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.  
2C0306 He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.  
2C0307 Now if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones [the covenant of the Law which led to death because of sin], came with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, [a brilliance] that was fading,  
2C0308 how will the ministry of the Spirit [the new covenant which allows us to be Spirit-filled] fail to be even more glorious and splendid?  
2C0309 For if the ministry that brings condemnation [the old covenant, the Law] has glory, how much more does glory overflow in the ministry that brings righteousness [the new covenant which declares believers free of guilt and sets them apart for God’s special purpose]!  
2C0310 Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel].  
2C0311 For if that [Law] which fades away came with glory, how much more must that [gospel] which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!  
2C0312 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage,  
2C0313 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away.  
2C0314 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ.  
2C0315 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart;  
2C0316 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  
2C0317 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].  
2C0318 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.  
2C0401 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as we received mercy [from God, granting us salvation, opportunities, and blessings], we do not get discouraged nor lose our motivation.  
2C0402 But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.  
2C0403 But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing;  
2C0404 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  
2C0405 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  
2C0406 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ.  
2C0407 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.  
2C0408 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair;  
2C0409 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed;  
2C0410 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body.  
2C0411 For we who live are constantly [experiencing the threat of] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced in our mortal body [which is subject to death].  
2C0412 So physical death is [actively] at work in us, but [spiritual] life [is actively at work] in you.  
2C0413 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE.” We also believe, therefore we also speak,  
2C0414 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence.  
2C0415 For all [these] things are for your sake, so that as [God’s remarkable, undeserved] grace reaches to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of [our great] God.  
2C0416 Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.  
2C0417 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!  
2C0418 So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.  
2C0501 For we know that if the earthly tent [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  
2C0502 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling,  
2C0503 so that by putting it on we will not be found naked.  
2C0504 For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection].  
2C0505 Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].  
2C0506 So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—  
2C0507 for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—  
2C0508 we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  
2C0509 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him.  
2C0510 For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].  
2C0511 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]. But we are plainly known to God [He knows everything about us]; and I hope that we are plainly known also in your consciences [your God-given discernment].  
2C0512 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an occasion to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in [outward] appearances [the virtues they pretend to have] rather than what is [actually] in heart.  
2C0513 If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit.  
2C0514 For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died;  
2C0515 and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.  
2C0516 So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way.  
2C0517 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].  
2C0518 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him],  
2C0519 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God].  
2C0520 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.  
2C0521 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].  
2C0601 Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].  
2C0602 For He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME (the time of grace) I LISTENED TO YOU, AND I HELPED YOU ON THE DAY OF SALVATION.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—  
2C0603 we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,  
2C0604 but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,  
2C0605 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger,  
2C0606 in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,  
2C0607 in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend],  
2C0608 amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful;  
2C0609 as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed;  
2C0610 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.  
2C0611 We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians [we are keeping nothing back], and our heart is opened wide.  
2C0612 There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection [for us].  
2C0613 Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am speaking as [I would] to children—open wide [your hearts] to us also.  
2C0614 Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  
2C0615 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  
2C0616 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.  
2C0617 “So COME OUT FROM AMONG UNBELIEVERS AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord, “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],  
2C0618 And I will be a Father to you, And you will be My sons and daughters,” Says the Lord Almighty.  
2C0701 Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life—a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God.  
2C0702 Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.  
2C0703 I do not say this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are [nested] in our hearts [and you will remain there] to die together and to live together [with us].  
2C0704 Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride and boasting on your behalf. I am filled [to the brim] with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in spite of all our trouble.  
2C0705 For even when we arrived in Macedonia our bodies had no rest, but we were oppressed at every turn—conflicts and disputes without, fears and dread within.  
2C0706 But God, who comforts and encourages the depressed and the disquieted, comforted us by the arrival of Titus.  
2C0707 And not only by his arrival, but also by [his account of] the encouragement which he received in regard to you. He told us about your longing [for us], your mourning [over sin], and how eagerly you took my part and supported me, so that I rejoiced even more.  
2C0708 For even though I did grieve you with my letter, I do not regret it [now]; though I did regret it —for I see that the letter hurt you, though only for a little while—  
2C0709 yet I am glad now, not because you were hurt and made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance [and you turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that you might not suffer loss in anything on our account.  
2C0710 For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but worldly sorrow [the hopeless sorrow of those who do not believe] produces death.  
2C0711 For [you can look back and] see what an earnestness and authentic concern this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves [against charges that you tolerate sin], what indignation [at sin], what fear [of offending God], what longing [for righteousness and justice], what passion [to do what is right], what readiness to punish [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter.  
2C0712 So even though I wrote to you [as I did], it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but in order to make evident to you before God how earnestly you do care for us [and your willingness to accept our authority].  
2C0713 It is for this reason that we are comforted and encouraged. And in addition to our comfort, we were especially delighted at the joy of Titus, because you have refreshed his spirit.  
2C0714 For if I have boasted to him at all concerning you, I was not disappointed. But just as everything we ever said to you was true, so our boasting [about you] to Titus has proved true also.  
2C0715 His affection is greater than ever as he remembers the obedience [to his guidance] that all of you exhibited, and how you received him with the greatest respect.  
2C0716 I rejoice that in everything I have [perfect] confidence in you.  
2C0801 Now, brothers and sisters, we want to tell you about the grace of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [awakening in them a longing to contribute];  
2C0802 for during an ordeal of severe distress, their abundant joy and their deep poverty [together] overflowed in the wealth of their lavish generosity.  
2C0803 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily,  
2C0804 begging us insistently for the privilege of participating in the service for [the support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].  
2C0805 Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could].  
2C0806 So we urged Titus that, as he began it, he should also complete this gracious work among you as well.  
2C0807 But just as you excel in everything, [and lead the way] in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work [of giving] also.  
2C0808 I am not saying this as a command [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the enthusiasm of others, the sincerity of your love as well.  
2C0809 For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).  
2C0810 I give you my opinion in this matter: this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to take action [to help the believers in Jerusalem], but also [the first] to desire to do it.  
2C0811 So now finish this, so that your eagerness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it, according to your ability.  
2C0812 For if the eagerness [to give] is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.  
2C0813 For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be burdened [unfairly], but that there be equality [in sharing the burden]—  
2C0814 at this present time your surplus [over necessities] is going to supply their need, so that [at some other time] their surplus may be given to supply your need, that there may be equality;  
2C0815 as it is written [in Scripture], “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE DID NOT LACK.”  
2C0816 But thanks be to God who puts the same genuine concern for you in the heart of Titus.  
2C0817 For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but was so very interested in you that he has gone to visit you of his own accord.  
2C0818 And we have sent along with him the brother who is praised in the gospel [ministry] throughout all the churches;  
2C0819 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in regard to this gracious offering which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our eagerness [as believers to help one another].  
2C0820 We are taking precaution so that no one will [find anything with which to] discredit us in our administration of this generous gift.  
2C0821 For we have regard for what is honorable [and above suspicion], not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.  
2C0822 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found to be diligent in many things, but who is now even more diligent [than ever] because of his great confidence in you.  
2C0823 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for the [other two] brothers, they are [special] messengers of the churches, a glory and credit to Christ.  
2C0824 Therefore, show these men, in the sight of the churches, the proof of your love and our reason for being proud of you.  
2C0901 Now it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the offering [that is to be made] for the saints [in Jerusalem];  
2C0902 for I know your eagerness [to promote this cause], and I have [proudly] boasted to the people of Macedonia about it, telling them that Achaia has been prepared since last year [for this contribution], and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them [to respond].  
2C0903 Still, I am sending the brothers [on to you], so that our pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just as I told them you would be;  
2C0904 otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident.  
2C0905 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you [before I come] and make arrangements in advance for this generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as something extorted [or wrung out of you], but as a [voluntary and] generous gift.  
2C0906 Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed].  
2C0907 Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].  
2C0908 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self- sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.  
2C0909 As it is written and forever remains written, “HE [the benevolent and generous person] SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER!”  
2C0910 Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing [that is, your resources] and increase the harvest of your righteousness [which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love].  
2C0911 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit].  
2C0912 For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God’s people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God.  
2C0913 Because of this act of ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to the gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous participation [in this gift] for them and for all [the other believers in need],  
2C0914 and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace [His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed] in you.  
2C0915 Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!  
2C1001 Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!  
2C1002 I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit].  
2C1003 For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.  
2C1004 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  
2C1005 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,  
2C1006 being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.  
2C1007 You are looking [only] at the outward appearance of things. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, he should reflect and consider this, that just as he is Christ’s, so too are we.  
2C1008 For even though I boast rather freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed [of the truth],  
2C1009 nor do I want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters;  
2C1010 for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible [of no account].”  
2C1011 Let such people realize that what we say by word in letters when we are absent, is the same as what we are in action when present.  
2C1012 We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools.  
2C1013 We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our proper limit, but [will keep] within the limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you.  
2C1014 We are not overstepping the limits of our province, as if we did not [legitimately] reach to you, for we were the [very] first to come even as far as you with the good news of Christ.  
2C1015 We do not go beyond our proper limit, boasting in the work of other men, but we have the hope that as your faith [in Christ and His divine power] continues to grow, our field among you may be greatly expanded [but still within the limits of our commission],  
2C1016 so that we may preach the gospel even in the lands beyond you, but not to boast in work already accomplished in another one’s field of activity.  
2C1017 However, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST IN THE LORD.”  
2C1018 For it is not he who commends and praises himself who is approved [by God], but it is the one whom the Lord commends and praises.  
2C1101 I wish you would bear with me [while I indulge] in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me [as you read this].  
2C1102 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy because I have promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.  
2C1103 But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.  
2C1104 For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception].  
2C1105 Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] super-apostles.  
2C1106 But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not [untrained] in knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.  
2C1107 Or did I [perhaps] sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted and honored, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge?  
2C1108 I robbed other churches by accepting [more than their share of] financial support for my ministry to you.  
2C1109 And when I was with you and ran short [financially], I did not burden any of you; for what I needed was fully supplied by the brothers (Silas and Timothy) who came from Macedonia (the church at Philippi). So I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.  
2C1110 As the truth of Christ is in me, my boast [of independence] will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia (southern Greece).  
2C1111 Why? Because I do not love you [or wish you well, or have regard for your welfare]? God knows [that I do]!  
2C1112 But what I am doing I will keep doing, [for I am determined to keep this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things they brag about.  
2C1113 For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  
2C1114 And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  
2C1115 So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds.  
2C1116 I repeat then, let no one think that I am foolish; but even if you do, at least accept me as foolish, so that I too may boast a little.  
2C1117 What I say in this confident boasting, I say not as the Lord would [with His authority], but foolishly.  
2C1118 Since many boast [of worldly things and brag] about human accomplishments, I will boast too.  
2C1119 For you, being so wise, gladly tolerate and accept the foolish [like me]!  
2C1120 For you tolerate it if anyone makes you his slave; or devours you and your possessions; or takes advantage of you; or acts presumptuously; or hits you in the face.  
2C1121 To my shame, I must say, we have been too weak [in comparison to those pseudo-apostles who take advantage of you]. But in whatever anyone else dares to boast—I am speaking foolishly—I also dare to boast.  
2C1122 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.  
2C1123 Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death.  
2C1124 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  
2C1125 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift on the sea;  
2C1126 many times on journeys, [exposed to] danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own countrymen, danger from the Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger on the sea, danger among those posing as believers;  
2C1127 in labor and hardship, often unable to sleep, in hunger and thirst, often [driven to] fasting [for lack of food], in cold and exposure [without adequate clothing].  
2C1128 Besides those external things, there is the daily [inescapable] pressure of my concern for all the churches.  
2C1129 Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to sin, and I am not on fire [with sorrow and concern]?  
2C1130 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that reveal my weakness [the things by which I am made weak in the eyes of my opponents].  
2C1131 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed and to be praised forevermore, knows that I am not lying.  
2C1132 In Damascus the governor (ethnarch) under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me,  
2C1133 and I was [actually] let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and slipped through his fingers.  
2C1201 It is necessary to boast, though nothing is gained by it; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.  
2C1202 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.  
2C1203 And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—  
2C1204 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak [words too sacred to tell].  
2C1205 On behalf of such a man [and his experiences] I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.  
2C1206 If I wish to boast, I will not be foolish, because I will be speaking the truth. But I abstain [from it], so that no one will credit me with more than [is justified by what] he sees in me or hears from me.  
2C1207 Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself!  
2C1208 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me;  
2C1209 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.  
2C1210 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].  
2C1211 Now I have become foolish; you have forced me [by questioning my apostleship]. Actually I should have been commended by you [instead of being treated disdainfully], for I was not inferior to those super-apostles, even if I am nobody.  
2C1212 The signs that indicate a genuine apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently—signs and wonders and miracles.  
2C1213 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except [for the fact] that I did not burden you [with my financial support]? Forgive me [for doing you] this injustice!  
2C1214 Now for the third time I am ready to visit you. I will not burden you [financially], because I do not want what is yours [not your money or your possessions], but you. For children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  
2C1215 But I will very gladly spend [my own resources] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you greatly, am I to be loved less [by you]?  
2C1216 But be that as it may, I did not burden you [with my support]. But [some say that] I was sly and took you by trickery.  
2C1217 Did I take advantage of you or make any money off you through any of the messengers I sent you? [Certainly not!]  
2C1218 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? [No!] Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps? [Of course!]  
2C1219 All this time you have been thinking that we are [merely] defending ourselves to you. It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking [as one] in Christ; and everything, dearly beloved, is to strengthen you [spiritually].  
2C1220 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder;  
2C1221 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality and decadence which they formerly practiced.  
2C1301 This is the third time that I am visiting you. EVERY FACT SHALL BE SUSTAINED and CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.  
2C1302 I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spare anyone,  
2C1303 since you seek [forensic] proof that Christ is speaking in and through me. He is not weak or ineffective in dealing with you, but powerful within you.  
2C1304 For even though He was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.  
2C1305 Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?  
2C1306 But I hope you will acknowledge that we do not fail the test nor are we to be rejected.  
2C1307 But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong. Not so that we [and our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing what is right, even though we [by comparison] may seem to have failed.  
2C1308 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth [and the gospel—the good news of salvation].  
2C1309 We are glad when we are weak [since God’s power comes freely through us], but you [by comparison] are strong. We also pray for this, that you be made complete [fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit—pleasing your heavenly Father by the life you live].  
2C1310 For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down.  
2C1311 Finally, believers, rejoice! Be made complete [be what you should be], be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace [enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God]; and the God of love and peace [the source of lovingkindness] will be with you.  
2C1312 Greet one another with a holy kiss.  
2C1313 All God’s people greet you.  
2C1314 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  
Ga0101 Paul, an apostle (not commissioned and sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ—the Messiah—and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),  
Ga0102 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:  
Ga0103 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,  
Ga0104 who gave Himself [as a sacrifice to atone] for our sins [to save and sanctify us] so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—  
Ga0105 to Him be [ascribed all] the glory through the ages of the ages. Amen.  
Ga0106 I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different [even contrary] gospel;  
Ga0107 which is really not another [gospel]; but there are [obviously] some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with a misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it absolutely is not].  
Ga0108 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!  
Ga0109 As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction!  
Ga0110 Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.  
Ga0111 For I want you to know, believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].  
Ga0112 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.  
Ga0113 You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.  
Ga0114 And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors.  
Ga0115 But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased  
Ga0116 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].  
Ga0117 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.  
Ga0118 Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.  
Ga0119 But I did not see any other apostle except James, the [half] brother of the Lord.  
Ga0120 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)  
Ga0121 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  
Ga0122 And I was still unknown by sight to the churches which were in Christ in Judea (Jerusalem and the surrounding region);  
Ga0123 they only kept hearing, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the [good news of the] faith which he once was trying to destroy.”  
Ga0124 And they were glorifying God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place and all that had been accomplished] in me.  
Ga0201 Then after a period of fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem, [this time] with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.  
Ga0202 I went up [to Jerusalem] because of a [divine] revelation, and I put before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so in private before those of reputation, for fear that I might be running or had run [the course of my ministry] in vain.  
Ga0203 But [all went well, for] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled [as some had anticipated] to be circumcised, despite the fact that he was a Greek.  
Ga0204 My concern was because of the false brothers [those people masquerading as Christians] who had been secretly smuggled in [to the community of believers]. They had slipped in to spy on the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us back into bondage [under the Law of Moses].  
Ga0205 But we did not yield to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would continue to remain with you [in its purity].  
Ga0206 But from those who were of high reputation (whatever they were—in terms of individual importance—makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me [that is, they had nothing to add to my gospel message nor did they impose any new requirements on me].  
Ga0207 But on the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised (Gentiles), just as Peter had been [entrusted to proclaim the gospel] to the circumcised (Jews);  
Ga0208 (for He who worked effectively for Peter and empowered him in his ministry to the Jews also worked effectively for me and empowered me in my ministry to the Gentiles).  
Ga0209 And recognizing the grace [that God had] bestowed on me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars [of the Jerusalem church], gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we could go to the Gentiles [with their blessing] and they to the circumcised (Jews).  
Ga0210 They asked only [one thing], that we remember the poor, the very thing I was also eager to do.  
Ga0211 Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions].  
Ga0212 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat [his meals] with the Gentiles; but when the men [from Jerusalem] arrived, he began to withdraw and separate himself [from the Gentile believers], because he was afraid of those from the circumcision.  
Ga0213 The rest of the Jews joined him in this hypocrisy [ignoring their knowledge that Jewish and Gentile Christians were united, under the new covenant, into one faith], with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.  
Ga0214 But when I saw that they were not being straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas (Peter) in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live [as you have been living] like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how is it that you are [now virtually] forcing the Gentiles to live like Jews [if they want to eat with you]?”  
Ga0215 [I went on to say] “We are Jews by birth and not sinners from among the Gentiles;  
Ga0216 yet we know that a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty].  
Ga0217 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ [by faith], we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ an advocate or promoter of our sin? Certainly not!  
Ga0218 For if I [or anyone else should] rebuild [through word or by practice] what I once tore down [the belief that observing the Law is essential for salvation], I prove myself to be a transgressor.  
Ga0219 For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God.  
Ga0220 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  
Ga0221 I do not ignore or nullify the [gracious gift of the] grace of God [His amazing, unmerited favor], for if righteousness comes through [observing] the Law, then Christ died needlessly. [His suffering and death would have had no purpose whatsoever.]”  
Ga0301 O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial Galatians, who has bewitched you [that you would act like this], to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified [in the gospel message]?  
Ga0302 This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]?  
Ga0303 Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]?  
Ga0304 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing—if indeed it was all for nothing?  
Ga0305 So then, does He who supplies you with His [marvelous Holy] Spirit and works miracles among you, do it as a result of the works of the Law [which you perform], or because you [believe confidently in the message which you] heard with faith?  
Ga0306 Just as Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also].  
Ga0307 So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of Abraham.  
Ga0308 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “IN YOU SHALL ALL THE NATIONS BE BLESSED.”  
Ga0309 So then those who are people of faith [whether Jew or Gentile] are blessed and favored by God [and declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with Him] along with Abraham, the believer.  
Ga0310 For all who depend on the Law [seeking justification and salvation by obedience to the Law and the observance of rituals] are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED (condemned to destruction) IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, SO AS TO PRACTICE THEM.”  
Ga0311 Now it is clear that no one is justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing] before God by the Law, for “THE RIGHTEOUS (the just, the upright) SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  
Ga0312 But the Law does not rest on or require faith [it has nothing to do with faith], but [instead, the Law] says, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM [the things prescribed by the Law] SHALL LIVE BY THEM [instead of faith].”  
Ga0313 Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS [crucified] ON A TREE (cross)”—  
Ga0314 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.  
Ga0315 Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though a last will and testament is just a human covenant, yet when it has been signed and made legally binding, no one sets it aside or adds to it [modifying it in some way].  
Ga0316 Now the promises [in the covenants] were decreed to Abraham and to his seed. God does not say, “And to seeds (descendants, heirs),” as if [referring] to many [persons], but as to one, “And to your Seed,” who is [none other than] Christ.  
Ga0317 This is what I mean: the Law, which came into existence four hundred and thirty years later [after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot invalidate the covenant previously established by God, so as to abolish the promise.  
Ga0318 For if the inheritance [of what was promised] is based on [observing] the Law [as these false teachers claim], it is no longer based on a promise; however, God granted it to Abraham [as a gift] by virtue of His promise.  
Ga0319 Why, then, the Law [what was its purpose]? It was added [after the promise to Abraham, to reveal to people their guilt] because of transgressions [that is, to make people conscious of the sinfulness of sin], and [the Law] was ordained through angels and delivered to Israel by the hand of a mediator [Moses, the mediator between God and Israel, to be in effect] until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made.  
Ga0320 Now the mediator or go-between [in a transaction] is not [needed] for just one party; whereas God is only one [and was the only One giving the promise to Abraham, but the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity depended on both].  
Ga0321 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a system of law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness (right standing with God) would actually have been based on law.  
Ga0322 But the Scripture has imprisoned everyone [everything—the entire world] under sin, so that [the inheritance, the blessing of salvation] which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe [in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s precious Son].  
Ga0323 Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, [perpetually] imprisoned [in preparation] for the faith that was destined to be revealed,  
Ga0324 with the result that the Law has become our tutor and our disciplinarian to guide us to Christ, so that we may be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] by faith.  
Ga0325 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under [the control and authority of] a tutor and disciplinarian.  
Ga0326 For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.  
Ga0327 For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values].  
Ga0328 There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].  
Ga0329 And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.  
Ga0401 Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the [future owner and] master of all [the estate];  
Ga0402 but he is under [the authority of] guardians and household administrators or managers until the date set by his father [when he is of legal age].  
Ga0403 So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world.  
Ga0404 But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law,  
Ga0405 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family].  
Ga0406 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”  
Ga0407 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].  
Ga0408 But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all.  
Ga0409 Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again?  
Ga0410 [For example,] you observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years.  
Ga0411 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.  
Ga0412 Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now].  
Ga0413 On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;  
Ga0414 and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself.  
Ga0415 What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [to replace mine].  
Ga0416 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?  
Ga0417 These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them.  
Ga0418 Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it].  
Ga0419 My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you—  
Ga0420 how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.  
Ga0421 Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not listen to [what] the Law [really says]?  
Ga0422 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman [Hagar] and one by the free woman [Sarah].  
Ga0423 But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise.  
Ga0424 Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar.  
Ga0425 Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  
Ga0426 But the Jerusalem above [that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah] is free; she is our mother.  
Ga0427 For it is written [in the Scriptures], “REJOICE, O BARREN WOMAN WHO HAS NOT GIVEN BIRTH; BREAK FORTH INTO A [joyful] SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR THE DESOLATE WOMAN HAS MANY MORE CHILDREN THAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”  
Ga0428 And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously].  
Ga0429 But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also.  
Ga0430 But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN [Hagar] AND HER SON [Ishmael], FOR NEVER SHALL THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN BE HEIR and SHARE THE INHERITANCE WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”  
Ga0431 So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].  
Ga0501 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].  
Ga0502 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation].  
Ga0503 Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law.  
Ga0504 You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing].  
Ga0505 For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation].  
Ga0506 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.  
Ga0507 You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth?  
Ga0508 This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ].  
Ga0509 A little leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church].  
Ga0510 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.  
Ga0511 But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished.  
Ga0512 I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!  
Ga0513 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.  
Ga0514 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”  
Ga0515 But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.  
Ga0516 But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].  
Ga0517 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.  
Ga0518 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.  
Ga0519 Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),  
Ga0520 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies],  
Ga0521 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  
Ga0522 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
Ga0523 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.  
Ga0524 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.  
Ga0525 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].  
Ga0526 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.  
Ga0601 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.  
Ga0602 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].  
Ga0603 For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself.  
Ga0604 But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.  
Ga0605 For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].  
Ga0606 The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support].  
Ga0607 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.  
Ga0608 For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  
Ga0609 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.  
Ga0610 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).  
Ga0611 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.  
Ga0612 Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ.  
Ga0613 For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised].  
Ga0614 But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  
Ga0615 For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus].  
Ga0616 Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish believers).  
Ga0617 From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me].  
Ga0618 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers and sisters. Amen.  
Ep0101 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice], To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:  
Ep0102 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ep0103 Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,  
Ep0104 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love  
Ep0105 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will—  
Ep0106 to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].  
Ep0107 In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace  
Ep0108 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and understanding [with practical insight]  
Ep0109 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,  
Ep0110 with regard to the fulfillment of the times [that is, the end of history, the climax of the ages]—to bring all things together in Christ, [both] things in the heavens and things on the earth.  
Ep0111 In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,  
Ep0112 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory.  
Ep0113 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].  
Ep0114 The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.  
Ep0115 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  
Ep0116 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers;  
Ep0117 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son].  
Ep0118 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),  
Ep0119 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength  
Ep0120 which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,  
Ep0121 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.  
Ep0122 And He put all things [in every realm] in subjection under Christ’s feet, and appointed Him as [supreme and authoritative] head over all things in the church,  
Ep0123 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].  
Ep0201 And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,  
Ep0202 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].  
Ep0203 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].  
Ep0204 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us,  
Ep0205 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).  
Ep0206 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus,  
Ep0207 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].  
Ep0208 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;  
Ep0209 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].  
Ep0210 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].  
Ep0211 Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands—  
Ep0212 remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.  
Ep0213 But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  
Ep0214 For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],  
Ep0215 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.  
Ep0216 And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.  
Ep0217 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE TO YOU [Gentiles] WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE [Jews] WHO WERE NEAR.  
Ep0218 For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.  
Ep0219 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,  
Ep0220 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,  
Ep0221 in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].  
Ep0222 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  
Ep0301 For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—  
Ep0302 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me [to share with you] for your benefit;  
Ep0303 and that by [divine] revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have already written in brief.  
Ep0304 By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,  
Ep0305 which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit;  
Ep0306 [it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation].  
Ep0307 Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.  
Ep0308 To me, [though I am] the very least of all the saints (God’s people), this grace [which is undeserved] was graciously given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible riches of Christ [that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand],  
Ep0309 and to make plain [to everyone] the plan of the mystery [regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body] which [until now] was kept hidden through the ages in [the mind of] God who created all things.  
Ep0310 So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  
Ep0311 This is in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,  
Ep0312 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].  
Ep0313 So I ask you not to lose heart at my sufferings on your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.  
Ep0314 For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],  
Ep0315 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].  
Ep0316 May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality],  
Ep0317 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love,  
Ep0318 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];  
Ep0319 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].  
Ep0320 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,  
Ep0321 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.  
Ep0401 So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],  
Ep0402 with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.  
Ep0403 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].  
Ep0404 There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—  
Ep0405 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  
Ep0406 one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all.  
Ep0407 Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.  
Ep0408 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND HE BESTOWED GIFTS ON MEN.”  
Ep0409 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth?  
Ep0410 He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]).  
Ep0411 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],  
Ep0412 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];  
Ep0413 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].  
Ep0414 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].  
Ep0415 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.  
Ep0416 From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.  
Ep0417 So this I say, and solemnly affirm together with the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds [and in the foolishness and emptiness of their souls],  
Ep0418 for their [moral] understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; [they are] alienated and self-banished from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the [willful] ignorance and spiritual blindness that is [deep-seated] within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.  
Ep0419 And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].  
Ep0420 But you did not learn Christ in this way!  
Ep0421 If in fact you have [really] heard Him and have been taught by Him, just as truth is in Jesus [revealed in His life and personified in Him],  
Ep0422 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires,  
Ep0423 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude],  
Ep0424 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].  
Ep0425 Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half- truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].  
Ep0426 BE ANGRY [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], YET DO NOT SIN; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down.  
Ep0427 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].  
Ep0428 The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need.  
Ep0429 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].  
Ep0430 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].  
Ep0431 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence].  
Ep0432 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.  
Ep0501 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well- beloved children [imitate their father];  
Ep0502 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.  
Ep0503 But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith].  
Ep0504 Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God].  
Ep0505 For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God].  
Ep0506 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin], for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience [those who habitually sin].  
Ep0507 So do not participate or even associate with them [in the rebelliousness of sin].  
Ep0508 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light]  
Ep0509 (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),  
Ep0510 trying to learn [by experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation].  
Ep0511 Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];  
Ep0512 for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.  
Ep0513 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for it is light that makes everything visible.  
Ep0514 For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.”  
Ep0515 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people],  
Ep0516 making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.  
Ep0517 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.  
Ep0518 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.  
Ep0519 Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;  
Ep0520 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  
Ep0521 being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.  
Ep0522 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord.  
Ep0523 For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body.  
Ep0524 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].  
Ep0525 Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,  
Ep0526 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God],  
Ep0527 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.  
Ep0528 Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to love their own wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.  
Ep0529 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  
Ep0530 because we are members (parts) of His body.  
Ep0531 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED [and be faithfully devoted] TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.  
Ep0532 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church.  
Ep0533 However, each man among you [without exception] is to love his wife as his very own self [with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness], and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and delights in her husband [that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear].  
Ep0601 Children, obey your parents in the Lord [that is, accept their guidance and discipline as His representatives], for this is right [for obedience teaches wisdom and self-discipline].  
Ep0602 HONOR [esteem, value as precious] YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise—  
Ep0603 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LONG LIFE ON THE EARTH.  
Ep0604 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  
Ep0605 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with respect for authority, and with a sincere heart [seeking to please them], as [service] to Christ—  
Ep0606 not in the way of eye-service [working only when someone is watching you and only] to please men, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart;  
Ep0607 rendering service with goodwill, as to the Lord, and not [only] to men,  
Ep0608 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether [he is] slave or free.  
Ep0609 You masters, do the same [showing goodwill] toward them, and give up threatening and abusive words, knowing that [He who is] both their true Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him [regardless of one’s earthly status].  
Ep0610 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.  
Ep0611 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.  
Ep0612 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.  
Ep0613 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].  
Ep0614 So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart),  
Ep0615 and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].  
Ep0616 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  
Ep0617 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  
Ep0618 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.  
Ep0619 And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation],  
Ep0620 for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.  
Ep0621 Now, so that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.  
Ep0622 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are, and that he may comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts.  
Ep0623 Peace be to the brothers and sisters, and love joined with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ep0624 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible love.  
Ph0101 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), To all the saints (God’s people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:  
Ph0102 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ph0103 I thank my God in every remembrance of you,  
Ph0104 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you,  
Ph0105 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now.  
Ph0106 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].  
Ph0107 It is right for me to feel this way about you, because [you have me in your heart as] I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the good news [regarding salvation], all of you share in [His matchless] grace with me.  
Ph0108 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus [whose great love fills me].  
Ph0109 And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight,  
Ph0110 so that you may learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent [identifying the best, and distinguishing moral differences], and that you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ [actually living lives that lead others away from sin];  
Ph0111 filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God [so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized].  
Ph0112 Now I want you to know, believers, that what has happened to me [this imprisonment that was meant to stop me] has actually served to advance [the spread of] the good news [regarding salvation].  
Ph0113 My imprisonment in [the cause of] Christ has become common knowledge throughout the whole praetorian (imperial) guard and to everyone else.  
Ph0114 Because of my chains [seeing that I am doing well and that God is accomplishing great things], most of the brothers have renewed confidence in the Lord, and have far more courage to speak the word of God [concerning salvation] without fear [of the consequences, seeing that God can work His good in all circumstances].  
Ph0115 Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me].  
Ph0116 The latter [preach Christ] out of love, because they know that I have been put here [by God on purpose] for the defense of the gospel;  
Ph0117 but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self- promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.  
Ph0118 What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self- promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice [later as well],  
Ph0119 for I know [with confidence] that this will turn out for my deliverance and spiritual well-being, through your prayers and the [superabundant] supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ [which upholds me].  
Ph0120 It is my own eager expectation and hope, that [looking toward the future] I will not disgrace myself nor be ashamed in anything, but that with courage and the utmost freedom of speech, even now as always, Christ will be magnified and exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  
Ph0121 For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].  
Ph0122 If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean useful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose [if I am given that choice].  
Ph0123 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;  
Ph0124 yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake.  
Ph0125 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,  
Ph0126 so that your rejoicing for me may overflow in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.  
Ph0127 Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.  
Ph0128 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God.  
Ph0129 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,  
Ph0130 [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.  
Ph0201 Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion,  
Ph0202 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].  
Ph0203 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.  
Ph0204 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  
Ph0205 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],  
Ph0206 who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];  
Ph0207 but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man].  
Ph0208 After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely- appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross.  
Ph0209 For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,  
Ph0210 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  
Ph0211 and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.  
Ph0212 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].  
Ph0213 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.  
Ph0214 Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God],  
Ph0215 so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],  
Ph0216 holding out and offering to everyone the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to rejoice greatly because I did not run [my race] in vain nor labor without result.  
Ph0217 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all.  
Ph0218 You too, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.  
Ph0219 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged by learning news about you.  
Ph0220 For I have no one else [like him who is] so kindred a spirit who will be genuinely concerned for your [spiritual] welfare.  
Ph0221 For the others [who deserted me after my arrest] all seek [to advance] their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  
Ph0222 But you know of Timothy’s tested worth and his proven character, that he has served with me to advance the gospel like a son serving with his father.  
Ph0223 Therefore, I hope [that it is His will] to send him immediately, just as soon as I see how my case turns out;  
Ph0224 and I trust [confidently] in the Lord that soon I also will be coming to you.  
Ph0225 However, I thought it necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, [who has been] my brother and companion and fellow soldier, who was also sent as your messenger to take care of my needs.  
Ph0226 For he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.  
Ph0227 He certainly was sick and close to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.  
Ph0228 So I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.  
Ph0229 Welcome him home in the Lord with great joy, and appreciate and honor men like him;  
Ph0230 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me [which distance prevented you from rendering personally].  
Ph0301 Finally, my fellow believers, continue to rejoice and delight in the LORD. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.  
Ph0302 Look out for the dogs [the Judaizers, the legalists], look out for the troublemakers, look out for the false circumcision [those who claim circumcision is necessary for salvation];  
Ph0303 for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh—  
Ph0304 though I myself might have [some grounds for] confidence in the flesh [if I were pursuing salvation by works]. If anyone else thinks that he has reason to be confident in the flesh [that is, in his own efforts to achieve salvation], I have far more:  
Ph0305 circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee;  
Ph0306 as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless.  
Ph0307 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].  
Ph0308 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,  
Ph0309 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.  
Ph0310 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];  
Ph0311 so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.  
Ph0312 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.  
Ph0313 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  
Ph0314 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  
Ph0315 All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you.  
Ph0316 Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.  
Ph0317 Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you.  
Ph0318 For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation],  
Ph0319 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.  
Ph0320 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  
Ph0321 who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.  
Ph0401 Therefore, my fellow believers, whom I love and long for, my delight and crown [my wreath of victory], in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.  
Ph0402 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree and to work in harmony in the Lord.  
Ph0403 Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.  
Ph0404 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!  
Ph0405 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.  
Ph0406 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.  
Ph0407 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].  
Ph0408 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].  
Ph0409 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well- being will be with you.  
Ph0410 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last you have renewed your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned about me before, but you had no opportunity to show it.  
Ph0411 Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.  
Ph0412 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.  
Ph0413 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]  
Ph0414 Nevertheless, it was right of you to share [with me] in my difficulties.  
Ph0415 And you Philippians know that in the early days of preaching the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone;  
Ph0416 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.  
Ph0417 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your [heavenly] account [the blessing which is accumulating for you].  
Ph0418 But I have received everything in full and more; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. They are the fragrant aroma of an offering, an acceptable sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.  
Ph0419 And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  
Ph0420 To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  
Ph0421 Remember me to every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.  
Ph0422 All God’s people wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar’s household.  
Ph0423 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  
Co0101 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,  
Co0102 To the saints and faithful believers in Christ [who are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father.  
Co0103 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we pray always for you,  
Co0104 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [how you lean on Him with absolute confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness], and of the [unselfish] love which you have for all the saints (God’s people);  
Co0105 because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation]  
Co0106 which has come to you. Indeed, just as in the whole world the gospel is constantly bearing fruit and spreading [by God’s power], just as it has been doing among you ever since the day you first heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth [becoming thoroughly and deeply acquainted with it].  
Co0107 You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond- servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf  
Co0108 and he also has told us of your love [well-grounded and nurtured] in the [Holy] Spirit.  
Co0109 For this reason, since the day we heard about it, we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],  
Co0110 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];  
Co0111 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;  
Co0112 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light.  
Co0113 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,  
Co0114 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].  
Co0115 He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.  
Co0116 For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.  
Co0117 And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]  
Co0118 He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.  
Co0119 For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son),  
Co0120 and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.  
Co0121 And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things,  
Co0122 yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach—  
Co0123 [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.  
Co0124 Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.  
Co0125 In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you]—  
Co0126 that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).  
Co0127 God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.  
Co0128 We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].  
Co0129 For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.  
Co0201 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face.  
Co0202 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ,  
Co0203 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].  
Co0204 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive [but thoroughly deceptive] arguments.  
Co0205 For even though I am absent [from you] in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, delighted to see your good discipline [as you stand shoulder to shoulder and form a solid front] and to see the stability of your faith in Christ [your steadfast reliance on Him and your unwavering confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].  
Co0206 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin],  
Co0207 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.  
Co0208 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.  
Co0209 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].  
Co0210 And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].  
Co0211 In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but by the [spiritual] circumcision of Christ in the stripping off of the body of the flesh [the sinful carnal nature],  
Co0212 having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.  
Co0213 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, manner of life), God made you alive together with Christ, having [freely] forgiven us all our sins,  
Co0214 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.  
Co0215 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.  
Co0216 Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.  
Co0217 Such things are only a shadow of what is to come and they have only symbolic value; but the substance [the reality of what is foreshadowed] belongs to Christ.  
Co0218 Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his unspiritual mind,  
Co0219 and not holding fast to the head [of the body, Jesus Christ], from whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows with the growth [that can come only] from God.  
Co0220 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were still living in the world, do you submit to rules and regulations, such as,  
Co0221 “Do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not [even] touch!”?  
Co0222 (these things all perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men.  
Co0223 These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God].  
Co0301 Therefore if you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead], keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  
Co0302 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].  
Co0303 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.  
Co0304 When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  
Co0305 So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God].  
Co0306 Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts],  
Co0307 and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ].  
Co0308 But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.  
Co0309 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices,  
Co0310 and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self—  
Co0311 a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].  
Co0312 So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];  
Co0313 bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.  
Co0314 Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].  
Co0315 Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].  
Co0316 Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  
Co0317 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  
Co0318 Wives, be subject to your husbands [out of respect for their position as protector, and their accountability to God], as is proper and fitting in the Lord.  
Co0319 Husbands, love your wives [with an affectionate, sympathetic, selfless love that always seeks the best for them] and do not be embittered or resentful toward them [because of the responsibilities of marriage].  
Co0320 Children, obey your parents [as God’s representatives] in all things, for this [attitude of respect and obedience] is well-pleasing to the Lord [and will bring you God’s promised blessings].  
Co0321 Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or exasperate your children [with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by favoritism or indifference; treat them tenderly with lovingkindness], so they will not lose heart and become discouraged or unmotivated [with their spirits broken].  
Co0322 Servants, in everything obey those who are your masters on earth, not only with external service, as those who merely please people, but with sincerity of heart because of your fear of the Lord.  
Co0323 Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,  
Co0324 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.  
Co0325 For he who does wrong will be punished for his wrongdoing, and [with God] there is no partiality [no special treatment based on a person’s position in life].  
Co0401 Masters, [on your part] deal with your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.  
Co0402 Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving.  
Co0403 At the same time pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned;  
Co0404 that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.  
Co0405 Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non- believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious].  
Co0406 Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].  
Co0407 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, who is a much-loved brother and faithful assistant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will give you all the information.  
Co0408 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts;  
Co0409 and with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will let you know everything about the situation here [in Rome].  
Co0410 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, wishes to be remembered to you; as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);  
Co0411 and from Jesus, who is called Justus. These are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision (Jewish Christians), and they have proved to be an encouragement and a comfort to me.  
Co0412 Epaphras, who is one of you and a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you in his prayers, praying with genuine concern, [pleading] that you may [as people of character and courage] stand firm, [spiritually mature] and fully assured in all the will of God.  
Co0413 For I testify for him that he has worked strenuously for you and for the believers in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis.  
Co0414 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.  
Co0415 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.  
Co0416 When this letter has been read among you, see that it is read in the church of the Laodiceans; and also that you in turn read my letter [that is coming to you] from Laodicea.  
Co0417 And say to Archippus, “See to it that you fulfill [carefully the duties of] the ministry which you have received in the Lord.”  
Co0418 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. May grace (God’s unmerited favor and blessing) be with you.  
1h0101 Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being from God].  
1h0102 We give thanks to God always for all of you, continually mentioning you in our prayers;  
1h0103 recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ.  
1h0104 Brothers and sisters beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you;  
1h0105 for our good news [regarding salvation] came to you not only in word, but also in [its inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your benefit.  
1h0106 You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord, after you welcomed our message in [a time of] great trouble with the joy supplied by the Holy Spirit;  
1h0107 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.  
1h0108 For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it.  
1h0109 For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  
1h0110 and to [look forward and confidently] wait for [the coming of] His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who [personally] rescues us from the coming wrath [and draws us to Himself, granting us all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him].  
1h0201 For you know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you has not been ineffective (fruitless, in vain),  
1h0202 but after we had already suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned the courage to proclaim boldly to you the good news of God [regarding salvation] amid great opposition.  
1h0203 For our appeal does not come from delusion or impure motives, nor [is it motivated] by deceit [our message is complete, accurate, and based on the truth—it does not change].  
1h0204 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best].  
1h0205 For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness—  
1h0206 nor did we seek glory and honor from people, neither from you nor from anyone else, though as apostles of Christ we had the power to assert our authority.  
1h0207 But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children.  
1h0208 Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.  
1h0209 For you remember, believers, our labor and hardship. We worked night and day [practicing our trade] in order not to be a [financial] burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you.  
1h0210 You are witnesses, and so is God, how unworldly and just and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe [in our Lord Jesus Christ].  
1h0211 For you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you just as a father does [in dealing with] his own children, [guiding you]  
1h0212 to live lives [of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity] worthy of the God who [saves you and] calls you into His own kingdom and glory.  
1h0213 And we also thank God continually for this, that when you received the word of God [concerning salvation] which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith].  
1h0214 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,  
1h0215 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and harassed and drove us out; and [they] continue to be highly displeasing to God and [to show themselves] hostile to all people,  
1h0216 forbidding us from speaking to the Gentiles (non-Jews) so that they may be saved. So, as always, they fill up [to the brim] the measure of their sins [allotted to them by God]. But [God’s] wrath has come upon them at last [completely and forever].  
1h0217 But since we were taken away from you, believers, for a little while—in person, but not in heart—we endeavored, with great longing to see you face to face.  
1h0218 For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered us.  
1h0219 For who is [the object of] our hope or joy or our victor’s wreath of triumphant celebration [when we stand] in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?  
1h0220 For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!  
1h0301 Therefore, when we could no longer endure our separation [from you], we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,  
1h0302 and so we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you [exhorting, comforting, and establishing you] in regard to your faith,  
1h0303 so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you know that we have been destined for this [as something unavoidable in our position].  
1h0304 For even when we were with you, we warned you plainly in advance that we were going to experience persecution; and so, as you know, it has come to pass.  
1h0305 For this reason, when I could no longer endure the suspense, I sent someone to find out about your faith [how you were holding up under pressure], for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our work [among you] would prove to be ineffective.  
1h0306 But now that Timothy has come back to us from [his visit with] you, and has brought us good news of your [steadfast] faith and [the warmth of your] love, and [reported] that you always think kindly of us and treasure your memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you,  
1h0307 for this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and suffering we have been comforted and greatly encouraged about you because of your faith [your unwavering trust in God—placing yourselves completely in His loving hands];  
1h0308 because now we really live [in spite of everything], if you stand firm in the Lord.  
1h0309 For what [adequate] thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy and delight we have before our God on your account?  
1h0310 We continue to pray night and day most earnestly that we may see you face to face, and may complete whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.  
1h0311 Now may our God and Father Himself, and Jesus our Lord guide our steps to you [by removing the obstacles that stand in our way].  
1h0312 And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;  
1h0313 so that He may strengthen and establish your hearts without blame in holiness in the sight of our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (God’s people).  
1h0401 Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].  
1h0402 For you know what commandments and precepts we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  
1h0403 For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality;  
1h0404 that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane],  
1h0405 not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will;  
1h0406 and that [in this matter of sexual misconduct] no man shall transgress and defraud his brother because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we have told you before and solemnly warned you.  
1h0407 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private].  
1h0408 So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation].  
1h0409 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you, for you have been [personally] taught by God to love one another [that is, to have an unselfish concern for others and to do things for their benefit].  
1h0410 For indeed you already do practice it toward all the believers throughout Macedonia [by actively displaying your love and concern for them]. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, that you excel [in this matter] more and more,  
1h0411 and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you,  
1h0412 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].  
1h0413 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].  
1h0414 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way—by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus.  
1h0415 For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death].  
1h0416 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  
1h0417 Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord!  
1h0418 Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].  
1h0501 Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.  
1h0502 For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night.  
1h0503 While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord].  
1h0504 But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief;  
1h0505 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness.  
1h0506 So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].  
1h0507 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.  
1h0508 But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation.  
1h0509 For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  
1h0510 who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].  
1h0511 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.  
1h0512 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction,  
1h0513 and [we ask that you appreciate them and] hold them in the highest esteem in love because of their work [on your behalf]. Live in peace with one another.  
1h0514 We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].  
1h0515 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people.  
1h0516 Rejoice always and delight in your faith;  
1h0517 be unceasing and persistent in prayer;  
1h0518 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.  
1h0519 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.  
1h0520 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning].  
1h0521 But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.  
1h0522 Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].  
1h0523 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
1h0524 Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].  
1h0525 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.  
1h0526 Greet all the believers with a holy kiss [as brothers and sisters in God’s family].  
1h0527 I solemnly charge you by the Lord to have this letter read before all the congregation.  
1h0528 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  
2h0101 Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  
2h0102 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
2h0103 We ought always and indeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish] love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.  
2h0104 Therefore, we speak of you with pride among the churches of God for your steadfastness [your unflinching endurance, and patience] and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecution and [crushing] distress which you endure.  
2h0105 This is a positive proof of the righteous judgment of God [a sign of His fair verdict], so that you will be considered worthy of His kingdom, for which indeed you are suffering.  
2h0106 For after all it is only just for God to repay with distress those who distress you,  
2h0107 and to give relief to you who are so distressed and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire,  
2h0108 dealing out [full and complete] vengeance to those who do not [seek to] know God and to those who ignore and refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [by choosing not to respond to Him].  
2h0109 These people will pay the penalty and endure the punishment of everlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,  
2h0110 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day [that is, glorified through the changed lives of those who have accepted Him as Savior and have been set apart for His purpose], and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed and trusted [and confirmed in your lives].  
2h0111 With this in view, we constantly pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of your calling [to faith] and with [His] power fulfill every desire for goodness, and complete [your] every work of faith,  
2h0112 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you [by what you do], and you in Him, according to the [precious] grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
2h0201 Now in regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to meet Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,  
2h0202 not to be quickly unsettled or alarmed either by a [so-called prophetic revelation of a] spirit or a message or a letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] come.  
2h0203 Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],  
2h0204 who opposes and exalts himself [so proudly and so insolently] above every so- called god or object of worship, so that he [actually enters and] takes his seat in the temple of God, publicly proclaiming that he himself is God.  
2h0205 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I was telling you these things?  
2h0206 And you know what restrains him now [from being revealed]; it is so that he will be revealed at his own [appointed] time.  
2h0207 For the mystery of lawlessness [rebellion against divine authority and the coming reign of lawlessness] is already at work; [but it is restrained] only until he who now restrains it is taken out of the way.  
2h0208 Then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by the appearance of His coming.  
2h0209 The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies],  
2h0210 and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them].  
2h0211 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie,  
2h0212 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.  
2h0213 But we should and are [morally] obligated [as debtors] always to give thanks to God for you, believers beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit [that sets you apart for God’s purpose] and by your faith in the truth [of God’s word that leads you to spiritual maturity].  
2h0214 It was to this end that He called you through our gospel [the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection], so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
2h0215 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.  
2h0216 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and encouragement and the good [well-founded] hope [of salvation] by His grace,  
2h0217 comfort and encourage and strengthen your hearts [keeping them steadfast and on course] in every good work and word.  
2h0301 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray continually for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be honored [triumphantly celebrated and glorified], just as it was with you;  
2h0302 and [pray] that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not everyone has the faith.  
2h0303 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.  
2h0304 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things [which] we command.  
2h0305 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ.  
2h0306 Now we command you, believers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by His authority, that you withdraw and keep away from every brother or sister who leads an undisciplined life and does not live in accordance with the tradition and teaching that you have received from us.  
2h0307 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],  
2h0308 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be a financial burden on any of you [for our support];  
2h0309 not because we do not have a right to such support, but [we provided our own financial support] to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.  
2h0310 For even while we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.  
2h0311 Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business].  
2h0312 Now such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work quietly and earn their own food and other necessities [supporting themselves instead of depending on the hospitality of others].  
2h0313 And as for [the rest of] you, believers, do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].  
2h0314 Now if anyone [in the church] does not obey what we say in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be ashamed and repent.  
2h0315 Do not regard him as an enemy, but keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother.  
2h0316 Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances]. The Lord be with you all.  
2h0317 I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in every letter [of mine, that shows it is genuine]. It is the way I write [my handwriting and signature].  
2h0318 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.  
1T0101 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) our Hope [the fulfillment of our salvation],  
1T0102 to Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  
1T0103 As I urged you when I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain individuals not to teach any different doctrines,  
1T0104 nor to pay attention to legends (fables, myths) and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation and meaningless arguments rather than advancing God’s program of instruction which is grounded in faith [and requires surrendering the entire self to God in absolute trust and confidence].  
1T0105 But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  
1T0106 Some individuals have wandered away from these things into empty arguments and useless discussions,  
1T0107 wanting to be teachers of the Law [of Moses], even though they do not understand the terms they use or the subjects about which they make [such] confident declarations.  
1T0108 Now we know [without any doubt] that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully and appropriately,  
1T0109 understanding the fact that law is not enacted for the righteous person [the one in right standing with God], but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,  
1T0110 for sexually immoral persons, for homosexuals, for kidnappers and slave traders, for liars, for perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,  
1T0111 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.  
1T0112 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able for this, because He considered me faithful and trustworthy, putting me into service [for this ministry],  
1T0113 even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.  
1T0114 The grace of our Lord [His amazing, unmerited favor and blessing] flowed out in superabundance [for me, together] with the faith and love which are [realized] in Christ Jesus.  
1T0115 This is a faithful and trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance and approval, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost.  
1T0116 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.  
1T0117 Now to the King of the ages [eternal], immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.  
1T0118 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, so that [inspired and aided] by them you may fight the good fight [in contending with false teachers],  
1T0119 keeping your faith [leaning completely on God with absolute trust and confidence in His guidance] and having a good conscience; for some [people] have rejected [their moral compass] and have made a shipwreck of their faith.  
1T0120 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be disciplined and taught not to blaspheme.  
1T0201 First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people,  
1T0202 for kings and all who are in [positions of] high authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  
1T0203 This [kind of praying] is good and acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,  
1T0204 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.  
1T0205 For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,  
1T0206 who gave Himself as a ransom [a substitutionary sacrifice to atone] for all, the testimony given at the right and proper time.  
1T0207 And for this matter I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying [when I say this]—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.  
1T0208 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].  
1T0209 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and discreetly in proper clothing, not with [elaborately] braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothes,  
1T0210 but instead adorned by good deeds [helping others], as is proper for women who profess to worship God.  
1T0211 A woman must quietly receive instruction with all submissiveness.  
1T0212 I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet [in the congregation].  
1T0213 For Adam was formed first [by God from the earth], then Eve;  
1T0214 and it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was led astray and fell into sin.  
1T0215 But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.  
1T0301 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: if any man [eagerly] seeks the office of overseer (bishop, superintendent), he desires an excellent task.  
1T0302 Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,  
1T0303 not addicted to wine, not a bully nor quick-tempered and hot-headed, but gentle and considerate, free from the love of money [not greedy for wealth and its inherent power—financially ethical].  
1T0304 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity [keeping them respectful and well-behaved]  
1T0305 (for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?).  
1T0306 and He must not be a new convert, so that he will not [behave stupidly and] become conceited [by appointment to this high office] and fall into the [same] condemnation incurred by the devil [for his arrogance and pride].  
1T0307 And he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside the church, so that he will not be discredited and fall into the devil’s trap.  
1T0308 Deacons likewise must be men worthy of respect [honorable, financially ethical, of good character], not double-tongued [speakers of half-truths], not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain,  
1T0309 but upholding and fully understanding the mystery [that is, the true doctrine] of the [Christian] faith with a clear conscience [resulting from behavior consistent with spiritual maturity].  
1T0310 These men must first be tested; then if they are found to be blameless and beyond reproach [in their Christian lives], let them serve as deacons.  
1T0311 Women must likewise be worthy of respect, not malicious gossips, but self- controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things.  
1T0312 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.  
1T0313 For those who have served well as deacons gain a high standing [having a good reputation among the congregation], and great confidence in the faith which is [founded on and centered] in Christ Jesus.  
1T0314 I hope to come to you before long, but I am writing these instructions to you  
1T0315 in case I am delayed, so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  
1T0316 And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.  
1T0401 But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons,  
1T0402 [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning],  
1T0403 who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from [certain kinds of] foods which God has created to be gratefully shared by those who believe and have [a clear] knowledge of the truth.  
1T0404 For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;  
1T0405 for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the word of God and prayer.  
1T0406 If you point out these instructions to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished [through study] on the words of the faith and of the good [Christian] doctrine which you have closely followed.  
1T0407 But have nothing to do with irreverent folklore and silly myths. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness [keeping yourself spiritually fit].  
1T0408 For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.  
1T0409 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance and approval.  
1T0410 It is for this that we labor and strive [often called to account], because we have fixed our [confident] hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe [in Him, recognize Him as the Son of God, and accept Him as Savior and Lord].  
1T0411 Keep commanding and teaching these things.  
1T0412 Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity.  
1T0413 Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God’s word].  
1T0414 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].  
1T0415 Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all.  
1T0416 Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.  
1T0501 Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers,  
1T0502 to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].  
1T0503 Honor and help those widows who are truly widowed [alone, and without support].  
1T0504 But if a widow has children or grandchildren [who are adults], see to it that these first learn to show great respect to their own family [as their religious duty and natural obligation], and to compensate their parents or grandparents [for their upbringing]; for this is acceptable and pleasing in the sight of God.  
1T0505 Now a woman who is really a widow and has been left [entirely] alone [without adequate income] trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.  
1T0506 Whereas she who lives for pleasure and self-indulgence is spiritually dead even while she still lives.  
1T0507 Keep instructing [the people to do] these things as well, so that they may be blameless and beyond reproach.  
1T0508 If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [by disregarding its precepts] and is worse than an unbeliever [who fulfills his obligation in these matters].  
1T0509 A widow is to be put on the list [to receive regular assistance] only if she is over sixty years of age, [having been] the wife of one man,  
1T0510 and has a reputation for good deeds; [she is eligible] if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the feet of the saints (God’s people), if she has assisted the distressed, and has devoted herself to doing good in every way.  
1T0511 But refuse [to enroll the] younger widows, for when they feel their natural desires in disregard of Christ, they wish to marry again,  
1T0512 and so they incur condemnation for having set aside their previous pledge.  
1T0513 Now at the same time, they also learn to be idle as they go from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies [meddlers in things that do not concern them], talking about things they should not mention.  
1T0514 So I want younger widows to get married, have children, manage their households, and not give opponents of the faith any occasion for slander.  
1T0515 Some [widows] have already turned away [from the faith] to follow Satan.  
1T0516 If any believing woman has [dependent] widows [in her household], she must assist them [according to her ability]; and the church must not be burdened [with them], so that it may assist those who are truly widows [those who are all alone and are dependent].  
1T0517 The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honor (financial support), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching [the word of God concerning eternal salvation through Christ].  
1T0518 For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS TREADING OUT THE GRAIN [to keep it from eating],” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages [he deserves fair compensation].”  
1T0519 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is based on [the testimony of at least] two or three witnesses.  
1T0520 As for those [elders] who continue in sin, reprimand them in the presence of all [the congregation], so that the rest will be warned.  
1T0521 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels that you guard and keep these rules without bias, doing nothing out of favoritism.  
1T0522 Do not hurry to lay hands on anyone [ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders], and thereby share in the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.  
1T0523 No longer continue drinking [only] water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.  
1T0524 The sins of some people are conspicuous, leading the way for them into judgment [so that they are clearly not qualified for ministry]; but the sins of others appear later [for they are hidden and follow behind them].  
1T0525 Likewise, good deeds are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be hidden [indefinitely].  
1T0601 All who are under the yoke as bond-servants (slaves) are to regard their own masters as worthy of honor and respect so that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] will not be spoken against.  
1T0602 Those who have believing masters are not to be disrespectful toward them because they are brothers [in Christ], but they should serve them even better, because those who benefit from their kindly service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these [duties and principles].  
1T0603 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior),  
1T0604 he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]. He has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produces envy, quarrels, verbal abuse, evil suspicions,  
1T0605 and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—withdraw from them].  
1T0606 But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God].  
1T0607 For we have brought nothing into the world, so [it is clear that] we cannot take anything out of it, either.  
1T0608 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  
1T0609 But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery].  
1T0610 For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.  
1T0611 But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.  
1T0612 Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.  
1T0613 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and [in the presence] of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession [in His testimony] before Pontius Pilate,  
1T0614 to keep all His precepts without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,  
1T0615 which He will bring about in His own time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign [the absolute Ruler], the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords,  
1T0616 He alone possesses immortality [absolute exemption from death] and lives in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal power and dominion! Amen.  
1T0617 As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  
1T0618 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share [with others].  
1T0619 In this way storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.  
1T0620 O Timothy, guard and keep safe the deposit [of godly truth] entrusted to you, turn away from worldly and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], and the contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge”—  
1T0621 which some have professed and by doing so have erred (missed the mark) and strayed from the faith. Grace be with you.  
2T0101 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,  
2T0102 to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  
2T0103 I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,  
2T0104 and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.  
2T0105 I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well.  
2T0106 That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].  
2T0107 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].  
2T0108 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible],  
2T0109 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],  
2T0110 but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,  
2T0111 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher [of this good news regarding salvation].  
2T0112 This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before Him].  
2T0113 Keep and follow the pattern of sound teaching (doctrine) which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  
2T0114 Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  
2T0115 You are aware of the fact that all who are in [the province of] Asia turned away and deserted me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them.  
2T0116 The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake];  
2T0117 but [instead] when he reached Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—  
2T0118 the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day. You know very well how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].  
2T0201 So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.  
2T0202 The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.  
2T0203 Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  
2T0204 No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve.  
2T0205 And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules.  
2T0206 The hard-working farmer [who labors to produce crops] ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.  
2T0207 Think over the things I am saying [grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.  
2T0208 Remember Jesus Christ [the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach],  
2T0209 for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned!  
2T0210 For this reason I [am ready to] patiently endure all things for the sake of those who are the elect (God’s chosen ones), so that they too may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it the reward of eternal glory.  
2T0211 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;  
2T0212 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us;  
2T0213 If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.  
2T0214 Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen.  
2T0215 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.  
2T0216 But avoid all irreverent babble and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], for it will lead to further ungodliness,  
2T0217 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus,  
2T0218 who have deviated from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they undermine the faith of some.  
2T0219 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God [which He has laid] stands [sure and unshaken despite attacks], bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord stand apart from wickedness and withdraw from wrongdoing.”  
2T0220 Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common).  
2T0221 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.  
2T0222 Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  
2T0223 But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.  
2T0224 The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even- tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged.  
2T0225 He must correct those who are in opposition with courtesy and gentleness in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and be led to the knowledge of the truth [accurately understanding and welcoming it],  
2T0226 and that they may come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.  
2T0301 But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].  
2T0302 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,  
2T0303 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good,  
2T0304 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God,  
2T0305 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.  
2T0306 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses,  
2T0307 always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  
2T0308 Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith.  
2T0309 But they will not get very far, for their meaningless nonsense and ignorance will become obvious to everyone, as was that of Jannes and Jambres.  
2T0310 Now you have diligently followed [my example, that is] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,  
2T0311 persecutions, and sufferings—such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but the Lord rescued me from them all!  
2T0312 Indeed, all who delight in pursuing righteousness and are determined to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be hunted and persecuted [because of their faith].  
2T0313 But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  
2T0314 But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them,  
2T0315 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness].  
2T0316 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];  
2T0317 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.  
2T0401 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  
2T0402 preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.  
2T0403 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold,  
2T0404 and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable].  
2T0405 But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.  
2T0406 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.  
2T0407 I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].  
2T0408 In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.  
2T0409 Make every effort to come to me soon;  
2T0410 for Demas, having loved [the pleasures of] this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  
2T0411 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.  
2T0412 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.  
2T0413 When you come bring the coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.  
2T0414 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; [but that is no concern of mine, for] the Lord will repay him according to his actions.  
2T0415 Be on guard against him yourself, because he vigorously opposed our message.  
2T0416 At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God].  
2T0417 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the [gospel] message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the mouth of the lion.  
2T0418 The Lord will rescue me from every evil assault, and He will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  
2T0419 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and to the household of Onesiphorus.  
2T0420 Erastus stayed on at Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.  
2T0421 Try your best to come [to me] before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.  
2T0422 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.  
Tt0101 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s chosen ones and [to lead and encourage them to recognize and pursue] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness,  
Tt0102 based on the hope and divine guarantee of eternal life, [the life] which God, who is ever truthful and without deceit, promised before the ages of time began,  
Tt0103 and at the appointed time has made known His word and revealed it as His message, through preaching, which was entrusted to me according to the command of God our Savior—  
Tt0104 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.  
Tt0105 For this reason I left you behind in Crete, so that you would set right what remains unfinished, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,  
Tt0106 namely, a man of unquestionable integrity, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of being immoral or rebellious.  
Tt0107 For the overseer, as God’s steward, must be blameless, not self-willed, not quick- tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain [but financially ethical].  
Tt0108 And he must be hospitable [to believers, as well as strangers], a lover of what is good, sensible (upright), fair, devout, self-disciplined [above reproach—whether in public or in private].  
Tt0109 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word [of God] as it was taught to him, so that he will be able both to give accurate instruction in sound [reliable, error-free] doctrine and to refute those who contradict [it by explaining their error].  
Tt0110 For there are many rebellious men who are empty talkers [just windbags] and deceivers; especially those of the circumcision [those Jews who insist that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Law in order to be saved].  
Tt0111 They must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching things they should not teach for the purpose of dishonest financial gain.  
Tt0112 One of them [Epimenides, a Cretan], a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  
Tt0113 This description is true. So rebuke them sharply so that they will be sound in the faith and free from doctrinal error,  
Tt0114 not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commandments and rules of men who turn their backs on the truth.  
Tt0115 To the pure, all things are pure; but to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure; both their mind and their conscience are corrupted.  
Tt0116 They profess to know God [to recognize and be acquainted with Him], but by their actions they deny and disown Him. They are detestable and disobedient and worthless for good work of any kind.  
Tt0201 But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians].  
Tt0202 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in steadfastness [Christlike in character].  
Tt0203 Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good,  
Tt0204 so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children,  
Tt0205 to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.  
Tt0206 In a similar way urge the young men to be sensible and self-controlled and to behave wisely [taking life seriously].  
Tt0207 And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine [having the strictest regard for integrity and truth], dignified,  
Tt0208 sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent [of the faith] will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.  
Tt0209 Urge bond-servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing and not talk back,  
Tt0210 not stealing [things, regardless of value], but proving themselves trustworthy, so that in every respect they will adorn and do credit to the teaching of God our Savior.  
Tt0211 For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  
Tt0212 It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age,  
Tt0213 awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,  
Tt0214 who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good.  
Tt0215 Tell them these things. Encourage and rebuke with full authority. Let no one disregard or despise you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].  
Tt0301 Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good,  
Tt0302 to slander or abuse no one, to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone.  
Tt0303 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  
Tt0304 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ],  
Tt0305 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  
Tt0306 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,  
Tt0307 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).  
Tt0308 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people.  
Tt0309 But avoid foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and genealogies and dissensions and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless.  
Tt0310 After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him],  
Tt0311 well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers].  
Tt0312 When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  
Tt0313 Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing.  
Tt0314 Our people must learn to do good deeds to meet necessary demands [whatever the occasion may require], so that they will not be unproductive.  
Tt0315 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.  
Pm0101 Paul, a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), and our brother Timothy, To Philemon our dearly beloved friend and fellow worker,  
Pm0102 and to [your wife] Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier [in ministry], and to the church that meets in your house:  
Pm0103 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  
Pm0104 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,  
Pm0105 because I hear of your love and of your faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints (God’s people).  
Pm0106 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ.  
Pm0107 For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.  
Pm0108 Therefore [on the basis of these facts], though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is appropriate,  
Pm0109 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner [for the sake] of Christ Jesus—  
Pm0110 I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child Onesimus, whom I have fathered [in the faith] while a captive in these chains.  
Pm0111 Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.  
Pm0112 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, like sending my very heart.  
Pm0113 I would have chosen to keep him with me, so that he might minister to me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;  
Pm0114 but I did not want to do anything without first getting your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.  
Pm0115 Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever,  
Pm0116 no longer as a slave, but [as someone] more than a slave, as a brother [in Christ], especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].  
Pm0117 So if you consider me a partner, welcome and accept him as you would me.  
Pm0118 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;  
Pm0119 I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).  
Pm0120 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit and joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  
Pm0121 I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, since I know that you will do even more than I ask.  
Pm0122 At the same time also prepare a guest room for me [in expectation of a visit], for I hope that through your prayers I will be [granted the gracious privilege of] coming to you [at Colossae].  
Pm0123 Greetings to you from Epaphras, my fellow prisoner here in [the cause of] Christ Jesus,  
Pm0124 and from Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.  
Pm0125 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  
Hb0101 God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways,  
Hb0102 has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum].  
Hb0103 The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]. When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],  
Hb0104 having become as much superior to angels, since He has inherited a more excellent and glorious name than they [that is, Son—the name above all names].  
Hb0105 For to which of the angels did the Father ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN (fathered) YOU [established You as a Son, with kingly dignity]”? And again [did He ever say to the angels], “I SHALL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”?  
Hb0106 And when He again brings the firstborn [highest-ranking Son] into the world, He says, “AND ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD ARE TO WORSHIP HIM.”  
Hb0107 And concerning the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERING SERVANTS FLAMES OF FIRE [to do His bidding].”  
Hb0108 But about the Son [the Father says to Him], “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE SCEPTER OF [absolute] RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.  
Hb0109 “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS [integrity, virtue, uprightness in purpose] AND HAVE HATED LAWLESSNESS [injustice, sin]. THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”  
Hb0110 And, “YOU, LORD, LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH IN THE BEGINNING, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;  
Hb0111 THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN [forever and ever]; AND THEY WILL ALL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT,  
Hb0112 AND LIKE A ROBE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME [forever], AND YOUR YEARS WILL NEVER END.”  
Hb0113 But to which of the angels has the Father ever said, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND [together with me in royal dignity], UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET [in triumphant conquest]”?  
Hb0114 Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]  
Hb0201 For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.  
Hb0202 For if the message given through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty,  
Hb0203 how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],  
Hb0204 [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.  
Hb0205 It was not to angels that God subjected the [inhabited] world of the future [when Christ reigns], about which we are speaking.  
Hb0206 But one has [solemnly] testified somewhere [in Scripture], saying, “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY CARE FOR HIM?  
Hb0207 “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER [in status] THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;  
Hb0208 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET [confirming his supremacy].” Now in putting all things in subjection to man, He left nothing outside his control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him.  
Hb0209 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.  
Hb0210 For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest].  
Hb0211 Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,  
Hb0212 saying, “I WILL DECLARE YOUR (the Father’s) NAME TO MY BRETHREN (believers), IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”  
Hb0213 And again [He says], “MY TRUST and CONFIDENT HOPE WILL BE PLACED IN HIM.” And again, “HERE I AM, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”  
Hb0214 Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—  
Hb0215 and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.  
Hb0216 For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance].  
Hb0217 Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind].  
Hb0218 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.  
Hb0301 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider the Apostle and High Priest whom we confessed [as ours when we accepted Him as Savior], namely, Jesus;  
Hb0302 He was faithful to Him who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest], as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.  
Hb0303 Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater glory and honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house.  
Hb0304 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.  
Hb0305 Now Moses was faithful in [the administration of] all God’s house, [but only] as a ministering servant, [his ministry serving] as a testimony of the things which were to be spoken afterward [the revelation to come in Christ];  
Hb0306 but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].  
Hb0307 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,  
Hb0308 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS [your fathers did] IN THE REBELLION [of Israel at Meribah], ON THE DAY OF TESTING IN THE WILDERNESS,  
Hb0309 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED ME BY TESTING [My forbearance and tolerance], AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS [And found I stood their test].  
Hb0310 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGERED WITH THIS GENERATION, AND I SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS [nor become progressively better and more intimately acquainted with them]’;  
Hb0311 SO I SWORE [an oath] IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST [the promised land].’”  
Hb0312 Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God.  
Hb0313 But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication].  
Hb0314 For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end,  
Hb0315 while it is said, “TODAY [while there is still opportunity] IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME [in the rebellion in the desert at Meribah].”  
Hb0316 For who were they who heard and yet provoked Him [with rebellious acts]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?  
Hb0317 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert?  
Hb0318 And to whom did He swear [an oath] that they would not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [those who would not listen to His word]?  
Hb0319 So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest—the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God.  
Hb0401 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching it or think he has come too late.  
Hb0402 For indeed we have had the good news [of salvation] preached to us, just as the Israelites also [when the good news of the promised land came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith [in God] by those who heard.  
Hb0403 For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power], just as He has said, “AS I SWORE [an oath] IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,” [this He said] although His works were completed from the foundation of the world [waiting for all who would believe].  
Hb0404 For somewhere [in Scripture] He has said this about the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”;  
Hb0405 and again in this, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.”  
Hb0406 Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,  
Hb0407 He again sets a definite day, [a new] “Today,” [providing another opportunity to enter that rest by] saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before [in the words already quoted], “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”  
Hb0408 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that.  
Hb0409 So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God.  
Hb0410 For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own.  
Hb0411 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].  
Hb0412 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.  
Hb0413 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.  
Hb0414 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior].  
Hb0415 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.  
Hb0416 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].  
Hb0501 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed [to act] on behalf of men in things relating to God, so that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.  
Hb0502 He is able to deal gently with the spiritually ignorant and misguided, since he is also subject to human weakness;  
Hb0503 and because of this [human weakness] he is required to offer sacrifices for sins, for himself as well as for the people.  
Hb0504 And besides, one does not appropriate for himself the honor [of being high priest], but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.  
Hb0505 So too Christ did not glorify Himself so as to be made a high priest, but He [was exalted and appointed by the One] who said to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN (fathered) YOU [declared Your authority and rule over the nations]”;  
Hb0506 just as He also says in another place, “YOU ARE A PRIEST [appointed] FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”  
Hb0507 In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will].  
Hb0508 Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered.  
Hb0509 And having been made perfect [uniquely equipped and prepared as Savior and retaining His integrity amid opposition], He became the source of eternal salvation [an eternal inheritance] to all those who obey Him,  
Hb0510 being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  
Hb0511 Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen.  
Hb0512 For though by this time you ought to be teachers [because of the time you have had to learn these truths], you actually need someone to teach you again the elementary principles of God’s word [from the beginning], and you have come to be continually in need of milk, not solid food.  
Hb0513 For everyone who lives on milk is [doctrinally inexperienced and] unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a spiritual infant.  
Hb0514 But solid food is for the [spiritually] mature, whose senses are trained by practice to distinguish between what is morally good and what is evil.  
Hb0601 Therefore let us get past the elementary stage in the teachings about the Christ, advancing on to maturity and perfection and spiritual completeness, [doing this] without laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  
Hb0602 of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]  
Hb0603 And we will do this [that is, proceed to maturity], if God permits.  
Hb0604 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit,  
Hb0605 and have tasted and consciously experienced the good word of God and the powers of the age (world) to come,  
Hb0606 and then have fallen away—it is impossible to bring them back again to repentance, since they again nail the Son of God on the cross [for as far as they are concerned, they are treating the death of Christ as if they were not saved by it], and are holding Him up again to public disgrace.  
Hb0607 For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God;  
Hb0608 but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.  
Hb0609 But, beloved, even though we speak to you in this way, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and of things that accompany salvation.  
Hb0610 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do.  
Hb0611 And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope until the end,  
Hb0612 so that you will not be [spiritually] sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the promises.  
Hb0613 For when God made the promise to Abraham, He swore [an oath] by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear,  
Hb0614 saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.”  
Hb0615 And so, having patiently waited, he realized the promise [in the miraculous birth of Isaac, as a pledge of what was to come from God].  
Hb0616 Indeed men swear [an oath] by one greater than themselves, and with them [in all disputes] the oath serves as confirmation [of what has been said] and is an end of the dispute.  
Hb0617 In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath,  
Hb0618 so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us.  
Hb0619 This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells],  
Hb0620 where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  
Hb0701 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,  
Hb0702 and Abraham gave him a tenth of all [the spoil]. He is, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.  
Hb0703 Without [any record of] father or mother, nor ancestral line, without [any record of] beginning of days (birth) nor ending of life (death), but having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest without interruption and without successor.  
Hb0704 Now pause and consider how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils.  
Hb0705 It is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham.  
Hb0706 But this person [Melchizedek] who is not from their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God].  
Hb0707 Yet it is beyond all dispute that the lesser person is always blessed by the greater one.  
Hb0708 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually].  
Hb0709 A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham [the father of all Israel and of all who believe],  
Hb0710 for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him (Abraham).  
Hb0711 Now if perfection [a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper] had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron?  
Hb0712 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well.  
Hb0713 For the One of whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line of Levi but] to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar.  
Hb0714 For it is evident that our Lord descended from [the tribe of] Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.  
Hb0715 And this becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,  
Hb0716 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a physical and legal requirement in the Law [concerning his ancestry as a descendant of Levi], but on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life.  
Hb0717 For it is attested [by God] of Him, “YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”  
Hb0718 For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God]  
Hb0719 (for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God.  
Hb0720 And indeed it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made priest]  
Hb0721 (for those Levites who formerly became priests [received their office] without [its being confirmed by the taking of] an oath, but this One [was designated] with an oath through the One who said to Him, “THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND or REGRET IT, ‘YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’”).  
Hb0722 And so [because of the oath’s greater strength and force] Jesus has become the certain guarantee of a better covenant [a more excellent and more advantageous agreement; one that will never be replaced or annulled].  
Hb0723 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office];  
Hb0724 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever.  
Hb0725 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].  
Hb0726 It was fitting for us to have such a High Priest [perfectly adapted to our needs], holy, blameless, unstained [by sin], separated from sinners and exalted higher than the heavens;  
Hb0727 who has no day by day need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices, first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements and] did this once for all when He offered up Himself [as a willing sacrifice].  
Hb0728 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak [frail, sinful, dying men], but the word of the oath [of God], which came after [the institution of] the Law, permanently appoints [as priest] a Son who has been made perfect forever.  
Hb0801 Now the main point of what we have to say is this: we have such a High Priest, [the Christ] who is seated [in the place of honor] at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty (God) in heaven,  
Hb0802 a Minister (Officiating Priest) in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which is erected not by man, but by the Lord.  
Hb0803 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this One also to have something to offer.  
Hb0804 Now if He were [still living] on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts [to God] in accordance with the Law.  
Hb0805 They serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly things (sanctuary). For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, “SEE THAT YOU MAKE it all [exactly] ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”  
Hb0806 But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.  
Hb0807 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant].  
Hb0808 However, God finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, “BEHOLD, THE DAYS WILL COME, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE and RATIFY A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;  
Hb0809 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT ABIDE IN MY COVENANT, AND SO I WITHDREW MY FAVOR and DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.  
Hb0810 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR MINDS [even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding], AND ENGRAVE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS [effecting their regeneration]. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.  
Hb0811 “AND IT WILL NOT BE [necessary] FOR EACH ONE TO TEACH HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, OR EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW [by experience, have knowledge of] THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW [Me by experience and have knowledge of] ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.  
Hb0812 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS TOWARD THEIR WICKEDNESS, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”  
Hb0813 When God speaks of “A new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.  
Hb0901 Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and for the earthly sanctuary.  
Hb0902 A tabernacle (sacred tent) was put up, the outer one or first section, in which were the lampstand and the table with [its loaves of] the sacred showbread; this is called the Holy Place.  
Hb0903 Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies,  
Hb0904 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained a golden jar which held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that sprouted, and the [two stone] tablets of the covenant [inscribed with the Ten Commandments];  
Hb0905 and above the ark were the [golden] cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things.  
Hb0906 Now when these things have been prepared in this way, the priests continually enter the outer [or first section of the] tabernacle [that is, the Holy Place] performing [their ritual acts of] the divine worship,  
Hb0907 but into the second [inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies], only the high priest enters [and then only] once a year, and never without [bringing a sacrifice of] blood, which he offers [as a substitutionary atonement] for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.  
Hb0908 By this the Holy Spirit signifies that the way into the Holy Place [the true Holy of Holies and the presence of God] has not yet been disclosed as long as the first or outer tabernacle is still standing [that is, as long as the Levitical system of worship remains a recognized institution],  
Hb0909 for this [first or outer tabernacle] is a symbol [that is, an archetype or paradigm] for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which are incapable of perfecting the conscience and renewing the [inner self of the] worshiper.  
Hb0910 For they [the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies] deal only with [clean and unclean] food and drink and various ritual washings, [mere] external regulations for the body imposed [to help the worshipers] until the time of reformation [that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant].  
Hb0911 But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things to come [that is, true spiritual worship], He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this [material] creation.  
Hb0912 He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtained and secured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior].  
Hb0913 For if the sprinkling of [ceremonially] defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a [burnt] heifer is sufficient for the cleansing of the body,  
Hb0914 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit willingly offered Himself unblemished [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the ever living God?  
Hb0915 For this reason He is the Mediator and Negotiator of a new covenant [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.  
Hb0916 For where there is a will and testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,  
Hb0917 for a will and testament takes effect [only] at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive.  
Hb0918 So even the first covenant was not put in force without [the shedding of] blood.  
Hb0919 For when every commandment in the Law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and goats [which had been sacrificed], together with water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people,  
Hb0920 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT [that seals and ratifies the agreement] WHICH GOD ORDAINED and COMMANDED [me to deliver to] YOU.”  
Hb0921 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the containers and sacred utensils of worship with the blood.  
Hb0922 In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment].  
Hb0923 Therefore it was necessary for the [earthly] copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves required far better sacrifices than these.  
Hb0924 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but [He entered] into heaven itself, now to appear in the very presence of God on our behalf;  
Hb0925 nor did He [enter into the heavenly sanctuary to] offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.  
Hb0926 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer over and over since the foundation of the world; but now once for all at the consummation of the ages He has appeared and been publicly manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  
Hb0927 And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment,  
Hb0928 so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.  
Hb1001 For since the Law has only a shadow [just a pale representation] of the good things to come—not the very image of those things—it can never, by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year, make perfect those who approach [its altars].  
Hb1002 For if it were otherwise, would not these sacrifices have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, having once [for all time] been cleansed, would no longer have a consciousness of sin.  
Hb1003 But [as it is] these [continual] sacrifices bring a fresh reminder of sins [to be atoned for] year after year,  
Hb1004 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  
Hb1005 Therefore, when Christ enters into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT [instead] YOU HAVE PREPARED A BODY FOR ME [to offer];  
Hb1006 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO DELIGHT.  
Hb1007 “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD— [TO FULFILL] WHAT IS WRITTEN OF ME IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK.’”  
Hb1008 After saying [in the citation] above, “YOU HAVE NEITHER DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN DELIGHT IN SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN” (which are offered according to the Law)  
Hb1009 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” [And so] He does away with the first [covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices] so that He may inaugurate and establish the second [covenant by means of obedience].  
Hb1010 And in accordance with this will [of God] we [who believe in the message of salvation] have been sanctified [that is, set apart as holy for God and His purposes] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) once for all.  
Hb1011 Every priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which are never able to strip away sins [that envelop and cover us];  
Hb1012 whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time, SAT DOWN [signifying the completion of atonement for sin] AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD [the position of honor],  
Hb1013 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.  
Hb1014 For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity].  
Hb1015 And the Holy Spirit also adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]; for after having said,  
Hb1016 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL INSCRIBE THEM [producing an inward change],” He then says,  
Hb1017 “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS ACTS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE [no longer holding their sins against them].”  
Hb1018 Now where there is [absolute] forgiveness and complete cancellation of the penalty of these things, there is no longer any offering [to be made to atone] for sin.  
Hb1019 Therefore, believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus,  
Hb1020 by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh,  
Hb1021 and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God,  
Hb1022 let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  
Hb1023 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];  
Hb1024 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds,  
Hb1025 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.  
Hb1026 For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate],  
Hb1027 but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE and BURNING WRATH WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES [those who put themselves in opposition to God].  
Hb1028 Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  
Hb1029 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]?  
Hb1030 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I WILL REPAY [the wrongdoer].” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  
Hb1031 It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].  
Hb1032 But remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings,  
Hb1033 sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated.  
Hb1034 For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the [unjust] seizure of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven].  
Hb1035 Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward.  
Hb1036 For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.  
Hb1037 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.  
Hb1038 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE [the one justified by faith] SHALL LIVE BY FAITH [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; AND IF HE DRAWS BACK [shrinking in fear], MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN HIM.  
Hb1039 But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.  
Hb1101 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].  
Hb1102 For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.  
Hb1103 By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  
Hb1104 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act of] faith he still speaks.  
Hb1105 By faith [that pleased God] Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not have a glimpse of death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM; for even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still on record] that he had walked with God and pleased Him.  
Hb1106 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.  
Hb1107 By faith [with confidence in God and His word] Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.  
Hb1108 By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going.  
Hb1109 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.  
Hb1110 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.  
Hb1111 By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].  
Hb1112 So from one man, though he was [physically] as good as dead, were born as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND ON THE SEASHORE.  
Hb1113 All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  
Hb1114 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.  
Hb1115 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return.  
Hb1116 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.  
Hb1117 By faith Abraham, when he was tested [that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress], offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises [of God] was ready to sacrifice his only son [of promise];  
Hb1118 to whom it was said, “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”  
Hb1119 For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.  
Hb1120 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau [believing what God revealed to him], even regarding things to come.  
Hb1121 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff.  
Hb1122 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, referred to [the promise of God for] the exodus of the sons of Israel [from Egypt], and gave instructions concerning [the burial of] his bones [in the land of the promise].  
Hb1123 By faith Moses, after his birth, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful and divinely favored child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (Pharaoh’s) decree.  
Hb1124 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,  
Hb1125 because he preferred to endure the hardship of the people of God rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.  
Hb1126 He considered the reproach of the Christ [that is, the rebuke he would suffer for his faithful obedience to God] to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he looked ahead to the reward [promised by God].  
Hb1127 By faith he left Egypt, being unafraid of the wrath of the king; for he endured [steadfastly], as seeing Him who is unseen.  
Hb1128 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them (the firstborn of Israel).  
Hb1129 By faith the people [of Israel] crossed the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned.  
Hb1130 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days [by Joshua and the sons of Israel].  
Hb1131 By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies [sent by the sons of Israel] in peace.  
Hb1132 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,  
Hb1133 who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,  
Hb1134 extinguished the power of [raging] fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty and unbeatable in battle, putting enemy forces to flight.  
Hb1135 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured [to death], refusing to accept release [offered on the condition of denying their faith], so that they would be resurrected to a better life;  
Hb1136 and others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging [amid torture], and even chains and imprisonment.  
Hb1137 They were stoned [to death], they were sawn in two, they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith], they were put to death by the sword; they went about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated  
Hb1138 (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and [living in] caves and holes in the ground.  
Hb1139 And all of these, though they gained [divine] approval through their faith, did not receive [the fulfillment of] what was promised,  
Hb1140 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us.  
Hb1201 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,  
Hb1202 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].  
Hb1203 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  
Hb1204 You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;  
Hb1205 and you have forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT MAKE LIGHT OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, AND DO NOT LOSE HEART and GIVE UP WHEN YOU ARE CORRECTED BY HIM;  
Hb1206 FOR THE LORD DISCIPLINES and CORRECTS THOSE WHOM HE LOVES, AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES and WELCOMES [TO HIS HEART].”  
Hb1207 You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  
Hb1208 Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].  
Hb1209 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we submitted and respected them [for training us]; shall we not much more willingly submit to the Father of spirits, and live [by learning from His discipline]?  
Hb1210 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short time as seemed best to them; but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  
Hb1211 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose].  
Hb1212 So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.  
Hb1213 Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.  
Hb1214 Continually pursue peace with everyone, and the sanctification without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.  
Hb1215 See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;  
Hb1216 and [see to it] that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  
Hb1217 For you know that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance [there was no way to repair what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], even though he sought for it with [bitter] tears.  
Hb1218 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm,  
Hb1219 and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them.  
Hb1220 For they could not bear the command, “IF EVEN A WILD ANIMAL TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED [to death].”  
Hb1221 In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I AM FILLED WITH FEAR and trembling.”  
Hb1222 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],  
Hb1223 and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory],  
Hb1224 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].  
Hb1225 See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven?  
Hb1226 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE [starry] HEAVEN.”  
Hb1227 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  
Hb1228 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe;  
Hb1229 for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.  
Hb1301 Let love of your fellow believers continue.  
Hb1302 Do not neglect to extend hospitality to strangers [especially among the family of believers—being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.  
Hb1303 Remember those who are in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [and subject to physical suffering].  
Hb1304 Marriage is to be held in honor among all [that is, regarded as something of great value], and the marriage bed undefiled [by immorality or by any sexual sin]; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.  
Hb1305 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!”  
Hb1306 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER [in time of need], I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”  
Hb1307 Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].  
Hb1308 Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.  
Hb1309 Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.  
Hb1310 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle (sacred tent) have no right to eat.  
Hb1311 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.  
Hb1312 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.  
Hb1313 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His contempt [the disgrace and shame that He had to suffer].  
Hb1314 For here we have no lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.  
Hb1315 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.  
Hb1316 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.  
Hb1317 Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.  
Hb1318 Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good conscience, seeking to conduct ourselves honorably [that is, with moral courage and personal integrity] in all things.  
Hb1319 And I urge all of you to pray earnestly, so that I may be restored to you soon.  
Hb1320 Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant,  
Hb1321 equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  
Hb1322 I call on you, brothers and sisters, listen [patiently] to this message of exhortation and encouragement, for I have written to you briefly.  
Hb1323 Notice that our brother Timothy has been released [from prison]. If he comes soon, I will see you [along with him].  
Hb1324 Give our greetings to all of your [spiritual] leaders and to all of the saints (God’s people). Those [Christians] from Italy send you their greetings.  
Hb1325 Grace be with you all.  
Js0101 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve [Hebrew] tribes [scattered abroad among the Gentiles] in the dispersion: Greetings (rejoice)!  
Js0102 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.  
Js0103 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].  
Js0104 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.  
Js0105 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.  
Js0106 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind.  
Js0107 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord,  
Js0108 being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].  
Js0109 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born- again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];  
Js0110 and the rich man is to glory in being humbled [by trials revealing human frailty, knowing true riches are found in the grace of God], for like the flower of the grass he will pass away.  
Js0111 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; its flower falls off and its beauty fades away; so too will the rich man, in the midst of his pursuits, fade away.  
Js0112 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  
Js0113 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one.  
Js0114 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion).  
Js0115 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.  
Js0116 Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters.  
Js0117 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].  
Js0118 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].  
Js0119 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];  
Js0120 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].  
Js0121 So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.  
Js0122 But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].  
Js0123 For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror;  
Js0124 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like.  
Js0125 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].  
Js0126 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).  
Js0127 Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.  
Js0201 My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people—show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery].  
Js0202 For if a man comes into your meeting place wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in,  
Js0203 and you pay special attention to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in this good seat,” and you tell the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down [on the floor] by my footstool,”  
Js0204 have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with wrong motives?  
Js0205 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and [as believers to be] heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?  
Js0206 But you [in contrast] have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress and exploit you, and personally drag you into the courts of law?  
Js0207 Do they not blaspheme the precious name [of Christ] by which you are called?  
Js0208 If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well.  
Js0209 But if you show partiality [prejudice, favoritism], you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as offenders.  
Js0210 For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.  
Js0211 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become guilty of transgressing the [entire] Law.  
Js0212 Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin].  
Js0213 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.  
Js0214 What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.]  
Js0215 If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day,  
Js0216 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do?  
Js0217 So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].  
Js0218 But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].”  
Js0219 You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!  
Js0220 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless?  
Js0221 Was our father Abraham not [shown to be] justified by works [of obedience which expressed his faith] when he offered Isaac his son on the altar [as a sacrifice to God]?  
Js0222 You see that [his] faith was working together with his works, and as a result of the works, his faith was completed [reaching its maturity when he expressed his faith through obedience].  
Js0223 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND THIS [faith] WAS CREDITED TO HIM [by God] AS RIGHTEOUSNESS and AS CONFORMITY TO HIS WILL,” and he was called the friend of God.  
Js0224 You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone [that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith].  
Js0225 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the [Hebrew] spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away [to escape] by a different route?  
Js0226 For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.  
Js0301 Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].  
Js0302 For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].  
Js0303 Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.  
Js0304 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.  
Js0305 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!  
Js0306 And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna).  
Js0307 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  
Js0308 But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.  
Js0309 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.  
Js0310 Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].  
Js0311 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  
Js0312 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.  
Js0313 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.  
Js0314 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.  
Js0315 This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic.  
Js0316 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.  
Js0317 But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].  
Js0318 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].  
Js0401 What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]?  
Js0402 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God].  
Js0403 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.  
Js0404 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  
Js0405 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?  
Js0406 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD and HAUGHTY, BUT [continually] GIVES [the gift of] GRACE TO THE HUMBLE [who turn away from self-righteousness].”  
Js0407 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.  
Js0408 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].  
Js0409 Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom.  
Js0410 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].  
Js0411 Believers, do not speak against or slander one another. He who speaks [self-righteously] against a brother or judges his brother [hypocritically], speaks against the Law and judges the Law. If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge of it.  
Js0412 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death]; but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?  
Js0413 Come now [and pay attention to this], you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and carry on our business and make a profit.”  
Js0414 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].  
Js0415 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and we will do this or that.”  
Js0416 But as it is, you boast [vainly] in your pretension and arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  
Js0417 So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.  
Js0501 Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries [the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you.  
Js0502 Your wealth has rotted and is ruined and your [fine] clothes have become moth-eaten.  
Js0503 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure in the last days [when it will do you no good].  
Js0504 Look! The wages that you have [fraudulently] withheld from the laborers who have mowed your fields are crying out [against you for vengeance]; and the cries of the harvesters have come to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.  
Js0505 On the earth you have lived luxuriously and abandoned yourselves to soft living and led a life of wanton pleasure [self-indulgence, self-gratification]; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.  
Js0506 You have condemned and have put to death the righteous man; he offers you no resistance.  
Js0507 So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains.  
Js0508 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.  
Js0509 Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door.  
Js0510 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].  
Js0511 You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.  
Js0512 But above all, my fellow believers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be [a truthful] yes, and your no be [a truthful] no, so that you may not fall under judgment.  
Js0513 Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God].  
Js0514 Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;  
Js0515 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  
Js0516 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].  
Js0517 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.  
Js0518 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].  
Js0519 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God],  
Js0520 let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored].  
1P0101 Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, To those [elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen  
1P0102 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].  
1P0103 Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  
1P0104 [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,  
1P0105 who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.  
1P0106 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,  
1P0107 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  
1P0108 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy,  
1P0109 receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  
1P0110 Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation],  
1P0111 seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow.  
1P0112 It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.  
1P0113 So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  
1P0114 [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation].  
1P0115 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage];  
1P0116 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart), FOR I AM HOLY.”  
1P0117 If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.  
1P0118 For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,  
1P0119 but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ.  
1P0120 For He was foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake  
1P0121 and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.  
1P0122 Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another],  
1P0123 for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God.  
1P0124 For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,  
1P0125 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you.  
1P0201 So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech;  
1P0202 like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment],  
1P0203 if in fact you have [already] tasted the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord.  
1P0204 Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God.  
1P0205 You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.  
1P0206 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOSEN STONE, A PRECIOUS (honored) CORNERSTONE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”  
1P0207 This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve, “THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,”  
1P0208 and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.  
1P0209 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  
1P0210 Once you were NOT A PEOPLE [at all], but now you are GOD’S PEOPLE; once you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.  
1P0211 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges [those dishonorable desires] that wage war against the soul.  
1P0212 Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].  
1P0213 Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power,  
1P0214 or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right.  
1P0215 For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence (muzzle, gag) the [culpable] ignorance and irresponsible criticisms of foolish people.  
1P0216 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover or pretext for evil, but [use it and live] as bond-servants of God.  
1P0217 Show respect for all people [treat them honorably], love the brotherhood [of believers], fear God, honor the king.  
1P0218 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all [proper] respect, not only to those who are good and kind, but also to those who are unreasonable.  
1P0219 For this finds favor, if a person endures the sorrow of suffering unjustly because of an awareness of [the will of] God.  
1P0220 After all, what kind of credit is there if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you endure it patiently? But if when you do what is right and patiently bear [undeserved] suffering, this finds favor with God.  
1P0221 For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.  
1P0222 HE COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT EVER FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.  
1P0223 While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering, He made no threats [of vengeance], but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly.  
1P0224 He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.  
1P0225 For you were continually wandering like [so many] sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.  
1P0301 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives,  
1P0302 when they see your modest and respectful behavior [together with your devotion and appreciation—love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God].  
1P0303 Your adornment must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes;  
1P0304 but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.  
1P0305 For in this way in former times the holy women, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands and adapting themselves to them;  
1P0306 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham [following him and having regard for him as head of their house], calling him lord. And you have become her daughters if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear [that is, being respectful toward your husband but not giving in to intimidation, nor allowing yourself to be led into sin, nor to be harmed].  
1P0307 In the same way, you husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way [with great gentleness and tact, and with an intelligent regard for the marriage relationship], as with someone physically weaker, since she is a woman. Show her honor and respect as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered or ineffective.  
1P0308 Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit;  
1P0309 and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].  
1P0310 For, “THE ONE WHO WANTS TO ENJOY LIFE AND SEE GOOD DAYS [good—whether apparent or not], MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FREE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE (treachery, deceit).  
1P0311 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. HE MUST SEARCH FOR PEACE [with God, with self, with others] AND PURSUE IT EAGERLY [actively—not merely desiring it].  
1P0312 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE [looking favorably] UPON THE RIGHTEOUS (the upright), AND HIS EARS ARE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR PRAYER (eager to answer), BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL.”  
1P0313 Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?  
1P0314 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness [though it is not certain that you will], you are still blessed [happy, to be admired and favored by God]. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR INTIMIDATING THREATS, NOR BE TROUBLED or DISTURBED [by their opposition].  
1P0315 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.  
1P0316 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].  
1P0317 For it is better that you suffer [unjustly] for doing what is right, if that should be God’s will, than [to suffer justly] for doing wrong.  
1P0318 For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit;  
1P0319 in which He also went and preached to the spirits now in prison,  
1P0320 who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah’s family], were brought safely through the water.  
1P0321 Corresponding to that [rescue through the flood], baptism [which is an expression of a believer’s new life in Christ] now saves you, not by removing dirt from the body, but by an appeal to God for a good (clear) conscience, [demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  
1P0322 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God [that is, the place of honor and authority], with [all] angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him.  
1P0401 Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like- minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],  
1P0402 so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God.  
1P0403 For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do—living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries.  
1P0404 In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.  
1P0405 But they will [have to] give an account to Him who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.  
1P0406 For this is why the good news [of salvation] was preached [in their lifetimes] even to those who are dead, that though they were judged in the flesh as men are, they may live in the spirit according to [the will and purpose of] God.  
1P0407 The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]  
1P0408 Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].  
1P0409 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  
1P0410 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].  
1P0411 Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles (utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  
1P0412 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.  
1P0413 But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.  
1P0414 If you are insulted and reviled for [bearing] the name of Christ, you are blessed [happy, with life-joy and comfort in God’s salvation regardless of your circumstances], because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you [and indwelling you—He whom they curse, you glorify].  
1P0415 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or any sort of criminal [in response to persecution], or as a troublesome meddler interfering in the affairs of others;  
1P0416 but if anyone suffers [ill-treatment] as a Christian [because of his belief], he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God [because he is considered worthy to suffer] in this name.  
1P0417 For it is the time [destined] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not respect or believe or obey the gospel of God?  
1P0418 AND IF IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS AND THE SINNER?  
1P0419 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator.  
1P0501 Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed:  
1P0502 shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm;  
1P0503 not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].  
1P0504 And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory.  
1P0505 Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], BUT HE GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.  
1P0506 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self- righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,  
1P0507 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].  
1P0508 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.  
1P0509 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]  
1P0510 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be].  
1P0511 To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen.  
1P0512 By Silvanus, our faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly, to counsel and testify that this is the true grace [the undeserved favor] of God. Stand firm in it!  
1P0513 She [the church] who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son [in the faith], Mark.  
1P0514 Greet one another with a kiss of love. To all of you who are in Christ, may there be peace.  
2P0101 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, To those who have received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:  
2P0102 Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  
2P0103 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  
2P0104 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.  
2P0105 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding),  
2P0106 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness,  
2P0107 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit].  
2P0108 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
2P0109 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins.  
2P0110 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin];  
2P0111 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.  
2P0112 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is held firmly in your grasp.  
2P0113 I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you,  
2P0114 knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.  
2P0115 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.  
2P0116 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty].  
2P0117 For when He was invested with honor and [the radiance of the Shekinah] glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], “This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”—  
2P0118 and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain.  
2P0119 So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the morning star arises in your hearts.  
2P0120 But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation,  
2P0121 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.  
2P0201 But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
2P0202 Many will follow their shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.  
2P0203 And in their greed they will exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine. Their sentence [of condemnation which God has decreed] from a time long ago is not idle [but is still in force], and their destruction and deepening misery is not asleep [but is on its way].  
2P0204 For if God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but threw them into hell and sent them to pits of gloom to be kept [there] for judgment;  
2P0205 and if He did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought [the judgment of] a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  
2P0206 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  
2P0207 and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was tormented by the immoral conduct of unprincipled and ungodly men  
2P0208 (for that just man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by what he saw and heard of their lawless acts),  
2P0209 then [in light of the fact that all this is true, be sure that] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,  
2P0210 and especially those who indulge in the corrupt passions of the sin nature, and despise authority. Presumptuous and reckless, self-willed and arrogant [creatures, despising the majesty of the Lord], they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,  
2P0211 whereas even angels who are superior in might and power do not bring a reviling (defaming) accusation against them before the Lord.  
2P0212 But these [false teachers], like unreasoning animals, [mere] creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed, reviling things they do not understand, will also perish in their own corruption [in their destroying they will be destroyed],  
2P0213 suffering wrong [destined for punishment] as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a delight to revel in the daytime [living luxuriously]. They are stains and blemishes [on mankind], reveling in their deceptions even as they feast with you.  
2P0214 They have eyes full of adultery, constantly looking for sin, enticing and luring away unstable souls. Having hearts trained in greed, [they are] children of a curse.  
2P0215 Abandoning the straight road [that is, the right way to live], they have gone astray; they have followed the way of [the false teacher] Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the reward of wickedness;  
2P0216 but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a mute donkey spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.  
2P0217 These [false teachers] are springs without water and mists driven by a tempest, for whom is reserved the gloom of black darkness.  
2P0218 For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.  
2P0219 They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.  
2P0220 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by [personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition has become worse for them than the first.  
2P0221 For it would have been better for them not to have [personally] known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to have turned back from the holy commandment [verbally] handed on to them.  
2P0222 The thing spoken of in the true proverb has happened to them, “THE DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow is washed only to wallow [again] in the mire.”  
2P0301 Beloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In this [as in the first one], I am stirring up your untainted mind to remind you,  
2P0302 that you should remember the words spoken in the past [about the future] by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior given by your apostles [His personally chosen representatives].  
2P0303 First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires  
2P0304 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.”  
2P0305 For they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God, and the earth was formed out of water and by water,  
2P0306 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.  
2P0307 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.  
2P0308 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.  
2P0309 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  
2P0310 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.  
2P0311 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God],  
2P0312 [while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat!  
2P0313 But in accordance with His promise we expectantly await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  
2P0314 So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him [at His return] spotless and blameless, in peace [that is, inwardly calm with a sense of spiritual well-being and confidence, having lived a life of obedience to Him].  
2P0315 And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God],  
2P0316 speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable [who have fallen into error] twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  
2P0317 Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith],  
2P0318 but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  
1J0101 [I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]—  
1J0102 and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]—  
1J0103 what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  
1J0104 We are writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be made complete [by having you share in the joy of salvation].  
1J0105 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].  
1J0106 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth;  
1J0107 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].  
1J0108 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.]  
1J0109 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].  
1J0110 If we say that we have not sinned [refusing to admit acts of sin], we make Him [out to be] a liar [by contradicting Him] and His word is not in us.  
1J0201 My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].  
1J0202 And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world.  
1J0203 And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings).  
1J0204 Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him.  
1J0205 But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know [for certain] that we are in Him:  
1J0206 whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.  
1J0207 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us].  
1J0208 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true and realized in Christ and in you, because the darkness [of moral blindness] is clearing away and the true Light [the revelation of God in Christ] is already shining.  
1J0209 The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now.  
1J0210 The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].  
1J0211 But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  
1J0212 I am writing to you, little children (believers, dear ones), because your sins have been forgiven for His name’s sake [you have been pardoned and released from spiritual debt through His name because you have confessed His name, believing in Him as Savior].  
1J0213 I am writing to you, fathers [those believers who are spiritually mature], because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men [those believers who are growing in spiritual maturity], because you have been victorious and have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children [those who are new believers, those spiritually immature], because you have come to know the Father.  
1J0214 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the word of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].  
1J0215 Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  
1J0216 For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.  
1J0217 The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.  
1J0218 Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.  
1J0219 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.  
1J0220 But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error].  
1J0221 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie [nothing false, no deception] is of the truth.  
1J0222 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? This is the antichrist [the enemy and antagonist of Christ], the one who denies and consistently refuses to acknowledge the Father and the Son.  
1J0223 Whoever denies and repudiates the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses and acknowledges the Son has the Father also.  
1J0224 As for you, let that remain in you [keeping in your hearts that message of salvation] which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the Father [forever].  
1J0225 This is the promise which He Himself promised us—eternal life.  
1J0226 These things I have written to you with reference to those who are trying to deceive you [seducing you and leading you away from the truth and sound doctrine].  
1J0227 As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him].  
1J0228 Now, little children (believers, dear ones), remain in Him [with unwavering faith], so that when He appears [at His return], we may have [perfect] confidence and not be ashamed and shrink away from Him at His coming.  
1J0229 If you know that He is absolutely righteous, you know [for certain] that everyone who practices righteousness [doing what is right and conforming to God’s will] has been born of Him.  
1J0301 See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  
1J0302 Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].  
1J0303 And everyone who has this hope [confidently placed] in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (holy, undefiled, guiltless).  
1J0304 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will].  
1J0305 You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame].  
1J0306 No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him.  
1J0307 Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous.  
1J0308 The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.  
1J0309 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him.  
1J0310 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] love his [believing] brother.  
1J0311 For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another;  
1J0312 and not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? Because Cain’s deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.  
1J0313 Do not be surprised, believers, if the world hates you.  
1J0314 We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.  
1J0315 Everyone who hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer [by God’s standards]; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.  
1J0316 By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.  
1J0317 But whoever has the world’s goods (adequate resources), and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him?  
1J0318 Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].  
1J0319 By this we will know [without any doubt] that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart and quiet our conscience before Him  
1J0320 whenever our heart convicts us [in guilt]; for God is greater than our heart and He knows all things [nothing is hidden from Him because we are in His hands].  
1J0321 Beloved, if our heart does not convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and boldness] before God;  
1J0322 and we receive from Him whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight [habitually seeking to follow His plan for us].  
1J0323 This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us.  
1J0324 The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift].  
1J0401 Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world.  
1J0402 By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source];  
1J0403 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.  
1J0404 Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].  
1J0405 They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them.  
1J0406 We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].  
1J0407 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].  
1J0408 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]  
1J0409 By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.  
1J0410 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].  
1J0411 Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.  
1J0412 No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.  
1J0413 By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit.  
1J0414 We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.  
1J0415 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  
1J0416 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.  
1J0417 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.  
1J0418 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].  
1J0419 We love, because He first loved us.  
1J0420 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  
1J0421 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.  
1J0501 Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him.  
1J0502 By this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments.  
1J0503 For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey].  
1J0504 For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].  
1J0505 Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.  
1J0506 This is He who came through water and blood [His baptism and death], Jesus Christ—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. It is the [Holy] Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [He is the essence and origin of truth itself.]  
1J0507 For there are three witnesses:  
1J0508 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are in agreement [their testimony is perfectly consistent].  
1J0509 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.  
1J0510 The one who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies confidently on Him as Savior] has the testimony within himself [because he can speak authoritatively about Christ from his own personal experience]. The one who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him [out to be] a liar, because he has not believed in the evidence that God has given regarding His Son.  
1J0511 And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life [we already possess it], and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him].  
1J0512 He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life.  
1J0513 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God [which represents all that Jesus Christ is and does], so that you will know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have eternal life.  
1J0514 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.  
1J0515 And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.  
1J0516 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he will pray and ask [on the believer’s behalf] and God will for him give life to those whose sin is not leading to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for this [kind of sin].  
1J0517 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death [one can repent of it and be forgiven].  
1J0518 We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.  
1J0519 We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].  
1J0520 And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.  
1J0521 Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols—[false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].  
2J0101 The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady and her children, whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who know and understand the truth—  
2J0102 because of the truth which lives in our hearts and will be with us forever:  
2J0103 Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.  
2J0104 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.  
2J0105 Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.  
2J0106 And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.  
2J0107 For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the antichrist [that is, the antagonist of Christ].  
2J0108 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].  
2J0109 Anyone who runs on ahead and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ [that is, one who is not content with what He taught], does not have God; but the one who continues to remain in the teaching [of Christ does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.  
2J0110 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ], do not receive or welcome him into your house, and do not give him a greeting or any encouragement;  
2J0111 for the one who gives him a greeting [who encourages him or wishes him success, unwittingly] participates in his evil deeds.  
2J0112 I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper (papyrus) and black (ink); but I hope to come to you and speak with you face to face, so that your joy may be complete.  
2J0113 The children of your elect (chosen) sister greet you.  
3J0101 The elder [of the church addresses this letter] to the beloved and esteemed Gaius, whom I love in truth.  
3J0102 Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].  
3J0103 For I was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that is, how you are walking in truth.  
3J0104 I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.  
3J0105 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in what you are providing for the brothers, and especially when they are strangers;  
3J0106 and they have testified before the church of your love and friendship. You will do well to [assist them and] send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.  
3J0107 For these [traveling missionaries] went out for the sake of the Name [of Christ], accepting nothing [in the way of assistance] from the Gentiles.  
3J0108 So we ought to support such people [welcoming them as guests and providing for them], so that we may be fellow workers for the truth [that is, for the gospel message of salvation].  
3J0109 I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to put himself first, does not accept what we say and refuses to recognize my authority.  
3J0110 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, unjustly accusing us with wicked words and unjustified charges. And not satisfied with this, he refuses to receive the [missionary] brothers himself, and also forbids those who want to [welcome them] and puts them out of the church.  
3J0111 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but [imitate] what is good. The one who practices good [exhibiting godly character, moral courage and personal integrity] is of God; the one who practices [or permits or tolerates] evil has not seen God [he has no personal experience with Him and does not know Him at all].  
3J0112 Demetrius has received a good testimony and commendation from everyone—and from the truth [the standard of God’s word] itself; and we add our testimony and speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.  
3J0113 I had many things [to say when I began] to write to you, but I prefer not to put it down with pen (reed) and black (ink);  
3J0114 but I hope to see you soon, and we will speak face to face. [15] Peace be to you. The friends [here] greet you. Greet the friends [personally] by name.  
Ju0101 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, [writes this letter], To those who are the called (God’s chosen ones, the elect), dearly loved by God the Father, and kept [secure and set apart] for Jesus Christ:  
Ju0102 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].  
Ju0103 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers].  
Ju0104 For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  
Ju0105 Now I want to remind you, although you are fully informed once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe [who refused to trust and obey and rely on Him].  
Ju0106 And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day,  
Ju0107 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.  
Ju0108 Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers [who are dreaming that God will not punish them] also defile the body, and reject [legitimate] authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties.  
Ju0109 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, “The Lord rebuke you!”  
Ju0110 But these men sneer at anything which they do not understand; and whatever they do know by [mere] instinct, like unreasoning and irrational beasts—by these things they are destroyed.  
Ju0111 Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.  
Ju0112 These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless;  
Ju0113 wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.  
Ju0114 It was about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, when he said, “Look, the Lord came with myriads of His holy ones  
Ju0115 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly deeds they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh and cruel things ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”  
Ju0116 These people are [habitual] murmurers, griping and complaining, following after their own desires [controlled by passion]; they speak arrogantly, [pretending admiration and] flattering people to gain an advantage.  
Ju0117 But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
Ju0118 They used to say to you, “In the last days there will be scoffers, following after their own ungodly passions.”  
Ju0119 These are the ones who are [agitators] causing divisions—worldly-minded [secular, unspiritual, carnal, merely sensual—unsaved], devoid of the Spirit.  
Ju0120 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit,  
Ju0121 and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.  
Ju0122 And have mercy on some, who are doubting;  
Ju0123 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.  
Ju0124 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight,  
Ju0125 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  
Rv0101 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries], which God [the Father] gave to Him to show to His bond-servants (believers) the things which must soon take place [in their entirety]; and He sent and communicated it by His angel (divine messenger) to His bond-servant John,  
Rv0102 who testified and gave supporting evidence to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to everything that he saw [in his visions].  
Rv0103 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near.  
Rv0104 John, to the seven churches that are in [the province of] Asia: Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne,  
Rv0105 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—  
Rv0106 and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  
Rv0107 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath]. So it is to be. Amen.  
Rv0108 “I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”  
Rv0109 I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, [exiled there] because of [my preaching of] the word of God [regarding eternal salvation] and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  
Rv0110 I was in the Spirit [in special communication with the Holy Spirit and empowered to receive and record the revelation from Jesus Christ] on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,  
Rv0111 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see [in this revelation], and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”  
Rv0112 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands;  
Rv0113 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw someone like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching to His feet, and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest.  
Rv0114 His head and His hair were white like white wool, [glistening white] like snow; and His [all-seeing] eyes were [flashing] like a flame of fire [piercing into my being].  
Rv0115 His feet were like burnished [white-hot] bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was [powerful] like the sound of many waters.  
Rv0116 In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].  
Rv0117 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God],  
Rv0118 and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).  
Rv0119 So write the things which you have seen [in the vision], and the things which are [now happening], and the things which will take place after these things.  
Rv0120 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels (divine messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  
Rv0201 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches):  
Rv0202 ‘I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors;  
Rv0203 and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth].  
Rv0204 But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].  
Rv0205 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.  
Rv0206 Yet you have this [to your credit], that you hate the works and corrupt teachings of the Nicolaitans [that mislead and delude the people], which I also hate.  
Rv0207 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant [the privilege] to eat [the fruit] from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’  
Rv0208 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God] who died and came to life [again]:  
Rv0209 ‘I know your suffering and your poverty (but you are rich), and how you are blasphemed and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan [they are Jews only by blood, and do not believe and truly honor the God whom they claim to worship].  
Rv0210 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. Be aware that the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested [in your faith], and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown [consisting] of life.  
Rv0211 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will not be hurt by the second death (the lake of fire).’  
Rv0212 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:  
Rv0213 ‘I know where you dwell, [a place] where Satan sits enthroned. Yet you are holding fast to My name, and you did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) among you, where Satan dwells.  
Rv0214 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some [among you] who are holding to the [corrupt] teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [enticing them] to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols and to commit [acts of sexual] immorality.  
Rv0215 You also have some who in the same way are holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  
Rv0216 Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment].  
Rv0217 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], to him I will give [the privilege of eating] some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’  
Rv0218 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes [that flash] like a flame of fire [in righteous judgment], and whose feet are like burnished [white-hot] bronze:  
Rv0219 ‘I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your last deeds are more numerous and greater than the first.  
Rv0220 But I have this [charge] against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and she teaches and misleads My bond-servants so that they commit [acts of sexual] immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols.  
Rv0221 I gave her time to repent [to change her inner self and her sinful way of thinking], but she has no desire to repent of her immorality and refuses to do so.  
Rv0222 Listen carefully, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her [I will bring] into great anguish, unless they repent of her deeds.  
Rv0223 And I will kill her children (followers) with pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], and all the churches will know [without any doubt] that I am He who searches the minds and hearts [the innermost thoughts, purposes]; and I will give to each one of you [a reward or punishment] according to your deeds.  
Rv0224 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you,  
Rv0225 except to hold tightly to what you have until I come.  
Rv0226 And he who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] and he who keeps My deeds [doing things that please Me] until the [very] end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY and POWER OVER THE NATIONS;  
Rv0227 AND HE SHALL SHEPHERD and RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE EARTHEN POTS ARE BROKEN IN PIECES, as I also have received authority [and power to rule them] from My Father;  
Rv0228 and I will give him the Morning Star.  
Rv0229 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’  
Rv0301 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your deeds; you have a name (reputation) that you are alive, but [in reality] you are dead.  
Rv0302 Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements.  
Rv0303 So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.  
Rv0304 But you [still] have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes [that is, contaminated their character and personal integrity with sin]; and they will walk with Me [dressed] in white, because they are worthy (righteous).  
Rv0305 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God] will accordingly be dressed in white clothing; and I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, and I will confess and openly acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels [saying that he is one of Mine].  
Rv0306 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’  
Rv0307 “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens:  
Rv0308 ‘I know your deeds. See, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut, for you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not renounced or denied My name.  
Rv0309 Take note, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet and make them know [without any doubt] that I have loved you.  
Rv0310 Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth.  
Rv0311 I am coming quickly. Hold tight what you have, so that no one will take your crown [by leading you to renounce the faith].  
Rv0312 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God; he will most certainly never be put out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My [own] new name.  
Rv0313 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’  
Rv0314 “To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusted and faithful and true Witness, the Beginning and Origin of God’s creation:  
Rv0315 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were cold or hot.  
Rv0316 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust].  
Rv0317 Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need],  
Rv0318 I counsel you to buy from Me gold that has been heated red hot and refined by fire so that you may become truly rich; and white clothes [representing righteousness] to clothe yourself so that the shame of your nakedness will not be seen; and healing salve to put on your eyes so that you may see.  
Rv0319 Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will].  
Rv0320 Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.  
Rv0321 He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant to him [the privilege] to sit beside Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down beside My Father on His throne.  
Rv0322 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’”  
Rv0401 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a [war] trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”  
Rv0402 At once I was in [special communication with] the Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne.  
Rv0403 And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald.  
Rv0404 Twenty-four [other] thrones surrounded the throne; and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, with crowns of gold on their heads.  
Rv0405 From the throne came flashes of lightning and [rumbling] sounds and peals of thunder. Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;  
Rv0406 and in front of the throne there was something like a sea or large expanse of glass, like [the clearest] crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living creatures who were full of eyes in front and behind [seeing everything and knowing everything that is around them].  
Rv0407 The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf (ox), the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.  
Rv0408 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY [is the] LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME [the unchanging, eternal God].”  
Rv0409 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,  
Rv0410 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, saying,  
Rv0411 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”  
Rv0501 I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals.  
Rv0502 And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, “Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and to break its seals?”  
Rv0503 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it.  
Rv0504 And I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.  
Rv0505 Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.”  
Rv0506 And there between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are the seven Spirits of God who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth.  
Rv0507 And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  
Rv0508 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people).  
Rv0509 And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying, “Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  
Rv0510 “You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.”  
Rv0511 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and [the voice] of the living creatures and the elders; and they numbered myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable),  
Rv0512 saying in a loud voice, “Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”  
Rv0513 And I heard every created thing that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] or on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying [together], “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Christ), be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”  
Rv0514 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever and ever].  
Rv0601 Then I saw as the Lamb (Christ) broke one of the seven seals [of the scroll initiating the judgments], and I heard one of the four living creatures call out as with a voice of thunder, “Come.”  
Rv0602 I looked, and behold, a white horse [of victory] whose rider carried a bow; and a crown [of victory] was given to him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.  
Rv0603 When He (the Lamb) broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come.”  
Rv0604 And another, a fiery red horse [of bloodshed], came out; and its rider was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that men would slaughter one another; and a great sword [of war and violent death] was given to him.  
Rv0605 When He (the Lamb) broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse [of famine]; and the rider had in his hand a pair of scales (a balance).  
Rv0606 And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius (a day’s wages), and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”  
Rv0607 When He (the Lamb) broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come.”  
Rv0608 So I looked, and behold, an ashen (pale greenish gray) horse [like a corpse, representing death and pestilence]; and its rider’s name was Death; and Hades (the realm of the dead) was following with him. They were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and by the wild beasts of the earth.  
Rv0609 When He (the Lamb) broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained [out of loyalty to Christ].  
Rv0610 They cried in a loud voice, saying, “O Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood on those [unregenerate ones] who dwell on the earth?”  
Rv0611 Then they were each given a white robe; and they were told to rest and wait quietly for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed.  
Rv0612 I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;  
Rv0613 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shedding its late [summer] figs when shaken by a strong wind.  
Rv0614 The sky was split [separated from the land] and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places.  
Rv0615 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;  
Rv0616 and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb;  
Rv0617 for the great day of their wrath and vengeance and retribution has come, and who is able to [face God and] stand [before the wrath of the Lamb]?”  
Rv0701 After this I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.  
Rv0702 Then I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and with a loud voice he called out to the four angels to whom it was granted [to have authority and power] to harm the earth and the sea,  
Rv0703 saying, “Do not harm the earth nor the sea nor the trees until we seal (mark) the bond- servants of our God on their foreheads.”  
Rv0704 And I heard how many were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand; [twelve thousand] sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:  
Rv0705 Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad,  
Rv0706 twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh,  
Rv0707 twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar,  
Rv0708 twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed (marked, redeemed, protected).  
Rv0709 After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands;  
Rv0710 and in a loud voice they cried out, saying, “Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].”  
Rv0711 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the [twenty-four] elders and the four living creatures; and they fell to their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  
Rv0712 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and majesty and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”  
Rv0713 Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are dressed in the long white robes—who are they, and from where did they come?”  
Rv0714 I said to him, “My lord, you know [the answer].” And he said to me, “These are the people who come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [because of His atoning sacrifice].  
Rv0715 For this reason, they are [standing] before the throne of God; and they serve Him [in worship] day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them and shelter and protect them [with His presence].  
Rv0716 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any [scorching] heat;  
Rv0717 for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort].”  
Rv0801 When He (the Lamb) broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [in awe of God’s impending judgment].  
Rv0802 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.  
Rv0803 Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a golden censer, and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints (God’s people) on the golden altar in front of the throne.  
Rv0804 And the smoke and fragrant aroma of the incense, with the prayers of the saints (God’s people), ascended before God from the angel’s hand.  
Rv0805 So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and loud rumblings and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.  
Rv0806 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them [initiating the judgments].  
Rv0807 The first [angel] sounded [his trumpet], and there was [a storm of] hail and fire, mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.  
Rv0808 The second angel sounded [his trumpet], and something like a great mountain blazing with fire was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea was turned to blood;  
Rv0809 and a third of the living creatures that were in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.  
Rv0810 The third angel sounded [his trumpet], and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch [flashing across the sky], and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of [fresh] waters.  
Rv0811 The name of the star is Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they had become bitter (toxic).  
Rv0812 Then the fourth angel sounded [his trumpet], and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and a third of the daylight would not shine, and the night in the same way [would not shine].  
Rv0813 Then I looked, and I heard a solitary eagle flying in midheaven [for all to see], saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe [great wrath is coming] to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets which the three angels are about to sound [announcing ever greater judgments]!”  
Rv0901 Then the fifth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I saw a star (angelic being) that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit (abyss) was given to him (the star-angel).  
Rv0902 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit.  
Rv0903 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power [to hurt] was given to them, like the power which the earth’s scorpions have.  
Rv0904 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but [to hurt] only the people who do not have the seal (mark of ownership, protection) of God on their foreheads.  
Rv0905 They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment and cause them extreme pain for five months; and their torment was like the torment from a scorpion when it stings a man.  
Rv0906 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die [to escape the pain], but [will discover that] death evades them.  
Rv0907 The locusts resembled horses prepared and equipped for battle; and on their heads appeared to be [something like] golden crowns, and their faces resembled human faces.  
Rv0908 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.  
Rv0909 They had breastplates (scales) like breastplates made of iron; and the [whirring] noise of their wings was like the [thunderous] noise of countless horse-drawn chariots charging [at full speed] into battle.  
Rv0910 They have tails like scorpions, and stingers; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months.  
Rv0911 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss (the bottomless pit); in Hebrew his name is Abaddon (destruction), and in Greek he is called Apollyon (destroyer- king).  
Rv0912 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.  
Rv0913 Then the sixth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I heard a solitary voice from the four horns of the golden altar which stands before God,  
Rv0914 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”  
Rv0915 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.  
Rv0916 The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (two hundred million); I heard the number of them.  
Rv0917 And this is how I saw the horses and their riders in my vision: the riders had breastplates [the color] of fire and of hyacinth (sapphire blue) and of brimstone (yellow); and the heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions; and from out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone (burning sulfur).  
Rv0918 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came from the mouths of the horses.  
Rv0919 For the power of the horses [to do harm] is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and it is with them that they do harm.  
Rv0920 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent even then of the works of their hands, so as to cease worshiping and paying homage to the demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;  
Rv0921 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries (drugs, intoxications) nor of their [sexual] immorality nor of their thefts.  
Rv1001 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed in a cloud, with a rainbow (halo) over his head; and his face was like the sun, and his feet (legs) were like columns of fire;  
Rv1002 and he had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land;  
Rv1003 and he shouted with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion [compelling attention and inspiring awe]; and when he had shouted out, the seven peals of thunder spoke with their own voices [uttering their message in distinct words].  
Rv1004 And when the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them down.”  
Rv1005 Then the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand [to swear an oath] to heaven,  
Rv1006 and swore [an oath] by [the name of] Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,  
Rv1007 but when it is time for the trumpet call of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God [that is, His hidden purpose and plan] is finished, as He announced the gospel to His servants the prophets.  
Rv1008 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking to me, and saying, “Go, take the book (scroll) which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”  
Rv1009 So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”  
Rv1010 So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey; but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was bitter.  
Rv1011 Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”  
Rv1101 Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar [of incense], and [count] those who worship in it.  
Rv1102 But leave out the court [of the Gentiles] which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (the nations); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months (three and one-half years).  
Rv1103 And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth.”  
Rv1104 These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.  
Rv1105 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.  
Rv1106 These [two witnesses] have the power [from God] to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophesying [regarding judgment and salvation]; and they have power over the waters (seas, rivers) to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every [kind of] plague, as often as they wish.  
Rv1107 When they have finished their testimony and given their evidence, the beast that comes up out of the abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war with them, and overcome them and kill them.  
Rv1108 And their dead bodies will lie exposed in the open street of the great city (Jerusalem), which in a spiritual sense is called [by the symbolic and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.  
Rv1109 Those from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.  
Rv1110 And those [non-believers] who live on the earth will gloat over them and rejoice; and they will send gifts [in celebration] to one another, because these two prophets tormented and troubled those who live on the earth.  
Rv1111 But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear and panic fell on those who were watching them.  
Rv1112 And the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they ascended into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.  
Rv1113 And in that [very] hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell and was destroyed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest [who survived] were overcome with terror, and they glorified the God of heaven [as they recognized His awesome power].  
Rv1114 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.  
Rv1115 Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”  
Rv1116 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God,  
Rv1117 saying, “To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign.  
Rv1118 And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.”  
Rv1119 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.  
Rv1201 And a great sign [warning of an ominous and frightening future event] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.  
Rv1202 She was with child (the Messiah) and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.  
Rv1203 Then another sign [of warning] was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon (Satan) with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns (diadems).  
Rv1204 And his tail swept [across the sky] and dragged away a third of the stars of heaven and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.  
Rv1205 And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is destined to rule (shepherd) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.  
Rv1206 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished there for a thousand two hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; three and one-half years).  
Rv1207 And war broke out in heaven, Michael [the archangel] and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought,  
Rv1208 but they were not strong enough and did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.  
Rv1209 And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  
Rv1210 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night.  
Rv1211 And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death.  
Rv1212 Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them [in the presence of God]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!”  
Rv1213 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male Child.  
Rv1214 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (three and one-half years), away from the presence of the serpent (Satan).  
Rv1215 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.  
Rv1216 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth.  
Rv1217 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him].  
Rv1301 And the dragon (Satan) stood on the sandy shore of the sea. Then I saw a [vicious] beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten royal crowns (diadems), and on his heads were blasphemous names.  
Rv1302 And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.  
Rv1303 I saw one of his heads which seemed to have a fatal wound, but his fatal wound was healed; and the entire earth followed after the beast in amazement.  
Rv1304 They fell down and worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like (as great as) the beast, and who is able to wage war against him?”  
Rv1305 And the beast was given a mouth (the power of speech), uttering great things and arrogant and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom and authority to act and to do as he pleased for forty-two months (three and a half years).  
Rv1306 And he opened his mouth to speak blasphemies (abusive speech, slander) against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those who live in heaven.  
Rv1307 He was also permitted to wage war against the saints (God’s people) and to overcome them, and authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nation.  
Rv1308 All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice].  
Rv1309 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.  
Rv1310 If anyone is destined for captivity, he will go into captivity; if anyone kills with a sword, he must be killed with a sword. Here is [the call for] the patient endurance and the faithfulness of the saints [which is seen in the response of God’s people to difficult times].  
Rv1311 Then I saw another beast rising up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke like a dragon.  
Rv1312 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence [when the two are together]. And he makes the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  
Rv1313 He performs great signs (awe-inspiring acts), even making fire fall from the sky to the earth, right before peoples’ eyes.  
Rv1314 And he deceives those [unconverted ones] who inhabit the earth [into believing him] because of the signs which he is given [by Satan] to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, telling those who inhabit the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded [fatally] by the sword and has come back to life.  
Rv1315 And he is given power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast will even [appear to] speak, and cause those who do not bow down and worship the image of the beast to be put to death.  
Rv1316 Also he compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead [signifying allegiance to the beast],  
Rv1317 and that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.  
Rv1318 Here is wisdom. Let the person who has enough insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the [imperfect] number of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.  
Rv1401 Then I looked, and this is what I saw: the Lamb stood [firmly established] on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads [signifying God’s own possession].  
Rv1402 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; and the voice that I heard [seemed like music and] was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.  
Rv1403 And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased (ransomed, redeemed) from the earth.  
Rv1404 These are the ones who have not been defiled [by relations] with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased and redeemed from among men [of Israel] as the first fruits [sanctified and set apart for special service] for God and the Lamb.  
Rv1405 No lie was found in their mouth, for they are blameless (spotless, untainted, beyond reproach).  
Rv1406 Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people;  
Rv1407 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God [with awe and reverence], and give Him glory [and honor and praise in worship], because the hour of His judgment has come; [with all your heart] worship Him who created the heaven and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”  
Rv1408 Then another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality [corrupting them with idolatry].”  
Rv1409 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “Whoever worships the beast and his image and receives the mark [of the beast] on his forehead or on his hand,  
Rv1410 he too will [have to] drink of the wine of the wrath of God, mixed undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone (flaming sulfur) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (Christ).  
Rv1411 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night—those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”  
Rv1412 Here is [encouragement for] the steadfast endurance of the saints (God’s people), those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus.  
Rv1413 Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”  
Rv1414 Again I looked, and this is what I saw: a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle [of swift judgment] in His hand.  
Rv1415 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who was sitting upon the cloud, “Put in Your sickle and reap [at once], for the hour to reap [in judgment] has arrived, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripened.”  
Rv1416 So He who was sitting on the cloud cast His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped (judged).  
Rv1417 Then another angel came out of the temple (sanctuary) in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.  
Rv1418 And another angel came from the altar, the one who has power over fire; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and reap the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe [for judgment].”  
Rv1419 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great wine press of the wrath and indignation of God [as judgment of the rebellious world].  
Rv1420 And the grapes in the wine press were trampled and crushed outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press, reaching up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of sixteen hundred stadia.  
Rv1501 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful [a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues (afflictions, calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished [that is, it is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].  
Rv1502 Then I saw something like a sea or large expanse of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number corresponding to his name were standing on the sea or large expanse of glass, holding harps of God [worshiping Him].  
Rv1503 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring are Your works [in judgment], O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all]; Righteous and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!  
Rv1504 “Who will not fear [reverently] and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS [Your just decrees and judgments] HAVE BEEN REVEALED and DISPLAYED.”  
Rv1505 After these things I looked, and the temple (sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened,  
Rv1506 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues (afflictions, calamities) came out of the temple, arrayed in linen, pure and gleaming, and wrapped around their chests were golden sashes.  
Rv1507 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath and indignation of God, who lives forever and ever.  
Rv1508 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory and radiance and splendor of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.  
Rv1601 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath and indignation of God.”  
Rv1602 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and loathsome and malignant sores came on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.  
Rv1603 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a corpse [foul and disgusting]; and every living thing in the sea died.  
Rv1604 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water; and they turned into blood.  
Rv1605 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous and just are You, Who are and Who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;  
Rv1606 for they have poured out the blood of the saints (God’s people) and the prophets, and You [in turn] have given them blood to drink. They deserve Your judgment.”  
Rv1607 And I heard [another from] the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Your judgments are true and fair and righteous.”  
Rv1608 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch humanity with [raging] fire.  
Rv1609 People were [severely] burned by the great heat; and they reviled the name of God who has power over these plagues, but they did not repent [of their sin] and glorify Him.  
Rv1610 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness; and people gnawed their tongues because of the pain [of their excruciating anguish and severe torment],  
Rv1611 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their sores (abscesses, boils); and they did not repent of what they had done nor hate their wickedness.  
Rv1612 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for [the coming of] the kings from the east.  
Rv1613 And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, leaping from the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and from the mouth of the beast (Antichrist, dictator) and from the mouth of the false prophet;  
Rv1614 for they are [actually] the spirits of demons, performing [miraculous] signs. And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.  
Rv1615 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)  
Rv1616 And they (demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon (Armageddon).  
Rv1617 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne [of God], saying, “It is done. [It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come.]”  
Rv1618 And there were flashes of lightning and loud rumblings and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake—nothing like it has ever occurred since mankind originated on the earth, so severe and far-reaching was that earthquake.  
Rv1619 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And God kept in mind Babylon the great, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce and furious wrath.  
Rv1620 Then every island fled away, and no mountains could be found.  
Rv1621 And giant hailstones, as heavy as a talent, fell from the sky on the people; and people reviled and spoke abusively of God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so very great.  
Rv1701 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment and doom of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters [influencing nations],  
Rv1702 she with whom the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality, and the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”  
Rv1703 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.  
Rv1704 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a gold cup full of the abominations and the filth of her [sexual] immorality.  
Rv1705 And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES (false religions, heresies) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”  
Rv1706 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints (God’s people), and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus [who were martyred]. When I saw her, I wondered in amazement.  
Rv1707 But the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.  
Rv1708 “The beast that you saw was [once], but [now] is not, and he is about to come up out of the abyss (the bottomless pit, the dwelling place of demons) and go to destruction (perdition). And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast, because he was and is not and is yet to come [to earth].  
Rv1709 Here is the mind which has wisdom [and this is what it knows about the vision]. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits;  
Rv1710 and they are seven kings: five of whom have fallen, one exists and is reigning; the other [the seventh] has not yet come, and when he does come, he must remain a little while.  
Rv1711 And the beast that [once] was but is not, is himself also an eighth king and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction (perdition).  
Rv1712 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but [together] they receive authority as kings for a single hour [for a common purpose] along with the beast.  
Rv1713 These [kings] have one purpose [one mind, one common goal], and they give their power and authority to the beast.  
Rv1714 They will wage war against the Lamb (Christ), and the Lamb will triumph and conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him and on His side are the called and chosen (elect) and faithful.”  
Rv1715 Then the angel said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.  
Rv1716 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire.  
Rv1717 For God has put it in their hearts to carry out His purpose by agreeing together to surrender their kingdom to the beast, until the [prophetic] words of God will be fulfilled.  
Rv1718 The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth.”  
Rv1801 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, possessing great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his splendor and radiance.  
Rv1802 And he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen [certainly to be destroyed] is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird.  
Rv1803 For all the nations have drunk from the wine of the passion of her [sexual] immorality, and the kings and political leaders of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth and economic power of her sensuous luxury.”  
Rv1804 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues;  
Rv1805 for her sins (crimes, transgressions) have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and crimes [for judgment].  
Rv1806 Repay to her even as she has repaid others, and pay back [to her] double [her torment] in accordance with what she has done; in the cup [of sin and suffering] which she mixed, mix a double portion [of perfect justice] for her.  
Rv1807 To the degree that she glorified herself and reveled and gloated in her sensuality [living deliciously and luxuriously], to that same degree impose on her torment and anguish, and mourning and grief; for in her heart she boasts, ‘I SIT AS A QUEEN [on a throne] AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never, ever see mourning or experience grief.’  
Rv1808 For this reason in a single day her plagues (afflictions, calamities) will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire and completely consumed; for strong and powerful is the Lord God who judges her.  
Rv1809 “And the kings and political leaders of the earth, who committed immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and beat their chests [in mourning] over her when they see the smoke of her burning,  
Rv1810 standing a long way off, in fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, the strong city, Babylon! In a single hour your judgment has come.’  
Rv1811 “And merchants of the earth will weep and grieve over her, because no one buys their cargo (goods, merchandise) anymore—  
Rv1812 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet; all kinds of citron (scented) wood and every article of ivory and every article of very costly and lavish wood and bronze and iron and marble;  
Rv1813 and cinnamon and spices and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and carriages; and of slaves and human lives.  
Rv1814 The ripe fruits and delicacies of your soul’s desire have gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and extravagant are lost to you, never again to be found.  
Rv1815 The merchants who handled these articles, who grew wealthy from [their business with] her, will stand a long way off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,  
Rv1816 saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, gilded and adorned with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls;  
Rv1817 because in one hour all the vast wealth has been laid waste.’ And every ship captain or navigator, and every passenger and sailor, and all who make their living by the sea, stood a long way off,  
Rv1818 and exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What could be compared to the great city?’  
Rv1819 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich from her great wealth, because in one hour she has been laid waste!’  
Rv1820 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints (God’s people) and apostles and prophets [who were martyred], because God has executed vengeance for you [through righteous judgment] upon her.”  
Rv1821 Then a single powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, saying, “With such violence will Babylon the great city be hurled down [by the sudden, spectacular judgment of God], and will never again be found.  
Rv1822 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flutists and trumpeters will never again be heard in you, and no skilled artisan of any craft will ever again be found in you, and the sound of the millstone [grinding grain] will never again be heard in you [for commerce will no longer flourish, and normal life will cease].  
Rv1823 And never again will the light of a lamp shine in you, and never again will the voice of the bridegroom and bride be heard in you; for your merchants were the great and prominent men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived and misled by your sorcery [your magic spells and poisonous charm].  
Rv1824 And in Babylon was found the blood of prophets and of saints (God’s people) and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.”  
Rv1901 After these things I heard something like the great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in heaven, exclaiming, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory (splendor, majesty) and power (dominion, might) belong to our God;  
Rv1902 BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS. He has judged [convicted and pronounced sentence on] the great prostitute (idolatress) who was corrupting and ruining and poisoning the earth with her adultery (idolatry), and HE HAS IMPOSED THE PENALTY FOR THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.”  
Rv1903 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! HER SMOKE SHALL ASCEND FOREVER AND EVER.”  
Rv1904 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures also fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah (praise the Lord)!”  
Rv1905 Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all you bond-servants of His, you who fear Him, the small (common) and the great (distinguished).”  
Rv1906 Then I heard something like the shout of a vast multitude, and like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] reigns.  
Rv1907 Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come [at last] and His bride (the redeemed) has prepared herself.”  
Rv1908 She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling white and clean—for the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the saints [the ethical conduct, personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character of believers].  
Rv1909 Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.”  
Rv1910 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].”  
Rv1911 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who was riding it is called Faithful and True (trustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady), and in righteousness He judges and wages war [on the rebellious nations].  
Rv1912 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many royal crowns; and He has a name inscribed [on Him] which no one knows or understands except Himself.  
Rv1913 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  
Rv1914 And the armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, [dazzling] white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  
Rv1915 From His mouth comes a sharp sword (His word) with which He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He will tread the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty [in judgment of the rebellious world].  
Rv1916 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  
Rv1917 Then I saw a single angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he shouted to all the birds that fly in midheaven, saying, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,  
Rv1918 so that you may feast on the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all humanity, both free men and slaves, both small and great [in a complete conquest of evil].”  
Rv1919 Then I saw the beast and the kings and political leaders of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse and against His army.  
Rv1920 And the beast (Antichrist) was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who, in his presence, had performed [amazing] signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were hurled alive into the lake of fire which blazes with brimstone.  
Rv1921 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and gorged themselves with their flesh.  
Rv2001 And then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand.  
Rv2002 And he overpowered and laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and bound him [securely] for a thousand years (a millennium);  
Rv2003 and the angel hurled him into the abyss, and closed it and sealed it above him [preventing his escape or rescue], so that he would no longer deceive and seduce the nations, until the thousand years were at an end. After these things he must be liberated for a short time.  
Rv2004 And then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom judgment [that is, the authority to act as judges] was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had refused to worship the beast or his image, and had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  
Rv2005 The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.  
Rv2006 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) and holy is the person who takes part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [which is eternal separation from God, the lake of fire] has no power or authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him a thousand years.  
Rv2007 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss),  
Rv2008 and will come out to deceive and mislead the nations which are in the four corners of the earth—[including] Gog and Magog—to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore.  
Rv2009 And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints (God’s people) and the beloved city [Jerusalem]; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them.  
Rv2010 And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.  
Rv2011 And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away].  
Rv2012 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth].  
Rv2013 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, every one according to their deeds.  
Rv2014 Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God].  
Rv2015 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.  
Rv2101 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any sea.  
Rv2102 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband;  
Rv2103 and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them [as their God,]  
Rv2104 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.”  
Rv2105 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].”  
Rv2106 And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost.  
Rv2107 He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.  
Rv2108 But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  
Rv2109 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”  
Rv2110 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a vast and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy (sanctified) city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,  
Rv2111 having God’s glory [filled with His radiant light]. The brilliance of it resembled a rare and very precious jewel, like jasper, shining and clear as crystal.  
Rv2112 It had a massive and high wall, with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [were stationed] twelve angels; and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written.  
Rv2113 On the east side [there were] three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.  
Rv2114 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Christ).  
Rv2115 The one who was speaking with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall.  
Rv2116 The city is laid out as a square, its length being the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod—twelve thousand stadia (about 1,400 miles); its length and width and height are equal.  
Rv2117 He measured its wall also—a hundred forty-four cubits (about 200 feet), according to man’s measurements, which are [also] angelic [measurements].  
Rv2118 The wall was built of jasper; and the city was pure gold, transparent like clear crystal.  
Rv2119 The foundation stones of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;  
Rv2120 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite (yellow topaz); the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.  
Rv2121 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each separate gate was of one single pearl. And the street (broad way) of the city was pure gold, like transparent crystal.  
Rv2122 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] and the Lamb are its temple.  
Rv2123 And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light.  
Rv2124 The nations [the redeemed people from the earth] will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring into it their glory.  
Rv2125 By day (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed [in fear of evil];  
Rv2126 and they will bring the glory (splendor, majesty) and the honor of the nations into it;  
Rv2127 and nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abominations [detestable, morally repugnant things] and lying, but only those [will be admitted] whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  
Rv2201 Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ),  
Rv2202 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  
Rv2203 There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion];  
Rv2204 they will [be privileged to] see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  
Rv2205 And there will no longer be night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign [as kings] forever and ever.  
Rv2206 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel [as a representative] to show His bond- servants the things that must soon take place.  
Rv2207 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is the one who heeds and takes to heart and remembers the words of the prophecy [that is, the predictions, consolations, and warnings] contained in this book (scroll).”  
Rv2208 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.  
Rv2209 But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets and with those who heed and remember [the truths contained in] the words of this book. Worship God.”  
Rv2210 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time [of their fulfillment] is near.  
Rv2211 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy (vile, impure), still be filthy; and the one who is righteous (just, upright), still be righteous; and the one who is holy, still be holy.”  
Rv2212 “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness).  
Rv2213 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].”  
Rv2214 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.  
Rv2215 Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating).  
Rv2216 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.”  
Rv2217 The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost.  
Rv2218 I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book;  
Rv2219 and if anyone takes away from or distorts the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away [from that one] his share from the tree of life and from the holy city (new Jerusalem), which are written in this book.  
Rv2220 He who testifies and affirms these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  
Rv2221 The grace of the Lord Jesus (the Christ, the Messiah) be with all [the saints—all believers, those set apart for God]. Amen.